would have called

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'would have called' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to express something that you intended to do but didn't get the chance to do it. For example: "I would have called you yesterday if I hadn't been so busy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I would have called sooner — " "I understand".

The New Yorker

Churchill would have called his sentiment "magnanimity".

Independent

Two weeks ago, I would have called that glare".

The New Yorker

Some people would have called it abandonment.

The New York Times

— Nobody would have called the car a beauty.

The New York Times

I would have called them Ba-sidi and Mi-lalla.

The New York Times - Magazine

Not what my parents would have called a future.

The New Yorker

I wish we would have called it something else.

The New York Times - Sports

His namesake would have called this pursuing the virtuous life.

The Economist

An infantile disorder, Lenin would have called it.

The Guardian

They are what Lenin would have called terror's "useful idiots".

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "would have called" to indicate a hypothetical action in the past, often in conditional sentences. For example, "If I had known, I would have called immediately."

Common error

Avoid mixing tenses incorrectly in conditional sentences. "If I would have known" is incorrect; use "If I had known, I would have called" to maintain correct tense consistency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would have called" functions as a conditional perfect construction, indicating an action that would have occurred in the past if a certain condition had been met. Ludwig examples illustrate various scenarios where this phrase expresses missed opportunities or hypothetical situations. It is important to use the correct tense, as reinforced by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

10%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "would have called" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to express hypothetical past actions, regrets, or missed opportunities. As indicated by Ludwig, it functions as a conditional perfect construction and is suitable for various contexts, ranging from neutral news reports to academic discussions. Pay attention to maintaining proper tense consistency in conditional sentences. While the phrase is common, consider alternatives like "should have contacted" or "intended to call" for nuanced meanings. With its clear grammatical function and widespread usage, mastering "would have called" enhances your ability to communicate complex past scenarios effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should have contacted

Emphasizes an obligation that was not fulfilled.

could have reached out to

Highlights the possibility of making contact, which was not taken.

might have phoned

Suggests a possibility or uncertainty about making a call.

was going to call

Indicates a planned action of calling that did not occur.

intended to call

Focuses on the intention to make a call.

had planned to call

Similar to intending, but with a stronger emphasis on planning.

meant to ring

A more informal way of saying intended to call.

was about to call

Expresses that the call was imminent but did not happen.

would have phoned up

An alternative expression similar to would have called but more colloquial.

was on the verge of calling

Suggests a near action that didn't happen.

FAQs

How can I use "would have called" in a sentence?

You can use "would have called" to express a past action that didn't happen because of a certain condition. For example, "I would have called you if I had your number."

What's the difference between "would have called" and "should have called"?

"Would have called" describes a hypothetical action, while "should have called" implies a moral obligation or expectation that was not met. "I would have called if I knew" vs. "I "should have called" to apologize."

What are some alternatives to "would have called"?

Depending on the context, you could use "could have contacted", "might have phoned", or "intended to call" as alternatives.

Is it correct to say "would of called" instead of "would have called"?

No, "would of called" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "would have called", where "have" is an auxiliary verb forming the past conditional tense.