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Understanding the Third Conditional

The document discusses the third conditional, which is used to talk about hypothetical or imaginary past situations that did not actually occur. It describes two events - an event "a" that is the condition, and event "b" that would have been the consequence if event "a" had occurred. The third conditional is formed using "if + past perfect" to describe the condition and "would/could/might + have + past participle" to describe the consequence. Some examples of how the third conditional can be used are to express regret over what could have happened if a different choice was made, or to speculate on alternative outcomes.

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Ferdydurke Gombrowicz
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108 views2 pages

Understanding the Third Conditional

The document discusses the third conditional, which is used to talk about hypothetical or imaginary past situations that did not actually occur. It describes two events - an event "a" that is the condition, and event "b" that would have been the consequence if event "a" had occurred. The third conditional is formed using "if + past perfect" to describe the condition and "would/could/might + have + past participle" to describe the consequence. Some examples of how the third conditional can be used are to express regret over what could have happened if a different choice was made, or to speculate on alternative outcomes.

Uploaded by

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

Third Conditional

Use:
Use the third conditional to talk about past events. Use it to describe what could have happened
(event b) as a result of something else (event a). However, neither event a nor event b happened.
Therefore the third conditional describes hypothetical, imaginary situations.
If I had been at home yesterday, Id have got your phone call.
(But, I was not at home, and I didnt receive your call.)
The third conditional is often used to criticise:
If you had worked harder, you wouldnt have failed the test.
(But you didnt work hard and you failed the test).
Or it can be used to express regret:
If I hadnt spent all my money, I couldve bought a computer.
(But I spend all my money and I couldnt buy a computer).
Or it can be used to express relief:
If I wed taken that route, wed have been stuck in the traffic jam for hours!
(But we didnt take that route, and we didnt get stuck)
Form:
a) Make the third conditional structure this way:
would have
If

past perfect

(had + past participle)

wouldve

past participle

d have
wouldnt have

(hadnt + past participle)


EVENT A

EVENT B

If youd told me that Anna had put on weight, I wouldnt have congratulated her on becoming pregnant.
Or:

I / you / he / she /

would have

we / it / they

wouldve
d have

past perfect
past participle

if

(had + past participle)


(hadnt + past participle)

wouldnt have
EVENT B

EVENT A

Jim wouldnt have made those mistakes if you had trained him properly.
b) You can also use may have / may not have, might have / might not have orcould have /
couldnt have to describe less certain possibilities rather than certain consequences.
You might have had an accident if youd driven home in the snow last night.

c) Sometimes the if clause is implied but not spoken.


Id have helped.
means Id have helped if youd asked me.
I wouldnt have said that.
means I wouldnt have said that if Id been there.
Common Mistakes
Some students write would after if. Would does not go in the If clause, it goes in the other clause.
If I would have seen Sally, Id have told her the news.
the news.

If I had seen Sally, Id have told her

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