Conditional sentences about

unfulfilled past situations

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What do you already
know? Answer the
questions.

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What do you already know?
(1) How do we form conditional sentences
about unfulfilled past situations?
a) simple past tense in if-clause;
would + infinitive in main clause
b) past perfect tense in if-clause;
would have + past participle in main clause
c) past perfect tense in if-clause;
would + infinitive in main clause

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What do you already know?
(2) Which of the following sentences is
correct?
a) If I had not had a good education,
I would not have got this job offer.
b) I would send you a present if I’d
remembered it was your birthday.
c) If I have had your right address,
you would receive my card.
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What do you already know?
(3) Which of the following sentences is
NOT correct?
a) If I had answered the phone, I would
have got the message.
b) I would have come to the party, if I had
known where it was held.
c) If I had brought enough money,
I would have bought those trainers.
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What can you remember
about conditional
sentences?

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Conditional sentences
• describe a situation/action, and
the result that follows this
situation/action

If-clause Main clause

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Let’s review different types
of conditional sentences!

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Conditional sentences about facts
• facts or definite results

Conditional sentences about

possible situations
• likely results

Conditional sentences about

unreal situations
• results of imaginary situations

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When do we use
conditional sentences
about unfulfilled past
situations?

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Conditional sentences about
unfulfilled past situations
• the likely result of things
that could have happened
but did not

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How do we form this type
of conditional sentence?

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For unfulfilled past situations

• If-clause: earlier event/action

past perfect
If +
tense

• Main clause: likely result

would have + past participle

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 Past perfect tense would have + past participle

If I had combed my hair, I would have

known that gum was stuck in it.

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 The clauses can be switched
without changing the meaning.

When the main clause comes first,

do not add a comma.

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 would have + past participle

I would have known that gum was

stuck in my hair if I had combed it.

Past perfect tense

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If-clause: Earlier event/action

past perfect
If +
tense

Main Clause: Ability

could have + past participle

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 Past perfect tense

If Sally had been more

confident, she could have
won the competition!
could have + past participle

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If-clause: Earlier event/action

+ past perfect
If
tense

Main Clause: Possibility

might have + past participle

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 Past perfect tense

If I had not been so nervous,

I might have performed better.

might have + past participle

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Review

How do we talk about

unfulfilled past
situations with
conditional sentences?

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Unfulfilled past situations

For: If-clause Main clause

If + past perfect would have +
Results
tense past participle
Abilities
If + past perfect could have +
tense past participle
Possibilities
If + past perfect might have +
tense past participle

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The end
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