"would not have" vs "would have not"

Question

"would not have" vs "would have not"

Both "would not have" and "would have not" are correct, but "would not have" is more commonly used in English. The placement of the word "not" after the modal verb "would" is the standard structure in English.

Last Updated: March 31, 2024

This phrase is the standard structure in English when expressing a negative hypothetical situation in the past.

Examples:

I would not have gone if I had known.
She would not have passed the exam without studying.
They would not have believed him even if he had told the truth.
He would not have been late if the traffic hadn't been so bad.
We would not have made that mistake if we had been more careful.

Alternatives:

could not have
should not have
might not have
will not have
shall not have

While less common, this structure can still be used in informal contexts. It places the word "not" after the auxiliary verb "have."

Examples:

I would have not believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.
She would have not been able to finish the project without his help.
They would have not understood the instructions even if they had read them carefully.
He would have not known about the surprise party if we hadn't accidentally mentioned it.
We would have not succeeded without the support of our team.

Alternatives:

could have not
should have not
might have not
will have not
shall have not

Answer 1

would not have

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

would have not

This phrase is correct but less common in English.

"would not have" vs "would have not"

would not have

would have not

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