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Masoud Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Grammer/ Future in Past

Dear Teacher,

Here is the problem:

I went to a party yesterday.

I saw Andy there.

If I knew that he would be there I never went to the party. or If I knew that he had been there I never went to the party.

Would you please let me know what is the correct form of this sentence? and What is the name of this Tense?

Thank you

Masoud
  

Top answer

Welcome to English Forums! You want this: If I had known that he was going to be there, I would never have gone to the party. had known: Past Perfect was going: Past Progressive would have gone: I call this "Conditional Perfect", but many writers do not call this a tense.

— CalifJim

  • Welcome to English Forums!
  • You want this: If I had known that he was going to be there, I would never have gone to the party.
  • had known: Past Perfect was going: Past Progressive would have gone: I call this "Conditional Perfect", but many writers do not call this a tense.
  • It is a structure formed through the use of the modal "would".
  • Maybe others know an "official name" for that 'tense'.
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7 Answers
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Welcome to English Forums!

You want this:

If I had known that he was going to be there, I would never have gone to the party.

had known: Past Perfect
was going: Past Progressive
would have gone: I call this "Conditional Perfect", but many writers do not call this a tense. It is a structure formed through the use of the modal "would".

M
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If I had known that he was going to be there, I would never have gone to the party.

This is certainly correct, but I think you could also say "Had I know that he would be there..." Couldn't you? I'ts slightly more formal than Jim's version.
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"had I known" "it's" Emotion: smile

And another possibility,

If I had known that he would be t
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AAARGH. (Today is National "Talk like a Pirate" Day.) Sorry about the typos.
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Thanks friend,

So the correct sentences are:

If I had known that he was going to be there, I would never have gone to the party

AND

Had I known that he would be there, I would never have gone to the party.

Thanks again to Jim and Khoff

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And don't be surprised to hear in speech:

"If I'd known he'd be at the party, I wouldn't have gone."

In fact you'll hear further audible contractions such as "If'd known he'd beat th party, I wouldn'a gone".
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Another common incorrect version sounds something like "If I'd've known..."
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