what would you do if vs what would you have done if

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'What would you do if' is used to ask about hypothetical future situations, while 'What would you have done if' is used to ask about hypothetical past situations.

Last updated: March 21, 2024 • 1048 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to ask about hypothetical future situations.

"what would you do if"

This phrase is used to inquire about someone's potential actions in a hypothetical future scenario.

Examples:

What would you do if you won the lottery?
What would you do if you were invisible?
What would you do if you had a million dollars?
What would you do if you found a wallet on the street?
What would you do if you were late for an important meeting?

Show examples from the web [+]

What would you do if you were at home at night alone and you heard a noise in your flat/house that seemed to be footsteps? Would you stay calm or would you ...
What would you do if you were the principal of your school? What would you do if you could suddenly speak English? What would you do if you won a lottery?
A. What would you do if...? 1. boss announced an early-morning meeting a) I'd take it up. 2. you were too tired to continue exercising b) I'd pick it up. 3. your aunt ...
What Would You Do If You Weren't Afraid? Connect with Facebook. Write new rules. Chris Barbour. Achieve my goals. Ahmed Helmy. Be confident. Andrew ...

Alternatives:

What will you do if

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to ask about hypothetical past situations.

"what would you have done if"

This phrase is used to inquire about someone's potential actions in a hypothetical past scenario.

Examples:

What would you have done if you had known the truth?
What would you have done if you had missed the train?
What would you have done if you had failed the exam?
What would you have done if you had lost your job?
What would you have done if you had been caught in the storm?

Show examples from the web [+]

A: What would you have done if you had won the lottery last week? B: I would have bought a house. A: What city would you have chosen if you had decided to ...
Dec 9, 2013 ... Newt to conservatives: What would you have done if you were Nelson Mandela? Photo of Matt K. Lewis. Matt K. Lewis · Senior Contributor.
Jan 15, 2016 ... Katy Perry - what would you have done if you had 1 minute with your Idol - Katy Perry. Katy Perry World. SubscribeSubscribedUnsubscribe
Aug 31, 2014 ... What would you have done if you were in Ashya's parents's situation? This private dispute over treatment shouldn't have been plastered all ...

Alternatives:

What would you have done had

How TextRanch works

Fast and reliable proofreading, editing, and language advice tailored to your needs.

1. Choose Your Service

Quick Text Editing

Emails and short texts
Proofreading & editing
Ready in 5-10 minutes

SUBMIT YOUR TEXT NOW

Document Editing

Documents of any type (*.docx)
Advanced & Premium editing
Ready in as little as 4 hours

UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENT

Ask an Editor

Personalized answers to your language questions
Expert guidance on grammar, style, and usage
Ready in 24 hours

ASK YOUR QUESTION

Upload your document or paste your text directly into our platform. Your text is reviewed and refined by our expert editors (real people, not machines) who understand the nuances of English. Expect corrections, improvements, and insightful suggestions that enhance the clarity, tone, and professionalism of your writing.

3. Receive Your Polished Text

In just a few minutes (or hours for longer documents), you'll receive your corrected text. Review the changes, make any final adjustments, and confidently share your polished English with the world.
You can count on a personalized, friendly service every time you use TextRanch. We're committed to helping you make a great impression with every word you write.

We proofread and edit these types of texts and documents:

Short texts Business Emails Personal Emails Social media posts Resume and Curriculum Vitae Business documents Sales proposal Research and academic papers Thesis Dissertation Essays Articles Blog posts and much more....

Why choose TextRanch?

Complete Privacy

Your texts are safe and secure with us. We never share your information with third parties.

Affordable Pricing

No subscription fees and rates up to 50% cheaper than other online editing services.

100% Satisfaction

We guarantee that you'll be satisfied with the quality of our service or your money back.

Top Customer Service

Our team is here to help you with any questions you may have. Contact us anytime.

Our Customers Love Us!

We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283125 votes, and

4.9 Excellent - Reviews 2.137

"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"

Zubair
from Bangladesh

"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"

Arturo
from Mexico

"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."

Selena
from USA

"Wow, it's just so excellent. I never would have believed I could have a sure and excellent English companion. Thanks, TextRanch."

Ifiok
from Nigeria

"This is my first time using TextRanch, and I like how the editors take time to correct my text. To everyone who has never used TextRanch before, I highly recommend trying it."

Wilson
from France

"It is an amazing source of feedback because, as a non-native speaker, I really need to have a reliable helper correct my text."

Susan
from Germany

what would you do if vs what would you have done if