Conditional sentences. “Would have” in the “if” clause

There are times in real or unreal conditional sentences where the “if” clause, or the condition is implied.

The form of these sentences is as follows:

If + would have + past participle

For example, consider the following sentences:

“If you would have told me you needed a ride, I would have left earlier.”

“If I would have cleaned the house, I could have gone to the movies.”

These sentences express a condition that was likely, but did not happen in the past. The speaker in the first sentence was capable of leaving early, but did not. Along these same lines, the speaker in the second sentence is saying they were capable of cleaning the house, but did not. These are all conditions that are likely, but did not happen.