Third Conditional
Third Conditional When we use it
We talk about an unreal situation in the past: the condition did NOT happen, we imagine the result.
Third Conditional Form
| if-part (Conditional) |
main part Result |
| if + subject + Past Perfect | subject + would have + V3 |
If + subject + Past Perfect, subject + would have + V3.
Subject + would have + V3 + if + subject + Past Perfect.
If it had rained, I would have stayed at home.
Third Conditional Rule
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clause order does not change meaning
If you had studied, you would have passed.You would have passed if you had studied.
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comma after if-clause if it comes first
If you had studied, you would have passed.You would have passed if you had studied.
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modal alternatives to would have: could have, might have, should have
If it had been late, we might have taken a taxi.If you had prepared, you could have succeeded.If you had listened, you should have known the answer.
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unless = if not (past)
We wouldn’t have gone unless it had been necessary.
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mixed conditional: past condition → present result
If I had slept more, I would feel better now.
Third Conditional Negation
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if-clause: Past Perfect + hadn’t + V3
If he hadn’t called, I wouldn’t have gone.
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main clause: wouldn’t have + V3 or negative modal
If it had rained, we wouldn’t have gone outside.If you had studied hard, you might not have failed.
Third Conditional Questions
Form like normal would + have questions; keep the if-clause (Past Perfect).
Would + subject + have + V3 + if + Past Perfect?
Wh-word + would + subject + have + V3 + if + Past Perfect?
What would you have done if the app had crashed?
Where would you have gone if you had moved abroad?
Who would you have invited if you had organized a party?
Why would she have been upset if you hadn’t written?
How would you have felt if you had lost your phone?
Third Conditional Common mistakes
❌ If it would have rained, we would have canceled.
✅ If it had rained, we would have canceled.
❌ I wouldn’t have come if he wouldn’t have called.
✅ I wouldn’t have come if he hadn’t called.
❌ Past Simple in if-clause: If he didn’t call, …
✅ Past Perfect in if-clause: If he hadn’t called, …
Third Conditional Sentences
If you had finished the report on time, we would have sent it yesterday.
If he hadn’t been late, the meeting would have started on time.
If the weather had been better, we would have had a picnic.
If they had known the answer, they would have told us.
If yesterday had been a day off, we would have gone to the countryside.
If he had worked harder, he would have got a promotion.
If you had lived closer, we would have met more often.
If we had had a car, we would have left earlier.
If I had known about it earlier, I would have prepared.
If they had been free yesterday, they would have come to us.
Third Conditional Examples
If I had had more money, I would have traveled around the world.
If she had known his number, she would have called him.
If you hadn’t eaten so much sugar, you would have felt healthier.
If they had shared the data, we could have finished faster.
If he had been more organized, he wouldn’t have missed deadlines.
If you had helped me, I would have finished this yesterday.
If the app had loaded faster, more users would have stayed.
If I hadn’t had to work late, I would have joined you.
If you had been more careful, you wouldn’t have made so many mistakes.
If we had backed up the files, we wouldn’t have lost the data.