grammar · neutral

If + past perfect, would + V

Band 4-5speakingtask2

A past condition (which did not happen) with a present result or situation.

Examples

If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now.

If she had taken the job, she would live in London now.

If they had moved to the coast earlier, they would enjoy a milder climate today.

Band 8 sentence

If the government had prioritised renewable energy decades ago, we would not be facing such severe shortages today.

Collocations

  • If + past perfect, would + base verb (present result)

Common mistakes

If I had studied harder, I would have a better job last year.If I had studied harder, I would have a better job now.

If she had gone to university, she would have a degree.If she had gone to university, she would have a degree now.

Say it for a higher band

5If + past perfect, would have + past participle6If + past simple, would + V7+If + past perfect, would + V

Synonyms

If + past perfect, would have + past participle

Easily confused

If + past perfect, would have + past participle

If I had left earlier, I would have caught the train.

Related words

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In Conditionals

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