Why do you use "would have been" for the present?
I heard a native speaker say "If you hadn't come, I would have been bored." instead of "If you hadn't come, I would be bored." when they refer to the present. (I am not bored now because you came)

Why do you use "would have been" with this scenario in the present?

Question

Why do you use "would have been" for the present?
I heard a native speaker say "If you hadn't come, I would have been bored." instead of "If you hadn't come, I would be bored." when they refer to the present. (I am not bored now because you came)

Why do you use "would have been" with this scenario in the present?

Answer

"If you hadn't come" is a condition referring to  the PAST, not the present.
ie. He has already come ..... 5 minutes ago, 20 minutes ago, whenever. But it is over, as he is here now.

The whole sentence is an example of a type 3 conditional. It is impossible for the condition (if he hadn't come) to be fulfilled and the speaker be bored because that other person has already arrived.

Answer

"I would have been bored" is indeed not quite correct. The "would have been" form should refer to an action that would *complete* upon condition. Whereas "would be" should refer to a continued action. Compare:
- If I studied well, I would have become a teacher
- If I failed the exam, I would have gone to Australia
But
- If you didn't come, I would be bored. This is totally fine to say.
However, if you use a "have" form in the "if":
- If you *haven't* come, I *would have been* worried. Have to match the tense here, sort of.
HTH

Answers · 2

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