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Whatchadoin Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Would have/would

Let's say someone wrote a post. And I say:

I wouldn't use a comma there.
I wouldn't have used a comma there.

What's the difference between these?
  

Top answer

In practical terms, they mean pretty much the same thing. However, one is in the present, one is in the past. I wouldn't use a comma there.

— Doctor D

  • In practical terms, they mean pretty much the same thing.
  • However, one is in the present, one is in the past.
  • I wouldn't use a comma there.
  • ) I wouldn't have used a comma there.
  • ) Does this help?
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2 Answers
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In practical terms, they mean pretty much the same thing. However, one is in the present, one is in the past.

I wouldn't use a comma there.
(If you ask me now if a comma goes there, I'd say no.)

I wouldn't have used a comma there.
(If I had been in your place when you were writing the sentence, I wouldn't have used a comma there.)

Does this help?
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A decisive no - I won't use a comma here.
A less forceful / assertive opinion - I wouldn't use a comma, (if I were you), Without the "if" clause. this is not necessarily a past tense. Many use "wouldn't " in a present context to express negation politely
A 3rd conditional opinion - I wouldn't have waited for you if I had known you didn't want to go.

They all work, dependi
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