Section 4 - Past conditionals

Verb forms in the if-clause

We use Unreal Past Perfect in the if-clause to indicate that we know what happened but are speculating about what would have happened if the opposite had been true. This is sometimes called the 'Third' conditional:

If she'd known my number, she would have phoned. (= but she didn't know it)
If I hadn't been standing outside the supermarket, we might never have met.

We can omit if and start with had:

Had I believed her for one moment, I wouldn't have refused to help.

Occasionally, something that is generally true - although we wish it wasn't - can have results in the past:

If I wasn't / weren't such an idiot, I wouldn't have done that.

If it hadn't been for...

This phrase means 'without her, your, etc. help, interference, etc.'. We can use the phrase If it weren't / wasn't for... to refer to the present, though if the time reference is clear, it can occasionally refer to the past:

If it wasn't for the parking problem, I'd drive to work.
If it hadn't been for you, we'd never have got there on time.
Had it not been for Wagner, modern classical music would sound very different.
If it wasn't for / hadn't been for those delays on the motorway we'd never have missed the wedding.

Were

In formal English we can use conditional structures beginning with Were + Perfect infinitive:

Were you to have stopped and considered, you'd have seen the error of your ways.

Verb forms in the main clause

For Past conditionals that have results in the past, we use modal Perfects (would / could / might have, etc.):

Had you told me earlier, I could have done something about it.

For Past conditionals that have results in the present or future, we use mainly would, could or might:

If you'd listened more carefully to his directions, you wouldn't be lost now.
If only I'd entered politics earlier, I could be Prime Minister now.

With false conditionals in the past, we use Past tenses in the main clause. We don't use Unreal Past Perfect in the if-clause:

If you were in the area, why didn't you come and visit?

Would have ... would have

The use of would have in both if-clause and main clause is becoming very common in spoken and even written English. It's still considered incorrect by some people:

If I'd have known how expensive it was, I wouldn't have gone.

It's sometimes difficult to hear Past conditionals spoken at speed because of short forms:

I'd've come at once if only you'd've rung me.

Past conditionals without conditional words

We often use a Past conditional structure without using a conventional 'conditional word' like if or unless:

But for your help, we'd never have managed.
We'd have been completely lost without you.
You should have come - you'd have loved it.
The film would have been just as effective in black and white.

Check!

Which sentences have both an if-clause and a main clause which refer to the past?

a. If I wasn't so tired all the time, I wouldn't have made such an elementary mistake.
b. If you had driven faster, we'd be there by now.
c. I'd have rung you if I'd known you were at home.
d. I wouldn't be going to London if you hadn't told me about the exhibition.
e. If you were right about the weather, we're going to get wet.

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