Would vs Would Have: How to Express Conditional Hypothesis

Sometimes, we want to express thoughts in a way that both talk about a hypothetical instance in relation to a condition.

Before I begin, I would like to explain what hypothetical conditions actually mean. Hypothetical is something that isn’t real or just imaginary.

For example, in a sentence, “I wish I were a Spider-Man”, you imagine something that isn’t possible or real.

Sometimes, we want to express thoughts in a way that both talk about a hypothetical instance in relation to a condition.

Here’s an example:

“If I were a Spider-Man, I would fly everywhere”.

In the above example, the person expresses his wishes of flying everywhere on the condition of being a Spider-Man. To explain it further, his not being a Spider-Man negates his chances of flying.

Here’s another example:

If I had enough money, I would definitely buy this house. (You won’t buy this house because you don’t have enough money but you kind of wish you had enough money)

Note: Please, note that in the above examples, both conditions are in relation to the present time. Therefore, the use of “were” or “had” doesn’t say anything about the past.

While the above examples are based on the present hypothesis, there are situations when we express a conditional hypothesis that has relations with the past.

For example:

If I had worked harder, I would have made it to the top position in that company.

In the example above, you’re essentially talking about an outcome (you not making it to the top position) that didn’t happen because some conditions weren’t fulfilled, i.e., you working harder.

However, we can hear many speakers using the following structures these days.

As a matter of fact, both these sentences are structurally ungrammatical.

The correct structures of these sentences should be as follows:

Here’s a thread on Stack Exchange that explains this usage with more examples.

Sometimes, we talk about the conditional hypothesis which is related to both past and present life.

For example:

If I had saved enough money in my youth, I would be living a happier life.

In the example above, the speaker is apparently in his old age and wishing for something he can no longer perform. However, his present life is affected by his past action.

Here are some more examples:

If he hadn’t done well in the training courses, he wouldn’t be a Project leader now.

Note: The keyword is now. He is now the Project Leader but would not now be the Project Leader if he hadn’t done well.

Now, let’s compare the following examples:

(In the second example, the person is no longer the project leader in the company because he may no longer be working in the company)

Now, let’s compare the following examples:

(In the first example, the speaker is apparently financially weak but wishing for something hypothetical. Note that both instances belong to the present time.

In the second example, the speaker simply talks about his past. Note that both his actions belong to the past only.)

Here’s a question for you: Is the following sentence grammatically correct or wrong?

If I were a Spider-Man, I would have flown everywhere.

PS: Please, answer the question in the comment section below.