Were/had been

Question

Hi ,

Please tell me the difference in the usage of below sentences.

If I were rich ,I would have gone to the cinema.

If I had been rich ,I would have gone to the cinema.

I would appreciate your help.

Thanks in advance
daniel

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Welcome to English Forums!

The usual forms are as follows.

1. If I were rich, I would go to the cinema.
2. If I had been rich, I would have gone to the cinema.

In Sentence 1 I imagine what it would be like to be rich now, and I say what I would do now (or in the near future).
In Sentence 2 I imagine what it would have been like to have been rich in the past, and I say what I would have done at that time in the past (or quite soon after that time).

In neither case am I actually rich, of course! It's all a matter of imagination.

That said, some people say were instead of had been, even though it is not completely correct, giving

3. If I were rich, I would have gone to the cinema.

Sentence 3 has the meaning of Sentence 2.

CJ

Englishlearner123 · Answer

Hi CJ,

Thanks for your more clear explanation but still I am having a little doubt.

As per your sentence 1 ,Should we not use" would have/would have been " with "were"at any time ,if its not then in which case would it come?

I would appreciate your help.

Thanks in advance
Daniel

CalifJim · Answer

englishlearner123Should we not use" would have/would have been " with "were"at any time

Hmm. At any time? No, I don't think so. There are times when you can use that combination.

Even though we can't find them, they must be in town somewhere. If they were going to leave town, they would have told us.

CJ

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