Grammar / Conditional 3

T hird Conditional

If + Past Perfect ….. would have + past participle

could have + past participle

might have + past participle

Examples

If I had known you were going to the party, I would have gone too.

If it hadn’t been raining, I might not have had the accident

If you had told me you were having difficulties, I could have helped you.

Use

• Third conditional is used when referring to a past situation. We use it when we want to reflect on an event or situation in the past and imagine how that situation might have been different

• We also often use it to express a kind of regret, or a wish that things had been different.

E.g. If I had taken your advice, I wouldn’t have failed my exam = I wish I had taken your advice, but I didn’t, so I failed the exam.

Practice

Combine the following sentences to make a third conditional.

Example: I didn’t go to the first lecture. I didn’t know what assignments I had to do.

If I had gone to the first lecture, I would have known what assignments I had to do.

1. I didn’t do the homework. I didn’t understand the class.

2. I swam in the sea. I got stung by a jellyfish.

3. I came to Australia. I didn’t go to the USA.

4. I passed my first degree. I did a post-graduate degree.

5. The traffic was bad. I arrived late for class.

6. I didn’t have enough time. I couldn’t finish my assignment on time.

7. You didn’t tell me you were having problems. I didn’t you give you advice.

8. She spent all her money. She couldn’t take a taxi home.

9. His parents worked in many different countries. He was able to speak several languages.

10. It rained during the holidays. We didn’t go to the beach.

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Answers

1. If I had done the homework, I would have / might have understood the class.

2. If I hadn’t swum in the sea, I wouldn’t have / might not have got stung by a jellyfish.

3. If I hadn’t come to Australia, I would have gone to the USA.

4. If I hadn’t passed my first degree, I wouldn’t have done a post-graduate degree.

5. If the traffic hadn’t been bad, I wouldn’t have arrived late for class.

6. If I had had more time, I could have finished / would have been able to finish my assignment on time.

7. If you had told me you were having problems, I could / would have given you some advice.

8. If she hadn’t spent all her money, she could have / would have been able to take a taxi home.

9. If his parents hadn’t worked in so many different countries, he wouldn’t have / might not have been able to speak several languages.

10. If it hadn’t rained during the holidays, we would have / could have / might have gone to the beach.