Other structures found in spoken English

would in both clauses

Conditional would is sometimes used in both clauses of an if-sentence. This is very informal, and quite common in speech. It is not usually written, and is incorrect in formal writing.

• It would be good if we’dget some rain.
• How would we feel if this would happen to our family?

note

For if … would in polite requests, (see here).

’d have … ’d have; would have … would have

In informal spoken English, if-clauses referring to the past are sometimes constructed with ’d have. This, too, is very informal, but it occurs quite often in speech. It is not usually written, and is incorrect in formal writing.

• If I’d have known, I’d have told you.
• It would have been funny if she’d have recognised him.
• You wonder what the attitudes of both players would have been if Nadal would have gone on and won that second set. (from a tennis commentary)

had’ve and would’ve

Instead of the contracted ’d in these structures, full forms are sometimes used for emphasis or in negatives. Both had and would occur. The following are genuine examples taken from conversation.

• I didn’t know. But if I had’ve known …
• We would never have met if he hadn’t have crashed into my car.
• If I would’ve had a gun, somebody might have got hurt.
• If you wouldn’t have phoned her, we’d never have found out what was happening.

Confusion about this structure sometimes leads people to write would of instead of would have (they are pronounced the same: /ˈwʊdəv/ in normal speech).

Mixed tenses

Sometimes a simple past tense is used with if where a past perfect would be normal. This is more common in American English.

• If I knew you were coming, I’d have baked a cake.
• If I had the money with me, I would have bought you one.
• If I didn’t have my walking boots on, I think I would have really hurt my foot.