If this was two years ago, I would've/ would
I was taught that for counterfactual situations whose time frame is in the present: if + simple past, would/could/might

Then why is would have used instead of would in this case?

If this was two years ago, I would have given five stars and raved about the quality of the food that I had ordered.

Another example:

The speaker is talking to his enemies:
"I don't want to hurt anyone. I'll do everything I can to keep myself from having to." That's how the old me would've approached this. But things are different now.

Again, it seems to me the time frame is in the present. Why not say "That's how the old me would approach this"?

Question

If this was two years ago, I would've/ would
I was taught that for counterfactual situations whose time frame is in the present: if + simple past, would/could/might

Then why is would have used instead of would in this case?

If this was two years ago, I would have given five stars and raved about the quality of the food that I had ordered.

Another example:

The speaker is talking to his enemies:
"I don't want to hurt anyone. I'll do everything I can to keep myself from having to." That's how the old me would've approached this. But things are different now.

Again, it seems to me the time frame is in the present. Why not say "That's how the old me would approach this"?

Answer

Again, it seems to me the time frame is in the present. Why not say "That's how the old me would approach this"?

But the time frame isn't in the present. You are saying the 'old me' which does not refer to the 'you' of the present.

Answer

There are many possible tense sequences (for English conditionals, and for most of English really), according to the intended meaning. Have a look at https://www.usingenglish.com/articles/conditional-sentences-in-english-5.html

Answer

You  can use your preferred present tense structure, that is how most people speak colloquially in CURRENT ENGLISH .

The other example is for the classroom where they are teaching grammar points and not daily routine conversations.

having to = future phrase.
would have = past phrase

going to= future phrase
going back = past phrase
going back to = past phrase
going way back to when = past phrase
going over/under/between/around/through = directional phrase present tense

should = a present tense word by itself "you should go home now" (impossible to say "you should go home yesterday", when yesterday is in the past)
should have = past phrase "you should have gone home yesterday"

Answers · 3

Still haven’t found your answers?

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!