would have recognised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would have recognised" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express a hypothetical situation in the past where someone might have identified or acknowledged something if certain conditions had been met. Example: "If he had been there, he would have recognised her immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Music

Lifestyle

Sport

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yet they produced defending that Moore would have recognised.

Independent

Chances are the cops would have recognised her.

The Guardian - Film

Wallace, however, would have recognised Flannery as a kindred spirit.

The Guardian - Books

In fact, I'm not sure I would have recognised him.

The Guardian - Film

Butler would have recognised it: the culture of fallen women".

The Guardian

They were not local, she explained; she would have recognised them.

Independent

Exactly those that original readers of Tom Brown's School Days would have recognised.

Independent

In middle age Harry is a man Larkin would have recognised: disappointed, and indefinably diminished.

The Guardian - Books

It is, she believes, around 70% accurate: his friends, apparently, would have recognised him right away.

The Guardian - Music

There was a touch of the showman about the performance that the Gipper would have recognised.

The Guardian

Graves, Owen and Sassoon would have recognised this war and the strange poetry it has bred.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Remember that "would have recognised" implies a past conditional. Ensure that the context clearly establishes the conditions under which the recognition would have occurred.

Common error

Avoid using "would have recognised" when describing a current or future possibility. This phrase is specific to past hypothetical situations. For current or future possibilities, consider using "would recognise" or "will recognise".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would have recognised" functions as a modal verb construction used to express a hypothetical or conditional action in the past. Ludwig examples demonstrate this use across diverse contexts. It indicates what someone could have or would have done under different circumstances.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Books

15%

Opinion

10%

Less common in

Music

8%

Lifestyle

7%

Sport

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "would have recognised" is a grammatically correct and versatile construction used to describe hypothetical past situations involving recognition or identification. Ludwig AI confirms this with a positive assessment of the phrase's usability. It is most frequently found in news and media, and its neutral register makes it appropriate for a wide range of writing styles. When using this phrase, ensure it reflects a past conditional situation and consider alternatives like "would have identified" for subtle shifts in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would have identified

Focuses on the act of pinpointing or establishing the identity of something.

would have acknowledged

Emphasizes the acceptance or recognition of something's existence or truth.

would have noticed

Highlights the act of becoming aware of something through observation.

would have discerned

Implies a more perceptive or insightful recognition.

would have detected

Suggests the discovery of something not immediately obvious.

would have perceived

Focuses on understanding or interpreting something through the senses or intellect.

would have understood

Highlights comprehension rather than simple recognition.

would have determined

Emphasizes the act of establishing something definitively.

would have pinpointed

Focuses on identifying with great precision.

would have distinguished

Implies differentiating something from other similar things.

FAQs

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

Use "would have recognised" to describe a past hypothetical situation. For example, "If she had seen him, she "would have recognised" him immediately."

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

Alternatives include phrases such as "would have identified", "would have noticed", or "would have acknowledged", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Which is correct, "would have recognised" or "would recognise"?

"Would have recognised" is used for hypothetical past situations, while "would recognise" is used for hypothetical present or future situations. Choose the form that aligns with the time frame you're discussing. For example, "He "would recognise" her if he saw her now", versus "He "would have recognised" her if he had seen her yesterday".

What’s the difference between "would have recognised" and "would have known"?

"Would have recognised" implies identifying someone or something based on appearance or characteristics, while "would have known" suggests possessing information or understanding. For example, "She "would have recognised" his face" versus "She "would have known" his name".