GRAMMAR Third conditional

1. We use the third conditional to...

Talk about things could have been different in the past

2. For example, we can use it to talk about...

Hypothetical situations

3. To make a third conditional we need...

if+past perfect AND would have+past participle

4. The contraction 'd substitutes...

Both HAD and WOULD

if I'd had enough money.

I would have bought a faster car  
if I had remembered your phone number.
I would have called you yesterday  
if I had studied harder.
I might have got a better degree  
if I'd practised the violin every day.
I could have played in an orchestra  
if I'd realised the company w as in trouble.
I wouldn't have taken the job  
if I'd know n how much renting costs.
I wouldn't have left my parents' home  

1 If I’d known you were ill, I would have come to see you.

2 If the weather had been better, we would have stayed longer.
3 If I hadn’t stopped to get petrol, I wouldn’t have been late.
4 We would have missed our flight if it hadn’t been delayed.
 w ould not have w on had not given
1. We  the match if the referee  us a penalty. (not win,
not give)
had not bought w ould have been
2. If I the theatre tickets online, they  more expensive.
(not buy, be)
had arrived w ould not have caught
3. If the Police five minutes later, they  the thief.
(arrive, not catch)
w ould have hurt had fallen
4. You yourself if you  off the horse. (hurt, fall)
had know n w ould have applied
5. If I about the job, I for it. (know, apply)

1. I got to the restaurant late because I went to the wrong place first.
hadn't gone w ouldn't have got
If I  to the wrong place first, I  to the
restaurant late.

2. They called us because they had a problem.

w ouldn't have called w ouldn't have had
They  us if they  a problem.

3. Helen didn't have the right qualifications so she didn't get the job.
had had w ould have got
If Helen the right qualifications, she  the job.

4. Alex wasn't careful with his glasses so he broke them.

had been w ouldn't have broken
If Alex more careful with his glasses, he 
them.

5. You got lost because you didn't follow my directions.

w ouldn't have got had follow ed
You  lost if you my directions.
6. We didn't play tennis this morning because it was too cold.
hadn't been w ould have played
If it so cold this morning, we  tennis.

We can use might or could instead of would.

If she’d studied harder, she might have passed the exam.
We could have gone out if the weather hadn't been so bad.

1. If I had known (know) that you were ill last week, I’d have gone to see
you.

2. Tom would not have entered (not/enter) for the examination if he had
known that it would be so difficult.

3. Mike got to the station in time. If he had missed (miss) the train, he
would have been late for his interview.

4. It’s good that Ann reminded me about Nick’s birthday. I would have
forgotten (forget) if she hadn’t reminded me.

5. We might not have stayed at this hotel if George had not recommended
(not/recommended) it to us.

6. I’d have sent you a postcard while I was on holiday if I had had (have)
your address.

GRAMMAR

Match the sentence halves from the stories you've just learned about.
If the inspector hadn't stopped the train to he w ould have missed his connection.
Leeds...  
If we had arrived 30 seconds later... he probably w ould have been dead.
 
If we had come back by car... w e w ould have never seen the thief.
 
Now look at the sentences below. Answer these questions by dragging the correct
sentence to the corresponding gap:

a) Which sentence describes what really

happened? The inspector stopped the train, so he didn't miss his connection. 

b) Which sentence describes how the situation might have been

different? If the inspector hadn't stopped the train, he would have missed his conne
ction.