Would have Vpp or would V

Question

Hi, teachers. Please help me when you are free.

Michael Jackson would have celebrated his fifty-first birthday in August. (from VOAspecialEnglish)
http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-06-26-voa9.cfm

I think if-clause (if he were alive) hides in the sentence above,

So I wonder if I could change would have celebrated into would celebrate beacause of containing in August.

Philip · Accepted Answer

would have celebrated if he hadn't died

You could also say "he was to celebrate"

RayH · Answer

tashiroSo I wonder if I could change would have celebrated into would celebrate beacause of containing in August.

No. If, and only if, Jackson were still alive and then only in relatively unusual contexts could you make the change you suggest.

Anonymous · Answer

Here's how it should be:

Jackson would have celebrated his fiftieth birthday this August if he were alive.

Jackson would have celebrated his fiftieth birthday this August if he had not died earlier this year.

There are a few different ways. The protasis (if part) is in present time and contrary to fact whereas the apodasis (then part) is in the past. It all depends when this was written, too. It could read this since it was written in June:

Jackson would celebrate his fiftieth birthday this August if he were still alive.

Jackson would celebrate his fiftieth birthday this August if he had not died.

Jackson would be celebrating his fiftieth birthday this August if he had not died.

Jackson would be celebrating his fiftieth birthday this August if he were stil alive.

So there are a few ways to say it. Don't be afraid. This is just simple present conditional and present progressive conditional. The protasis, though, is either in simple past subjunctive or past perfect subjunctive. Again, it all depends on when this state statement might have been said.

Would have Vpp or would V

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