third conditional used on TV

[lycen]

I noticed that on TV shows and movies, for e.g.

instead of using the correct "If I had done, I would have..." to refer to a unreal past, "If I did, I would have..." is frequently used.

Is it grammatically acceptable to use the third conditional like what's spoken on screen? Thanks.

 

[phrasemix]

Hi lycen,
The version you saw on TV is the more common form in spoken English. The version you learned is the form that is taught in schools for formal English.

So it depends what you mean by "grammatically acceptable".

 

[Tdol]

Maybe this is one of the many differences between British and American English, but I wouldn't say "If I did, I would have..." is the more common form in BrE.

 

[bhaisahab]

Maybe this is one of the many differences between British and American English, but I wouldn't say "If I did, I would have..." is the more common form in BrE.

I agree, it isn't.

 

[Raymott]

I agree, it isn't.

Nor is it in other non-American countries, which generally still follow the grammar books in the use of the perfect tenses.
It seems that many Americans are now using the simple past for both the present and past perfect.