grammar · formal
If + subject + were to + have + past participle, would have + past participle
A formal, highly hypothetical way to talk about a past unreal situation; similar in meaning to a past conditional but using 'were to have' to stress hypotheticality.
Examples
“If he were to have attended the conference, he would have learned a lot.”
“If the committee were to have approved the plan, construction would have started by now.”
“If she were to have invested earlier, she would have seen greater returns.”
Band 8 sentence
“If the board were to have considered the environmental report, the project would have been redesigned.”
Collocations
- were to have + past participle
- would have + past participle
Common mistakes
If he were to have gone, he would have met her.→If he had gone, he would have met her.
If she were to have studied, she will have a job now.→If she were to have studied, she would have had better opportunities.
Say it for a higher band
5If + past perfect, would have + past participle→6If + were to + have + P.P., would have + P.P.→7+If + subject + were to + have + past participle, would have + past participle
Synonyms
If + past perfect, would have + past participle
Easily confused
If + past perfect, would have + past participle
“If the weather had been better, we would have gone to the beach.”
Related words
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In Conditionals
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