Hello there,
I have a question which made me quite confused. The question is that I heard from someone " we are black, 200 years ago this would have been an auction". Is this phrase simple past , if so , why is it not " 200 years ago this used to.be an auction". Please explain to me this phrase.
Thank you
Would have been
Moderator: Alan
-
AsimAbbas
- Member
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon Jan 01, 2018 8:54 am
- Status: Learner of English
-
Alan
- Teacher/Moderator
- Posts: 15254
- Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2003 7:56 pm
- Status: Teacher of English
- Location: Japan
Re: Would have been
No, it is a past conditional (hypothetical).