grammar · neutral
If + past perfect, would + V
Used to talk about a past condition whose result affects the present (a mixed conditional): if the past had been different, the present would be different.
Examples
“If I had accepted that job offer, I would be living in London now.”
“If she had studied medicine, she would be a doctor today.”
“If they had invested earlier, they would have more savings now.”
Band 8 sentence
“If the university had offered more flexible hours then, many students would be working in research today.”
Collocations
- would + base verb (present result)
- If + had + past participle (past cause)
Common mistakes
If I had studied medicine, I would have a better job now.→If I had studied medicine, I would have a better job now.
If she had gone to university, she would become a teacher now.→If she had gone to university, she would be a teacher now.
Say it for a higher band
5If + past simple, would + V→6If + past perfect, would have + V→7+If + past perfect, would + V
Synonyms
Mixed conditional (past → present)
Easily confused
If + past perfect, would have + past participle
“If she had left earlier, she would have arrived on time.”
Related words
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In Conditionals
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