Scribd
Upload
46 views2 pages

Understanding Third Conditional Usage

The document discusses the third conditional, which is used to talk about unreal or imaginary situations in the past. It expresses regret over things that could not be changed, using the structure of "would have" + past perfect in the if-clause and main clause. Some examples are given to illustrate talking about what might have happened if different conditions had been met in the past.

Uploaded by

Allan Abad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
46 views2 pages

Understanding Third Conditional Usage

The document discusses the third conditional, which is used to talk about unreal or imaginary situations in the past. It expresses regret over things that could not be changed, using the structure of "would have" + past perfect in the if-clause and main clause. Some examples are given to illustrate talking about what might have happened if different conditions had been met in the past.

Uploaded by

Allan Abad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

If it hadn’t rained and if we’d gone two weeks earlier are imaginary situations in the past.

It did rain,
and they didn’t go two weeks earlier.

When we are talking about something in the past which cannot be altered now, we use: third
conditional

Third conditional if, also known as type three conditional, is used for unreal situations in the past.
One can also think of it as the imaginary case. The condition statement was unreal in the past, the
condition was not met and the dependent did not happen.

In this conditional, commonly called the past conditional, the first clause uses the past perfect
tense and the second clause uses the past participle preceded by the modal verb would and the
auxiliary verb have. We use the third conditional form when we want to express regret or to
express what might have been.
You cannot alter or change the past.

Examples
Notice how this tense can be used to say that you regret doing something or when you are telling
someone off (reproaching someone). This type of conditional can also be used when making
excuses.

Stucture: assasas

We can also change the word order of the sentence...

Would have + If + past perfect


the if clause and the main clause can be swapped.
EXAMPLE: You would have passed the exam if you had studied all of these grammar pages.

 I wouldn't have left my job if I had known how difficult it is to find another one.
 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.
 You wouldn't haved needed fillings if you had brushed your teeth more frequently.

You might also like