Answers

1. What are the 2 reasons we use the 3rd

conditional?

a. 1) Expressing regret

b. 2) Describing a situation that didn’t

happen, and imagining the result of that

situation

2. How is the 3rd conditional formed?

a. If + past perfect, would have + past

participle (comma)

b. Would have + past participle … if + past

perfect (no comma)

3. Explain the meaning in the following sentences

with the 3rd conditional. As well, explain if it’s use

1 or 2

i. If I had worn a rain jacket, I wouldn’t have

gotten so wet!

1. I did not wear a rain jacket and

because of that I got wet! I wish I

wore a rain jacket, but I can’t change

it. This is a regret (1)

ii. People would have bought more new

iPhones if Apple hadn’t raised the prices so

much!

1. Apple increased the prices of their

phones and because of that people

 bought fewer. This is not a regret for

me, because I don’t work for Apple. I

am objectively sharing my opinion

about how things could be different

in the past (2)

iii. My belly wouldn’t have hurt so much if I

hadn’t eaten so much food!

1. I ate too much and because of that

my belly hurt. I wish I didn’t do that.

It’s a regret (1)

iv. If the politicians had passed the

environmental law, the atmosphere could

have been improved dramatically!

1. The law was not passed. If I was

involved in politics or the decision,

this could be a regret (1). But, if I’m

more of a bystander, someone not

directly involved, this is more like

imagining what might have

happened, how the past might have

been different in an observational

way (2)