Third conditional

Third conditional

Third conditional

We use third conditional, when we are talking about something in the past which cannot be altered now, the basic structure is like this:​

"If" Clause	Main Clause
If + past perfect + comma	would have + past parcticiple
If I had worked harder,	I would have got a promotion.

Third conditional

If we put the main clause first then we don't need the comma.

Main Clause	"If" Clause
Would have + past parcticiple	if + past perfect
I would have got a promotion	if I had worked harder

Uses of third conditional

​It talks about the past. It's used to describe a situation that didn't happen, and to imagine the result of this situation.

• If she had studied, she would have passed the exam (but, really we know she didn't study and so she didn't pass)

  If I hadn't eaten so much, I wouldn't have felt sick (but I did eat a lot, and so I did feel sick).

  If we had taken a taxi, we wouldn't have missed the plane

  She wouldn't have been tired if she had gone to bed earlier

  She would have become a teacher if she had gone to university

Examples

• If you had been more careful, you wouldn't have had an accident.

  If I had seen you, I would have said hello.

  If you had studied, you would have passed the exam.

  If I had known, I wouldn't have done that.

  I wouldn't have left my job if I had known how difficult it is to find another one.

...examples

• I would have taken a photo if I had brought my camera with me.

  He would have died if the ambulance hadn't arrived quickly.

  She would have gone to your birthday party if she hadn't been sick.

  He wouldn't have become lost if he had taken the map with him.

  The team would have won if the referee hadn't taken the bribe.

Let´s practice

Select the correct answer to complete the next sentences in third conditional

Multiple Choice

If I ___ studied harder, I would have passed the exam.

• had

• have

• could

• would

Multiple Choice

If it hadn't rained, we ___ gone fishing.

• would

• must have

• had

• would have

Multiple Choice

If I'd ___ it was going to be sunny, I would have brought my sunglasses.

• think

• have

• had

• known

Multiple Choice

If I ___ them, I would have invited them to our party.

• seen

• would seen

• had seen

• have seen

Multiple Choice

I ___ (TELL) you the news if I had seen you sooner.

• would have told

• had told

• would told

Multiple Choice

I would never have believed it would be possible if I ____ (NOT) it with my own eyes.

• have seen

• hadn't seen

• would have seen

Multiple Choice

If we _____ (HAVE) enough money we would have gone to the concert.

• would have had

• had have

• had had

Multiple Choice

If it had rained yesterday , ____ (YOU STAY) at home ?

• would you have stayed

• you would have stayed

• have you stayed

Multiple Choice

If I had seen Mary I ____ (TELL) her.

• would told

• had told

• would have told

Multiple Choice

If he ___ (NOT FALL) asleep he would not have crashed his car.

• would not fallen

• have not fallen

• hadn't fallen