He would have ruined vs Have been ruined

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings and usage. 'He would have ruined' is used to talk about a hypothetical situation in the past where someone had the intention or possibility of ruining something. 'Have been ruined' is used to describe a situation where something has already been ruined in the past.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 2359 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to talk about a hypothetical situation in the past.

"He would have ruined"

This phrase is used to discuss a situation in the past where someone had the intention or possibility of ruining something, but it didn't actually happen.

Examples:

If he had taken over the project, he would have ruined it completely.
She would have ruined the surprise if she had told him about the party.
He would have ruined his chances if he had missed the interview.
I would have ruined the cake if I had left it in the oven for longer.
They would have ruined the painting if they had used the wrong colors.

Show examples from the web [+]

If it had not been for your help, he would have been ruined.
He could have ruined your business if he had made his fraud public.
Presumptous and brutal, he almost provoked a revolt that would have ruined our effort in the search for El Dorado.
Television and films have ruined he counry!
He seemed to have ruined his own innocence... to a confusing, hybrid condition, which he had yet to see clearly...
He left it with me while he was away to keep him close, and now you have ruined it!
Because if it was ruined, he would have just got in the Marina, so he must be in the Capri.
Because if it was ruined, he would have just got in the Marina, so he must be in the Capri.
And an OSHA infraction would have ruined his career.
No doubt that would have ruined the friendship.
I might have ruined Winston's chances of being a cop.
You have ruined me and my life.
It's about the party, which you have ruined.
And those who have ruined this world, continue to do so undisturbed.
Congratulations, you have ruined a beautiful song.
My uncle would have ruined this company with his research and forward thinking.
These photos have ruined my life.
These rebels have ruined empire day!
They have ruined a number of academic reputations.
My stepson's recklessness could have ruined us.

Alternatives:

he could have ruined
he might have ruined
he should have ruined
he had the potential to ruin
he was likely to ruin

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to describe a situation where something has already been ruined in the past.

"Have been ruined"

This phrase is used to talk about something that was damaged or destroyed in the past, indicating the current state of being ruined.

Examples:

The house had been ruined by the storm.
Her reputation has been ruined by the scandal.
The painting had been ruined by water damage.
The project has been ruined by mismanagement.
The cake had been ruined by overbaking.

Show examples from the web [+]

Both of our lives have been ruined by these people.
Two lives have been ruined, okay?
But it's not just stuffed animals that have been ruined.
The countries of Central and Eastern Europe have been ruined by over forty years of Communism.
It was a terrible accident, and because of it... our careers, our futures, could have been ruined.
Like most women whose lives have been ruined by men, all Jessica really wants is security, and money buys that.
How many have been ruined so far?
Stop it! ...whose lives have been ruined by last night's mystery tornado.
Too many people's hard earned holidays have been ruined by this practice, whether it is due to mistakes by the companies concerned, or a deliberate act of policy.
I am contacted on a regular basis by people whose holidays have been ruined as a result.
Had news broken earlier, Barings would have been ruined.
If it had gone through, Nejim would have been ruined.
Too many lives have been ruined because some cheap waitress at a HoJo said she used an IUD.
If I quit Glee Club, my big plans for New York would have been ruined.
If it had not been for your help, he would have been ruined.
My life would have been ruined worse than it is now.
If I'd told him, he'd never have left and his whole life would have been ruined, too.
Several million trees have been destroyed, the olive and citrus crops have been ruined; in some cases they have been completely wiped out.
Jane, do you not see that more things have been ruined by this business than Lydia's reputation?
One guy managing three clients that would have been ruined at the reveal of the Hit Wizard.

Alternatives:

has been destroyed
has been damaged
has been spoiled
has been wrecked
has been devastated

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He would have ruined vs Have been ruined