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Study this example situation:
Last month Gary was in hospital for a few days. Rachel didn't know this, so she didn't go to visit him. They met a few days ago. Rachel said:
If I'd known you were in hospital, I would have gone to see you.
Rachel said: If I'd known (= If I had known) you were in hospital. This tells us that she didn't know.
We use if + had ('d) ... to talk about the past (if I had known/been/done etc.):
- I didn't see you when you passed me in the street. If I'd seen you, of course I would have said hello. (but I didn't see you)
- I didn't go out last night. I would have gone out if I hadn't been so tired. (but I was tired)
- If he had been looking where he was going, he wouldn't have walked into the wall. (but he wasn't looking)
- The view was wonderful. If I'd had a camera with me, I would have taken some pictures. (but I didn't have a camera)
Compare:
- I'm not hungry. If I was hungry, I would eat something. (now)
- I wasn't hungry. If I had been hungry, I would have eaten something. (past)
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