Third Conditional

Third Conditional

When do we use the third conditional?

The third conditional is used to express the past consequence of an unrealistic action or situation in the past.

If he had studied harder, he would have passed the exam.

The first action (studying hard) did not happen. But in the case that it happened, the consequence was passing the exam. 

The third conditional is very similar to the second conditional.

But while the second conditional refers to something unrealistic now or in the future, the third conditional refers to something unrealistic in the past.

How do we create the third conditional?

If + past perfect, would/wouldn’t have + past participle.

Example: If you had told me about the meeting, I would have come.

More examples:

• If they hadn’t won that match, the club would have fired the manager.

• If there hadn’t been so much traffic we wouldn’t have missed our flight.

Multiple Choice

The THIRD conditional is used to...

• talk abut things that are always true

• future possibilities

• imaginary situations in the present

• unrealistic actions or situations in the past

Multiple Choice

If they hadn't been drunk, the doorman _________.

• would have let them in

• had let them in

Multiple Choice

I ________ on time if I hadn't missed the bus.

• had been

• would have been

Multiple Choice

If you _________ your last exam, you would have graduated in May.

• have not failed

• hadn't failed

Multiple Choice

My mother _________ this apartment if she had known it was so noisy.

• wouldn't have rented

• did not rent

Multiple Choice

If the store ________ open, I would have bought some food.

• would be

• had been