Learn English – Has or had + would have been

conditionals

If it has happened, it would have been horrible.

If it had happened, it would have been horrible.

Are both correct? Can I use "has" and "would have been" like this?

Best Answer

If it has happened implies it may have happened, but you do not know it (yet). This sentence could be a so-called firstconditional_. (see link for examples):

"First conditional" or "conditional I" refers to a pattern used in predictive conditional sentences, i.e. those that concern consequences of a probable future event

If it had happened implies it did not happen. This sentence is a so-called third conditional (see the link for examples):

"Third conditional" or "conditional III" is a pattern used to refer to hypothetical situations in a past time frame, generally counterfactual (or at least presented as counterfactual).

Since you are following up with it would have been horrible, I'm guessing you want it to mean (just adding this for clarity, the latter sentence, which has the same meaning, is more pleasant to read / hear in conversation):

If it would have happened, it would have been horrible.

So you could phrase it as (the two sentences in the orange background mean the same), so you would go with the second one of the proposed options:

If it had happened, it would have been horrible.