If sentences with Conditional perfect continuous
1. Perfect conditional, continuous - Form
This tense is composed of two elements: the perfect condtional of the verb 'to be' (would have been) + the present participle (base+ing).
Subject | would have been | base+ing |
I We | would have been would have been | sitting swimming |
Affirmative | ||
I | would have been | studying. |
Negative | ||
You | wouldn't have been | living. |
Interrogative | ||
Would | we have been | travelling? |
Interrogative negative | ||
Wouldn't | it have been | working? |
Examples to work, Past continuous conditional
Affirmative | Negative |
I would have been working | I wouldn't have been working |
You would have been working | You wouldn't have been working. |
He would have been working | She wouldn't have been working |
We would have been working | We wouldn't have been working |
You would have been working | You wouldn't have been working |
They would have been working | They wouldn't have been working |
Interrogative | Interrogative negative |
Would I have been working? | Wouldn't I have been working? |
Would you have been working? | Wouldn't you have been working? |
Would he have been working? | Wouldn't she have been working? |
Would we have been working? | Wouldn't we have been working? |
Would you have been working? | Wouldn't you have been working? |
Would they have been working? | Wouldn't they have been working? |
2. Function
This tense can be used in Type 3 conditional sentences. It refers to the unfulfilled result of the action in the if-clause, and expresses this result as an unfinished or continuous action. Again, there is always an unspoken "but.." phrase:Examples
- If the weather had been better (but it wasn't), I'd have been sitting in the garden when he arrived (but I wasn't and so I didn't see him).
- If she hadn't got a job in London (but she did), she would have been working in Paris (but she wasn't).
- If I'd had a ball I would have been playing football.
- If I'd had any money I'd have been drinking with my friends in the pub that night.
- If I had known it was dangerous I wouldn't have been climbing that cliff.
- She wouldn't have been wearing a seat-belt if her father hadn't told her to.
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