Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Question

1. If we didn’t enjoy your company so much, we wouldn’t have stayed here for so long.
2. If we hadn’t enjoyed your company so much, we would’ve have stayed here for so long.

Answer 1

The first sentence is grammatically correct as a mixed conditional. The second sentence contains a grammatical error in its verb structure.

1. Correct Sentence (Mixed Conditional)

The first sentence is correct and uses a mixed conditional structure:

If we didn’t enjoy your company so much, we wouldn’t have stayed here for so long.

This sentence mixes the structures of the Second Conditional (for the "if" clause) and the Third Conditional (for the result clause).

1. If-Clause (Condition): If we didn't enjoy (Simple Past)
2. This expresses an unreal present condition (we do enjoy your company).
3. Result Clause (Result): we wouldn't have stayed (Would + Have + Past Participle)
4. This expresses a hypothetical past result (we would not have stayed in the past).

Explanation:

The sentence correctly states that a general, ongoing present condition (our enjoyment) is the reason for a specific action taken in the past (our long stay).

Structure	Tense Used	Meaning
Condition (If-Clause)	Simple Past (didn't enjoy)	Present reality is the opposite. (We do enjoy your company.)
Result (Main Clause)	Would have + P.P. (wouldn't have stayed)	Hypothetical past consequence. (We did stay.)

Example:

1. If I were rich (Present Condition, but I'm not), I would have bought that car yesterday (Past Result).

2. Incorrect Sentence (Grammar Error)

The second sentence is grammatically incorrect due to a redundant auxiliary verb in the result clause:

If we hadn’t enjoyed your company so much, we would’ve have stayed here for so long.

The error is the double use of the auxiliary verb "have" (would've have).

1. Would’ve is a contraction of would have.
2. Therefore, the phrase reads: we would have have stayed.

The Corrected Third Conditional Version

If you intended to use a pure Third Conditional (referring entirely to a past action), the sentence would be:

If we hadn’t enjoyed your company so much, we wouldn't have stayed here for so long.

Structure	Tense Used	Meaning
Condition (If-Clause)	Past Perfect (hadn't enjoyed)	Past reality was the opposite. (We did enjoy your company.)
Result (Main Clause)	Would have + P.P. (wouldn't have stayed)	Hypothetical past consequence. (We did stay.)

Example:

1. If you had called (Past Condition), I would have answered (Past Result).

Answer 2

1st one sounds better and makes sense

2nd one sounds stilted and seems counterintuitive not making sense