The Third Conditional

The use:

We use the third conditional to communicate hypothetical situations in the past.

Basically, we use it to imagine a past situation opposite from what really happened.

*Remember: All the conditional sentences have the hypothetical condition (if+
….) and the hypothetical result.

Structure of the third conditional:

Hypothetical condition in the past (If + Past perfect) Example: If I hadn’t

finished the university in year 2004.

Hypothetical result in the past (Subject + would have + Verb in past

participle ) Example: I wouldn’t have become a teacher at Politecnico in 2006.

“If I hadn’t finished the university in year 2004. I wouldn’t have

become a teacher at Politecnico in 2006”

I wouldn’t have become a teacher at Politecnico in 2006 If I hadn’t

finished the university in year 2004.

Other examples:

 If she had studied, she would have passed the exam (Reality: she didn't study
and so she didn't pass)

 If I hadn't eaten so much, I wouldn't have felt sick (Reality: I ate so much and
I felt sick).
 If we had taken a taxi, we wouldn't have missed the plane ( Reality: We didn’t
take a taxi so we missed the plane)

 he wouldn't have been tired if she had gone to bed earlier ( Reality: He was
tired because he didn’t go to bed earlier)

 She would have become a teacher if she had gone to university (Reality: She
didn’t become a teacher because she didn’t go to the university)

 He would have been on time for the interview if he had left the house at nine.
(Reality: He wasn’t on time for the interview because he didn’t leave the house at
nine)