Poll: If it would've had an answer key, I think the book could've been more helpful.

If it would've had an answer key, I think the book could've been more helpful.

This sentence is incorrect and not at all acceptable.
This sentence is acceptable in speaking. However, it is nonstandard.
This sentence is correct.

Statistics Poll Stats

This Poll:

  • Votes: 466
  • Comments: 4
  • Added: October 2004

Comments:

Dalriata

The sentence doesn't make sense, whether speaking or writing! Completely unacceptable.

Lubos

If it had had an aswer key...
or
Had it had an answer key...

I would just like to know if it would have had an aswer key.

Vidableek

First off, I really don't like using two similar contractions in the same sentence, it sounds weird. But is the sentence wrong because it mixes would and could? It would sound Way bettter if "would've" was removed from the first part.

old gobbo

The sentence is basically unacceptable. That said, any native speaker would have little difficulty in interepreting it. The two problems are the verbs: "would've (would have) had" is needlessly phrased as a conditional when the clause should just have been 'If it "had had" an answer key'; and "could've" ("could have") should be: 'the book "would have" been more helpful'

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