Third conditional
The third conditional expresses hypothetical situations in the past and their imaginary consequences.
Before this, learn: Past Perfect
1.Clauses Recap
1.1The Basics
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. It can function as a whole sentence (a main clause) or as part of a sentence (a subordinate clause).
A Main Clause, also called an Independent Clause, expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.
A Subordinate Clause, also called a Dependent Clause, does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone: it needs more information to be a full sentence and must be connected to an independent clause.
| Main Clause | Subordinate Clause | Together |
|---|---|---|
| She will help me. | If I ask her about it | If I ask her about it, she will help me. |
| I would go for a walk. | If it weren't that cold | If it weren't that cold, I would go for a walk. |
| We'll go out. | If the meeting ends | If the meeting ends, we'll go out. |
| You'll pass the test. | If you study hard | If you study hard, you'll pass the test. |
1.2When and If
The words When and If are similar in many languages but different in English:
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| If you come to my place tonight, we'll have dinner together. | = you may come |
| When you come to my place tonight, we'll have dinner together. | = you are coming. |
2.Third Conditional UNREAL / Structure
2.1Standard Forms
The third conditional expresses hypothetical situations in the past and their imaginary consequences. It deals with situations that did not happen and speculates about what would have occurred if they had.
| Examples | Context | |
|---|---|---|
| If: Past Perfect Main: Future Perfect in the Past would have + base verb III |
If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam. | Regret about past inaction and its imaginary better outcome. I DIDN'T study hard and I FAILED the exam. |
| If they had left earlier, they would have caught the train. | Past situation that didn't happen and its imaginary consequence. They DIDN'T leave earlier and they MISSED the train. |
2.2Alternative Forms
| Examples | Context | |
|---|---|---|
| If: Past Perfect Progressive (Continuous) Main: Future Perfect in the Past would have + base verb III |
If I had been working there longer, I would have gotten a promotion. | Hypothetical duration of past action and its imaginary result. I DIDN'T get a promotion. |
| If: Past Perfect Main: could have/might have + base verb III |
If you had applied earlier, you could have gotten the job. | Missed opportunity and possible alternative outcome. You DIDN'T apply earlier. |
| If we had known about the traffic, we might have taken a different route. | Less certain hypothetical past outcome. We DIDN'T know about the traffic. | |
| If: Past Perfect Main: Future Perfect Progressive (Continuous) in the Past would have been + -ing |
If I had gone to the party, I would have been dancing all night. | Hypothetical ongoing past activity. I DIDN'T go to the party. |
3.Use
3.1Regrets About the Past
The third conditional describes past hypothetical situations and their imagined results. It refers to actions that did not happen and their consequences.
It can be used to express wishes or regrets about past actions that cannot be changed.
| Example | Context |
|---|---|
| If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam. | Reality: I didn't study hard, so I failed. |
| If she had left earlier, she wouldn't have missed the flight. | Reality: She left late and missed it. |
| If they had listened to the warning, they wouldn't have gotten lost. | Reality: They ignored the warning and got lost. |
| If we had saved money, we could have bought a house. | Reality: We didn't save, so we couldn't buy one. |
| If he had apologized, she might have forgiven him. | Reality: He didn't apologize, so she didn't forgive. |
3.2Imagining Different Past Outcomes
The third conditional describes past hypothetical situations and their imagined results. It refers to actions that did not happen and their consequences.
It can be used to speculate about how things could have been different if past actions had changed.
| Example | Context |
|---|---|
| If you had told me the truth, I would have trusted you. | Reality: You lied, so I didn't trust you. |
| If the weather had been better, we would have gone hiking yesterday. | Reality: The weather was bad, so we didn't go hiking. |
| If he had taken the job, he would have earned more. | Reality: He refused the job and earned less. |
| If she had known about the party, she would have come. | Reality: Nobody told her, so she didn't come. |
| If they had invested in Bitcoin, they would have become millionaires. | Reality: They didn't invest, so they weren't able to get rich. |
3.3Criticizing Past Decisions
The third conditional describes past hypothetical situations and their imagined results. It refers to actions that did not happen and their consequences.
It can be used to criticize or blame someone (or yourself) for past mistakes.
| Example | Context |
|---|---|
| If you had driven carefully, you wouldn't have crashed. | Reality: You drove recklessly and crashed. |
| If he had checked the map, he wouldn't have gotten lost. | Reality: He didn't check and got lost. |
| If she had set an alarm, she wouldn't have overslept. | Reality: She forgot and was late. |
| If they had followed the instructions, the machine wouldn't have broken. | Reality: They ignored the instructions and broke it. |
| If I hadn't trusted him, I wouldn't have been betrayed. | Reality: I trusted him and got betrayed. |
3.4Expressing Missed Opportunities
The third conditional describes past hypothetical situations and their imagined results. It refers to actions that did not happen and their consequences.
It can be used to talk about chances that were lost in the past.
| Example | Context |
|---|---|
| If I had applied earlier, I would have gotten the job. | Reality: I applied too late and missed it. |
| If we had bought tickets in advance, they wouldn't have sold out. | Reality: We waited, and they sold out. |
| If she had accepted the offer, her career would have improved. | Reality: She rejected it and stayed in the same position. |
| If they had trained harder, they could have won the championship. | Reality: They didn't train enough and lost. |
| If he had proposed sooner, she might have said yes. | Reality: He waited too long, and she moved on. |
4.Frequently asked questions
When do you use the third conditional?
Use the third conditional to imagine a different past: if + past perfect, then would have + past participle, for something that did not happen. For example: "If she had taken a taxi, she would have arrived on time" (she didn't take one, and she was late). It is used for regrets, missed opportunities and criticising past decisions: "If you had checked the tyres, you wouldn't have had an accident."
Second vs third conditional: what's the difference?
The second conditional imagines the present or future; the third conditional imagines a past that did not happen. Compare "If I had time, I would help you" (now, but I'm busy) with "If I had had time, I would have helped you" (yesterday, but I didn't have time). The third conditional takes the past perfect after if and would have plus the past participle in the result: "If it had rained yesterday, we would have stayed at home."
Is it correct to say "If I would have known" in the third conditional?
No, say "If I had known": in the third conditional, would have goes in the result clause, and the if-clause takes the past perfect. Say "If I had known about the party, I would have come", not "If I would have known about the party, I would have come". You may hear "if I would have" in casual American speech, but it is not accepted in standard written English or in exams.
Can you use could have or might have in the third conditional?
Yes: could have and might have can replace would have in the result clause of a third conditional. Could have shows a past possibility or ability: "If you had left earlier, you could have caught the train." Might have shows a less certain result: "If we had checked the map, we might have found a shorter route." Use would have when you imagine the result as sure: "If I had seen you, I would have said hello."
Does 'd mean had or would in "If I'd known, I'd have told you" (third conditional)?
In the third conditional, 'd means had in the if-clause and would in the result clause. So "If I'd known" is "If I had known", and "I'd have told you" is "I would have told you". A quick test: before a past participle, 'd is had; before have, it is would. "Would have" often sounds like "would of" in speech, but always write "would have" or "would've".
