Understanding and Using Modal Verbs: Understanding and Using Modal Verbs (#33)

Dennis Oliver

Modal Verbs #33:
Individual Modal Verbs

The English modal verbs are often challenging for learners
of English. This happens for many reasons, including both
grammar and meaning.

In this Hint, we'll look at would have.

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Would Have

Would have ( + the past participle of a verb) is used when
referring to past unreal conditions (situations in the past
that didn't actually happen, weren't true, or were hypothetical).
Would have is frequently contracted to would've.

The negative form of would have is would not have
(which is very often contracted to wouldn't have).

Examples:

If you had asked me, I would've helped you.

(I didn't help you because you didn't ask me.)

If Julia had had enough money, she would've
bought a car.

(Julia didn't buy a car because she didn't have
enough money.)

If Fred hadn't drunk so much coffee,
he wouldn't have been so nervous

(Fred was very nervous because he had
drunk a lot of coffee.)

If I hadn't meant what I said, I wouldn't have
said it.

(I said what I did because that was exactly
what I meant to say.)

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Special Notes:

1.		In relaxed, casual speech, would've often sounds something like "WOODa." This pronunciation is common in speaking, but would have or would've should be used in writing.

2.		In relaxed, casual speech, wouldn't have often sounds something like "WOODena." While this pronunciation is also common in speaking, the more conventional forms would not have or wouldn't have should be used in writing.

3.		In the examples above, could have and might have are also possible, but if they are used, the meanings are different.

Understanding and Using Modal Verbs: Understanding and Using Modal Verbs (#33)

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