Were it not for replaces if it weren’t for and refers to a present or general situation, as in were it not for his stubbornness, he would have given up, while had it not been for replaces if it hadn’t been for and refers to a specific, completed past situation. Both take a noun phrase or gerund, never a full clause.
Grammar Rule
Were it not for replaces if it weren’t for and refers to a present/general situation. Had it not been for replaces if it hadn’t been for and refers to a specific, completed past situation. Both are followed by a noun phrase or gerund, never a full clause, and the main clause uses would (have) plus past participle. Never insert a subject or verb between it and not.
Were It Not For / Had It Not Been For: Rules and Examples
| Form | Refers to | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Were it not for + noun/gerund | present/general, ongoing situation | Were it not for his stubbornness, he would have given up. |
| Had it not been for + noun/gerund | specific, completed past event | Had it not been for the storm, the flight would have landed on time. |
Remember: Use were it not for for general/ongoing causes and had it not been for for a single completed past event.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below using were it not for or had it not been for correctly. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
C1-16 Were it not for / Had it not been for
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does were it not for refer to?
A present or general, ongoing situation, as in were it not for his stubbornness, he would have given up.
What does had it not been for refer to?
A specific, completed past event, as in had it not been for the storm, the flight would have landed on time.
What follows these expressions?
Only a noun phrase or gerund, never a full clause.
Can a subject or verb be inserted between it and not?
No, nothing can be inserted between it and not in either expression.