Would, could, should, might OF = wrong
Would, could, should, might HAVE = right
This is among the ACT’s favorite rules to test.
Why?
Because in spoken English, the words are contracted so that would have becomes would’ve, which is pronounced like would of. As a result, a lot of people very logically assume that would’ve = would of. But in reality, this construction does not actually exist.
So, for example:
Incorrect: If my parents had not forced me to attend Chinese school, I never would of developed an appreciation for the traditions of Chinese New Year.
Correct: If my parents had not forced me to attend Chinese school, I never would have developed an appreciation for the traditions of Chinese New Year.