Third conditional
■ The third conditional is made with if + the past perfect (CONDITION), which introduces the
imaginary past situations (had + past participle) and the perfect conditional (RESULT), which
introduces the imaginary past consequence or result (would have + past participle). Apart form
would, we can also use the modals could or might:
“If we had taken a taxi, we wouldn´t have missed the train” (but we didn´t take a taxi)
“She wouldn´t have been upset yesterday if he had told her the truth” (but she was upset because he
didn´t)
“They could/might have won the match if the referee hadn´t blown for a penalty”
* Remember that we can use contracted forms for had and would:
If I´d been (had been) there last night, I´d have given (would ahve given) him the book
▪ When we use would have + past participle we are sure about the imaginary past consequence;
however, when we use could/might have + past participle it means that the result or consequence is
only a possibility, compare:
“If I had known about their problem, I would have helped” (the speaker is sure about the result)
“If I had known about their problem, I could/might have helped” (the result is just a possibility)
■ In these sentences, we are talking about the past. We use them to describe a situation that didn´t
happen and to imagine the result of that situation. The third conditional is different from the other
conditionals because we imagine how things could have been different in the past. If something had
been different, something else would have happened. As we can see, we are talking about imaginary
situations in the past and their imaginary past consequences:
“They would have found the keys if they had looked in the kitchen cupboard”
“If she had apologized, Tom would have forgiven her” (but she didn´t apologize)
▪ We often use the third conditional to express regret or to complain about something in the past:
“If I had studied harder, I would/could/might have passed the test”
“If we hadn´t posted the photos on Facebook, my parents wouldn´t have discovered the truth”
Exercises:
1- Fill the blanks with the third conditional.
If it hadn´t snowed yesterday, we …................................. (go) for a walk
If we ….....................(see) the news last night, we …............................. (know) about the strike.
If the lifeguard …...................... (arrive) sooner, he …...............................(save) the boy´s life.
You …............................(feel) better if you …...........................(apologise) last night.
If he …......................... (call) me, I …................................ (go) to the party.
We …................................ (pass) the test if we …........................ (study) harder.
