Would have checked

[Maybo]

I spied four matching cannisters set up in a line on the counter to the left of the stove, marked SUGAR, FLOUR, COFFEE, and COOKIES. I was pretty damn hungry. At home I would have checked the fridge and gobbled half the contents, but of course I wasn't at home and wouldn't be for-I checked my watch-another hour.

Source: Fairy Tale by Stephen King

Why did the writer use “would have checked” and not “would check”? Did he want to emphasise the actions would have happened before the speaker felt hungry when he was at home that time usually.

 

[teechar]

The writer had the (imaginary) third conditional in mind.

[If I had been] at home, I would have checked the fridge and gobbled half the contents, but of course I wasn't at home and wouldn't be for-I checked my watch-another hour.

 

[Maybo]

The writer had the (imaginary) third conditional in mind.

Why didn’t he use “[If I was] at home, I would check…”?

 

[Tarheel]

He checked his watch and determined that he wouldn't be home another hour. He says, "I checked my watch."

 

[teechar]

He'd already used the past simple prior to that: "I spied ...", "I was hungry ...". Thus, he needed a tense further back (backshift) to make his imaginary comment.

 

[Maybo]

He wanted to express that if he had been at home like he usually did, he would have eaten food already, and he wouldn't feel hungry in that moment. Am I right?

 

[Tarheel]

He wanted to SAY that if he had been at home like he usually WAS, he would have eaten BY THEN, and he wouldn't HAVE FELT HUNGRY that moment. Am I right?

I'm reminded of a comedy bit. The comedian tells about a man talking to his wife. He says, "I'm hungry." She says, "No, you're not."

If I say "I ate" I always leave out the "food" part, and nobody is confused.

 

[teechar]

He wanted to express say that if he had been at home like he usually did, was, he would have eaten food already, and he wouldn't feel hungry in that moment. Am I right?

No. The underlined parts are not given. He is just imagining an alternative scenario. He is not at home, but he is just imagining what he would have done if he had been at home.

 

[Maybo]

Thus, he needed a tense further back (backshift) to make his imaginary comment.

Do you mean he back shifted this “[If I were]at home I would check the fridge and gobble half the contents” to this “[I had been]at home I would have checked the fridge and gobbled half the contents?

 

[teechar]

Right.