[Grammar] Surely Francis would have informed you...

[Oceanlike]

In the following sentence, why is "would have told" correct?

Surely Francis would have informed you about the situation if he thought it was important to do so.

Thank you! :-D

 

[Rover_KE]

It's never easy to explain why something is correct.

Why do you think it might not be?

 

[andrewberlin]

They both have the same meaning, informed sounds quite formal. If this is a normal informal conversation then told would sound more natural.

 

[Oceanlike]

My apologies, it a typo error. I was seeking clarification on the tense usage of "would have informed". I was thinking of 'informed' but typed 'told' unwittingly.


Surely Francis would have informed you about the situation if he thought it was important to do so.

The explanation for using 'would have informed' has to do with the sentence being conditional? Kindly help me to understand.

Thank you!

 

[Matthew Wai]

'Would have informed' is used because it refers to the past.
I would add 'had' before 'thought' because it should be a third conditional sentence.

 

[Oceanlike]

What is a third conditional sentence?

 

[Matthew Wai]

http://englishgrammarsecrets.com/thirdconditional/menu.php

 

[andrewberlin]

Francis would inform you is part of a normal conditional sentence, talking about a present situation. For example, Francis would inform you if he thought it was important.

Francis would have informed is talking about a past situation. In English, modal verbs must be followed by an infinitive (or base form) e.g., have, go, like. Therefore to use a modal verb in the past, we have to use the present perfect form. He must have gone, she shouldn't have eaten, they will have left, etc.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Then why did Roman55 use 'had intended' instead of 'intended' below?
https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/...have-told-me?p=1226963&viewfull=1#post1226963

 

[Barb_D]

Maybe this will help.

If he thinks it's important, he will tell you. (In the future).
If he thinks it's important, he tells you. (Recurring situation, present)
If he thought it was important, he would have told you. (Something in the past)
He would have told you if he thought it was important. (Reversed order).