would have obtained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would have obtained" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express a hypothetical situation in the past where something was expected to be acquired or achieved under certain conditions. Example: "If I had known about the opportunity earlier, I would have obtained the necessary qualifications to apply."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Had they returned within two years of leaving, Matt would have obtained his visa without contention.

The Guardian - Sport

More than 30 million uninsured Americans who would have obtained coverage under Obamacare will be bereft.

The Washington Post

The result was that he had sold the stock at a price far better than he otherwise would have obtained.

The New York Times

Those in the "growth" option would have obtained 1.7 times the index, suggesting a rise of 35.2%.

The Guardian - Money

According to media reports, Mr. Tey denied corrupt intent, saying the student would have obtained similar grades in any case.

The New York Times

Ms. Tacy, too, said her new job gave her the opportunity to gain experience she never would have obtained at her previous one.

The New York Times

The general baseline adopted in this section uses as a yardstick the market in which the buyer would have obtained cover had he sought that relief.

Harvard University

The average rating from this sample does not perfectly coincide with the average rating we would have obtained if all product users had left a review.

Harvard Business Review

gf, Anand would have obtained a powerful pawn center; but after 13 Rf3 Anand had a clear target in the backward f7 pawn.

The New York Times

He probably would have obtained a cardinal's rank but for the animosity of Richelieu, who exiled him to Lyons in 1641.

Britannica

Alternatively, Arab success in the 1948 war, with the Jews driven into the sea, would have obtained the same, historically calming result.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would have obtained" to describe hypothetical past outcomes dependent on specific conditions. Ensure the context clearly establishes the unrealized condition.

Common error

Avoid mixing tenses within the conditional statement. Ensure both the 'if' clause and the main clause maintain consistent past conditional forms. For example, do not write 'If I studied, I would obtain good grades'. Instead, use 'If I had studied, I "would have obtained" good grades'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would have obtained" is a verb phrase functioning as part of a conditional clause expressing a hypothetical outcome in the past. It indicates something that could have been achieved or acquired under different circumstances. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

32%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "would have obtained" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express hypothetical past outcomes. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correctness and wide applicability. It appears most commonly in scientific, news, and academic writing, demonstrating its versatility across various registers. The phrase serves primarily to speculate about past possibilities or unrealized potential. When using this phrase, ensure consistency in tense and a clear understanding of the hypothetical conditions being presented.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would have acquired

Replaces "obtained" with "acquired", emphasizing the gaining of possession or control.

would have secured

Substitutes "obtained" with "secured", highlighting the effort or action taken to gain something.

would have attained

Replaces "obtained" with "attained", suggesting the achievement of a goal or standard.

would have received

Uses "received" instead of "obtained", focusing on the act of being given or granted something.

would have gained

Employs "gained" to indicate the accumulation or increase of something.

would have landed

Informal substitution, suggesting the successful acquisition, often of a job or opportunity.

would have captured

Implies seizing or taking something, often with force or skill.

would have clinched

Informal, meaning to secure or finalize something, like a deal or victory.

would have derived

Indicates obtaining something as a result or consequence of something else.

would have collected

Suggests gathering or accumulating something over time.

FAQs

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

The phrase "would have obtained" is used to describe a past hypothetical situation. For example: 'If he had applied earlier, he "would have obtained" the scholarship'.

What can I say instead of "would have obtained"?

You can use alternatives like "would have acquired", "would have secured", or "would have received" depending on the context.

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

No, "would of obtained" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "would have obtained". The contraction 'would've' can sometimes lead to this confusion, but it always stands for 'would have'.

What is the difference between "would have obtained" and "would obtain"?

"Would have obtained" refers to a hypothetical action completed in the past, while "would obtain" refers to a hypothetical action in the present or future. For example, 'If he had worked harder, he "would have obtained" better results' (past), versus 'If he works harder, he "would obtain" better results' (future).