would have earned

USAGE SUMMARY

"would have earned" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the past perfect, which is a verb tense used to indicate that something happened before a past event. For example: "By studying hard, John would have earned himself a scholarship to college."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It does not compare graduates' earnings to what they would have earned, had they skipped college.

The Economist

It would have earned Melvilles admiration.

The New York Times - Books

At home, of course, they would have earned far less.

The Economist

Excluding items, A.M.D. would have earned 11 cents a share.

The New York Times - Tech

In that circumstance, Rivera typically would have earned a save.

The New York Times - Sports

Collins would have earned $7 million this season.

The New York Times - Sports

Hudson would have earned the veteran minimum of $440,000.

The New York Times - Sports

Both would have earned some income from their British editions.

The New York Times - Books

"Now they're earning in one month what they would have earned in two to three years".

The New York Times

I don't think I would have earned a degree in chemistry and math, and an M.B.A".

The New York Times

One last delivery from the ruck would have earned the tourists a draw.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "would have earned", ensure the context clearly establishes the condition that was not met. This creates a strong sense of unrealized potential.

Common error

Avoid mixing tenses when using "would have earned". Ensure that the conditional clause also uses the past perfect tense to maintain grammatical consistency and clarity. For example, avoid "If I invest, I "would have earned" more."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would have earned" functions as a conditional past perfect verb phrase, expressing a hypothetical outcome in the past, contingent on a condition that was not met. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to indicate something that could have been achieved under different circumstances.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Sports

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "would have earned" is a conditional past perfect verb phrase used to express hypothetical past outcomes. It is considered grammatically correct and very common, according to Ludwig AI. This phrase is versatile and appears across various contexts, including news, business, and sports, making it suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using this phrase, it's important to maintain consistent tense sequencing to ensure clarity and avoid common errors. Alternatives like "could have made" or "might have gained" can be used depending on the specific nuance you aim to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could have made

Indicates a potential earning that was possible, shifting from 'earned' to 'made'.

might have gained

Suggests a possibility of acquiring something, differing in the level of certainty.

would have received

Focuses on the act of receiving rather than earning, altering the perspective.

could potentially grossed

Emphasizes the gross amount, introducing a financial term.

would have profited

Specifically indicates a financial gain or advantage.

might have collected

Indicates that there was a possibility that the subject had gathered or accumulated something

could have reaped

Implies gaining something as a result of one's actions.

would have deserved

Highlights what someone merited or was worthy of receiving.

should have been credited with

Focuses on acknowledgment or recognition for something achieved.

might have been compensated

Emphasizes the act of being reimbursed or rewarded for services or losses.

FAQs

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

"Would have earned" is used to describe a hypothetical past outcome. For example, "She "would have earned" a promotion if she had met her sales targets."

What is a good alternative to "would have earned"?

Alternatives include "could have made", "might have gained", or "would have received", depending on the specific context.

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

No, "would of earned" is incorrect. The correct form is "would have earned", which uses the auxiliary verb "have" to form the past perfect conditional.

What's the difference between "would have earned" and "would earn"?

"Would have earned" refers to a hypothetical past situation, while "would earn" refers to a future or habitual action in a hypothetical situation. For example, "If I worked harder, I "would have earned" more last year" versus "If I work harder, I "would earn" more next year."