Search from various English teachers...
China flagWendyC
Gramma question ''I bet if I was there, you wouldn't have kissed Mary.'' Why using ''have''? Why can't say ''wouldn't kissed?

Answers · 2

3
"Wouldn't kissed" is not possible; you can only use "wouldn't kiss" (base verb after a modal verb). "Wouldn't kiss" can be an imagined present or future. We add "have" for imagined past, so we use "wouldn't have kissed". This also tells us that the listener kissed Mary!
2
Because its imaginary situation . Kissing mary is a true fact which happened in the past. The speaker wants to talk about a wish/desire that didn't happen in the past. The time line for this wish is in the past therefore we need to use would +have+P.P verb

Still haven’t found your answers?

Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn a language from the comfort of your own home. Browse our selection of experienced language tutors and enroll in your first lesson now!

Start Learning Today