I will or I would have left by this time tomorrow?

Question

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“Will have” vs. “Would have”

I read somewhere that it is "I will". Which rule is this? Where can I find these rules for tenses?

@Kit: Wow! I had never seen this question/answer before! When I was working on structuring a new language, I drew up a chart very similar to that one. — Daniel, Aug 03 '11 at 17:25

Michael Lorton · Accepted Answer · 2011-08-03T18:19:03.307

3

"I will" means it is the current plan or expectation. "I would" implies it is no longer the expectation:

If I get the tickets tonight, I will have left by this time tomorrow.

vs.

If the tickets had not been canceled, I would have left by this time tomorrow.

EDIT: One more case that I had forgotten, the pure subjunctive or counterfactual, where the main clause has never been the expectation:

If Detroit were a nice place to live, I would have left for there by this time tomorrow.

edited Aug 03 '11 at 18:19

answered Aug 03 '11 at 17:14

Michael Lorton

You're right. I forgot about the if-then possibility. – Daniel Aug 03 '11 at 17:19
Can you tell me whether these sentences are grammatical: 1) "If the meeting finished on time, he would have caught the 3.15 train." 2) "If it rains tomorrow it would make things very difficult for us." – HeWhoMustBeNamed Jan 11 '20 at 21:11
@MrReality — the first sentence is fine; many native English speakers would use the conditional as you did in the second, but I think simple future would be preferable. – Michael Lorton Jan 13 '20 at 03:42

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