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But for my help he would have been ruined. vs But for my help he would ruined

The correct phrase is "But for my help he would have been ruined." The use of the past perfect tense ("would have been") conveys the idea that the help prevented the ruin from happening. The second phrase is wrong because it lacks the auxiliary verb "have" and the past participle "been."
Camille profile picture

Explained by Camille
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: December 28, 2024 • 8433 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"But for my help he would have been ruined."

This phrase is used to express that someone's help prevented a negative outcome. It requires the past perfect tense "would have been" to convey the idea that the help was crucial in avoiding ruin.

This phrase is incorrect in English.

"But for my help he would ruined"

This phrase is incorrect because it lacks the auxiliary verb "have" and the past participle "been." To convey the idea of preventing ruin, the correct form should include the past perfect tense.

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