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PreciousJones Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Doctor's

Please correct me if I'm wrong:

I went to the doctor's but I left right away because I'd have to wait to see him. Or

I went to the doctor's but I left right away because I would have had to wait to see him.

Are both useable and do they basically mean the same thing?
  

Top answer

I'd use only the second. I don't know if you realize that you're dealing with a conditional sentence there. A conditional sentence normally should have an if clause and in your sentence it's implied.

— Ivanhr

  • I'd use only the second.
  • I don't know if you realize that you're dealing with a conditional sentence there.
  • A conditional sentence normally should have an if clause and in your sentence it's implied.
  • I went to the doctor's but (I) left right away because I would have had to wait to see him [if I had decided to stay/had I decided to stay].
  • For unrealized events in the past you should use conditional III which has the following structure (If) + past perfect (in the if-clause), would + have + past participle (in the main clause)
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2 Answers
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I'd use only the second. I don't know if you realize that you're dealing with a conditional sentence there. A conditional sentence normally should have an if clause and in your sentence it's implied.

I went to the doctor's but (I) left right away because I would have had to wait to see him [if I had decided to stay/had I decided to stay].

For unrealized events in the past you sh
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I went to the doctor's but I left right away because I'd have to wait to see him. Or

I went to the doctor's but I left right away because I would have had to wait to see him.

The second version is clearly the right choice.

You may hear the first version used
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