0
Peaceblinkfriend Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

"would have been" in past conditionals that might or might not have happened

Hi all


I read that you would only use 'would have been' when you are talking about past conditionals that did not happen. But would you use it when something might or might not have happened? Like in the example below, B wanted to say it might or might not have happened but if it did happen, it happened when B was really young.


A: You don't remember getting your cheeks pinched by your relatives?
B: If that ever happened to me, I would have been really young.


Thank you.

  

Top answer

Peaceblinkfriend A: You don't remember getting your cheeks pinched by your relatives? B: If that ever happened to me, I would have been really young. This is correct English, but it is not a true conditional.

— GPY

  • Peaceblinkfriend A: You don't remember getting your cheeks pinched by your relatives?
  • B: If that ever happened to me, I would have been really young.
  • This is correct English, but it is not a true conditional.
  • "would have been really young" is not truly contingent on "if that ever happened to me" (compare "If that had ever happened to me, I would have screamed").
  • e.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
PeaceblinkfriendA: You don't remember getting your cheeks pinched by your relatives?
B: If that ever happened to me, I would have been really young.

This is correct English, but it is not a true conditional. "would have been really young" is not truly contingent on "if that ever happened to me" (compare "If that had ever happened to me, I would have scr

0
0

There are many cases where 'will' or 'would' are used to indicate an educated guess (a guess based on knowledge and experience and therefore likely to be correct). This is not the same as the usage of 'will' or 'would' in conditional sentences.

— Somebody's ringing the doorbell.
— Ah!  Right!  I ordered some groceries.  That will be the delivery man.

0

Related Questions