Third Conditional

third conditional

By Andrea López

How to use it...?

We use the third conditional to talk about imaginary situations in the past and their results:

• If you had come to my party, you would have met my family.

(I didn't go to the party so I didn't meet my friend's family)

We can also use other modal verbs rather than just 'would'. For example: could or might.

• They could have arrived on time if they had taken the bus earlier.
• If you had invited more people, the food might not have been enough.

Structure

If it had rained, you would have gotten wet. Condition ... Result You would have gotten wet if it had rained. Result ... Condition

Negative

Questions

Affirmative

Add 'NOT' in the if or result clause, or in both parts.

We can start either with the result clause or if clause.

If + past participle + would have + past participle

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Double contractions

Double contractions are possible but more often in spoken English. Just pay attention to the pronunciation!

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Common uses...

Express regrets

Relief about avoiding a problem

Surprise for unexpected things

One more piece of information...

Use I wish or If only with the past perfect when we want things to have happened differently.

• I wish I’d stayed in bed this morning. (I’m having a bad day today.)
• If only I’d stayed in bed this morning

We can use the past perfect continuous in the if clause:

• If I'd been doing homework, I wouldn't have gone to the cinema.

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Sources

• BBC Learning English. (2023). BBC Learning English - Course: Upper-intermediate / Unit 1 / Grammar Reference. BBC Learning English. https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/upper-intermediate/unit-1/tab/grammar

• BBC Learning English. (2017, January 6). Pronunciation: How to pronounce “have” when it’s an auxiliary [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7Ya1BFLRmg

Thank you

Examples:

• If you'd told me you were coming, I'd have cleaned the house.
• You could have broken an arm if you'd gone faster.
• If they'd bought the TV later, they'd have paid more for it.

*Only use modal verbs in the result clause.

If you'd told me you were getting married five years ago, I wouldn't have believed you. 💍

The cake would've burned if you hadn't reminded me about it. 🎂

If I hadn't forgotten to buy cheese, I'd have had a sandwich.🥪

Examples:

• If the teacher had asked him what happened, would she have believed him?
• What would you have done if you had lost your keys?

Examples:

• I would have -> I'd've
• could not have -> couldn't've
• might not have -> mightn't've
• must not have -> mustn't've
• cannot have -> can't've
• you would have -> you'd've
• he would have -> he'd've
• she would have -> she'd've
• we would have -> we'd've
• they would have -> they'd've

Examples:

• She'd have felt worse if she hadn't taken the medicine.
• If you'd prepared pasta, I wouldn't have bought bread.

• I wouldn't have read the book if you hadn't lent it to me.