Learn English – Would I have (had) vs If I would have (had) and Had I vs If I had

conditional-constructions

I happened to be stabbed by TonyK about "Would I have" and "If I would have."

I remember pretty well that grammar books taught me this and there were examples and I oftentimes met such structure in literature, and sci-fi books that I love so much. So is it correct to say:

  • Would I have (had) a gun I would have (had them shot) shot them.
  • If I would have (had) a gun I would have (had them shot) shot them.
  • Had I known him earlier I wouldn't have gone to him.
  • If I had known him earlier I wouldn't have gone to him.

And in interrogative sentences:

  • If I had got my years back, would I have changed anything?
  • Had I got my years back, would I have changed anything?
  • If I would have eaten that, would I die?
  • Would I have eaten that, would I die?

I remember meeting phrases like:

  • I wouldn't be me would I have not studied that much in the past.
  • Would he be a racer had his parents not bought him the car?

Edit: Here I found the rule and examples (Subject–Verb Inversion and Omitting "if")

Best Answer

It would be very unusual (in contemporary English) to use "Would I had ..." or "Would I have had ..." to mean "If I had..." or "If I had had..."

Normally we'd say (in eye-dialect):

If I woulda hadda gun, Ida shot him dead, then and there.

If only ...

Would that I had a horse!

means "If only I had a horse!" or "I wish I had a horse!"

Would that I'd had a gun, I'd have shot him then and there.

If only I had had a gun, I'd have shot him, then and there.

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