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Understanding the Third Conditional

The document discusses the third conditional, which is used to talk about imaginary or hypothetical situations in the past. It can be used to express regret about past events or point out mistakes. Example sentences are given to demonstrate the third conditional structure of "if + had + past participle, + would have + past participle." Eight prompts are also included for the reader to practice forming complete third conditional sentences.

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69 views1 page

Understanding the Third Conditional

The document discusses the third conditional, which is used to talk about imaginary or hypothetical situations in the past. It can be used to express regret about past events or point out mistakes. Example sentences are given to demonstrate the third conditional structure of "if + had + past participle, + would have + past participle." Eight prompts are also included for the reader to practice forming complete third conditional sentences.

Uploaded by

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

Third conditional

Introduction

David: How was your camping holiday?

Mike: Well, it would have been all right if it hadn't rained all the time.

Harriet: If we'd gone two weeks earlier, we'd have had better weather.

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.

▪ Pattern
→ if... + HAD + past.Part ... + WOULD HAVE + past participle…

▪ The use of type 3


→ We use the third conditional to talk about imaginary or hypothetical situations in the past. This sometimes means
criticizing people or pointing out their mistakes.
If you'd been a bit more careful, you wouldn't have cut yourself.
If Matthew had set his alarm clock, he wouldn't have overslept.

→ We can also use this structure to express regret about the past.
If I hadn't fallen ill and missed the interview, I might have got the job.

Use the following prompts 1-8 to make complete sentences using the Third Conditional.

1 If I______________________(not/work) at that company for so long, I ______________________


(pursue) so many other options.
2 If she ______________________ (leave) her job, maybe she ______________________ (be)
happier.
3 If we ______________________ (not/buy) that flat, we ______________________ (have more)
exotic holidays.
4 If I ______________________ (not/go) to university, I ______________________ (get) a job.
5 If you ______________________ (take up) running, you ______________________ (be) fitter!
6 If they ______________________ (retire) earlier, they ______________________ (not/have)
enough money to live on.
7 If I ______________________ (stay) in France, I ______________________ (speak) good French
by now.
8 If you ______________________ (do) an art course, you ______________________ (be) brilliant
and selling lots of paintings by now!

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