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Horatius Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Conditional tense

Which is correct?:

- if we had looked, we would had seen

or

- if we had looked, we would have seen



I still have trouble with these constructions, and, sadly, I still don't get it.



Thank you.
  

Top answer

In the so-called past unreal, you ALWAYS use WOULD. No exceptions. If I had voted last year, I would HAVE voted for X; If she had voted last year, she wouldn't HAVE voted for X; If it had rained last night, I couldn't HAVE visited you.

— Anonymous

  • In the so-called past unreal, you ALWAYS use WOULD.
  • No exceptions.
  • If I had voted last year, I would HAVE voted for X; If she had voted last year, she wouldn't HAVE voted for X; If it had rained last night, I couldn't HAVE visited you.
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3 Answers
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In the so-called past unreal, you ALWAYS use WOULD. No exceptions. If I had voted last year, I would HAVE voted for X; If she had voted last year, she wouldn't HAVE voted for X; If it had rained last night, I couldn't HAVE visited you.
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Sorry! I meant you always use HAVE.
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Horatiuswe would had have seen
After a modal verb, the only form of the verb have that is possible is have itself -- never has or had or having. would is a modal verb, so only have can follow it.

Think o
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