What is Conditional Type 3?
The Third Conditional is used to talk about past situations that did not happen. It describes imaginary or unreal events in the past; things we wish had been different. In short, it’s about regret, missed chances, or “what could have happened”.
Structure
If + Past Perfect, would have + past participle
Example Sentences
| Condition (If…) | Result (Then…) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| If I had studied, | I would have passed the exam. | I didn’t study, so I failed. |
| If they had left earlier, | they would have caught the bus. | They didn’t leave early, so they missed it. |
| If we had known about the meeting, | we would have come on time. | We didn’t know, so we were late. |
| If she had listened to me, | she would have avoided the problem. | She didn’t listen, and she had the problem. |
| If it had rained, | the ground would have been wet. | It didn’t rain, so it stayed dry. |
Important Notes
1. The “if” part uses the Past Perfect
❌ Not: If I studied, I would have passed.
✅ Correct: If I had studied, I would have passed.
2. The result part uses “would have” + past participle
Example: If I had known, I would have helped you.
3. You can change the order
– If I had seen her, I would have said hello.
– I would have said hello if I had seen her. (No comma when the “if” clause comes second.)
4. The situation is about the past, not now or the future.
5. You can also use “could have” or “might have” for possibility:
– If I had tried harder, I could have won.
– If it had stopped raining, we might have gone out.
When Do We Use the Third Conditional?
| Situation | Example |
|---|---|
| Regrets | If I had studied, I would have passed the test. |
| Missed opportunities | If we had gone earlier, we would have found tickets. |
| Imaginary past situations | If I had been taller, I would have played basketball. |
| Expressing sympathy or blame | If you had told me, I would have helped you. |
Practice Time
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
If I ______ (know) about the party, I ______ (go).
If they ______ (leave) earlier, they ______ (catch) the train.
If she ______ (study) harder, she ______ (pass) the exam.
If we ______ (see) the sign, we ______ (turn) left.
If it ______ (rain), we ______ (stay) at home.
Summary
| Part | Example | Tense |
|---|---|---|
| If-clause | If I had studied | Past Perfect |
| Main clause | I would have passed the exam | Would have + past participle |
| Meaning | Imaginary past situation | Did not really happen (regret or wish) |
3 Comments
1/ If i had known about the party, I would have gone.
2/ If they had left earlier, they would have caught the train.
3/ If she had studied harder, she would have passed the exam.
4/ If we had seen the sign, we would have turned left.
5/ If it had rained, we would have stayed at home.
Excellent 10/10
Thank you sir