Would have done.

[tufguy]

Hi guys,

"She would have reached the gate by the time we had left".Is it correct to say if I am imagining the situation. I only "Would have reached" is the part that I am imagining.We left from there this is reality, so should I use "By the time we left or would have left"?

 

[Raymott]

Your first sentence is correct - given that you are imagining her leaving, and that you know you had left.

 

[tufguy]

But what is wrong in past simple "By the time we left".

 

[Raymott]

But what is wrong in past simple "By the time we left".

"By the time we left" is also grammatical.
"By the time we would have left" is only possible with a lot of manipulation of context. It's not natural.

 

[tufguy]

I didn't write "We would have left". I wrote "By the time we had left or we left", you are saying both can be used.

 

[bhaisahab]

Hi guys,

"She would have reached the gate by the time we had left".Is it correct to say if I am imagining the situation. I only "Would have reached" is the part that I am imagining.We left from there this is reality, so should I use "By the time we left or would have left"?

Bhai.

 

[tufguy]

Sorry bhaisahab I didn't get you. Should I say "She would have reached there by the tine we left or we had left or we would have left"?

 

[bhaisahab]

You wrote this:

I didn't write "We would have left". I wrote "By the time we had left or we left", you are saying both can be used.

I was pointing out that you did indeed write that in post #1:

Hi guys,

"She would have reached the gate by the time we had left".Is it correct to say if I am imagining the situation. I only "Would have reached" is the part that I am imagining.We left from there this is reality, so should I use "By the time we left or would have left"?

 

[tufguy]

So both can be used, right"We had left or we left". But I would prefer "We left".

 

[Raymott]

So both can be used, right"We had left or we left".
That's what I've spent several posts telling you, and no one has disagreed.
But I would prefer "We left".

Then use "we left" if that is your preference. It is one of the forms that we've told you is OK.