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Understanding the Third Conditional

The document discusses the third conditional, which is used to talk about hypothetical or imaginary situations in the past. It follows the structure "if + past perfect + would/could/might have + past participle." Examples are provided to illustrate expressing regret, criticism, and relief using the third conditional. Practice with historical events is suggested to think about how things could have been different if certain things had not occurred.

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Ana Laguna
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35 views12 pages

Understanding the Third Conditional

The document discusses the third conditional, which is used to talk about hypothetical or imaginary situations in the past. It follows the structure "if + past perfect + would/could/might have + past participle." Examples are provided to illustrate expressing regret, criticism, and relief using the third conditional. Practice with historical events is suggested to think about how things could have been different if certain things had not occurred.

Uploaded by

Ana Laguna
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Third

Conditional
Third Conditional

THIRD CONDITIONAL
Use it to talk about how things could have been different in
the past. Hypothetical or imaginary situations.

COMPARE:
Yesterday I got up late and missed my train.
---> the real situation
If I hadn’t got up late yesterday, I wouldn’t have missed
my train.
---> the hypothetical or imaginary past situation
Third Conditional

IF + PAST PERFECT + WOULD HAVE + VERB (PAST PARTICIPLE) 


If you had put yeast, the cake would have risen.
Third Conditional

LOOK AT THESE OTHER EXAMPLES


[Link]
Minute 8:02 - 8:47
REMEMBER PAST PERFECT!

SUBJECT + HAD + VERB (PAST PARTICIPLE) 


I had arrived home when you called me.
The game had already finished when they got home.

SUBJECT +  HAD NOT + VERB (PAST PARTICIPLE)


Samantha hadn’t had time to explain her side of the story.
I had not eaten at that restaurant before today.

HAD + SUBJECT + VERB (PAST PARTICIPLE)


Had you had time to rehearse the song?
Had she visited this place before?
Third conditional

IF + PAST PERFECT + WOULD/COULD/MIGHT HAVE


+ VERB (PAST PARTICIPLE) 

You can use other modal verbs (could or might) instead of


would to make the result less certain:

If she had studied, she would have passed the exam


If she had studied, she could have passed the exam
If she had studied, she might have passed the exam
Third conditional

You can interchange the positions of the sentence:

If I had known your reaction, I wouldn't have told you if I had


I wouldn't have told you. known your reaction.
Third conditional

You can interchange the positions of the sentence:

If I had known your reaction, I wouldn't have told you if I had


I wouldn't have told you. known your reaction.

BE CAREFUL:
Si empezamos con la condición (if) separamos las
oraciones con una coma.
Si empezamos con la frase que expresa el resultado
no hace falta poner la coma.
Third Conditional

IF + PAST PERFECT + WOULD HAVE + VERB (PAST PARTICIPLE) 

The third conditional is often used to criticize:


If you had worked harder, you wouldn’t
have failed the test.
---> But you didn’t work hard so you failed it

You wouldn't have lost your job if you


hadn't been late every day.
Third Conditional

IF + PAST PERFECT + WOULD HAVE + VERB (PAST PARTICIPLE) 

Use it to express regret:


If I'd been careful, I wouldn't
have cut myself
If I hadn’t spent all my money,
I could’ve bought a computer.
Third Conditional

IF + PAST PERFECT + WOULD HAVE + VERB (PAST PARTICIPLE) 

Use it to express relief:


If I we’d taken that route, we’d
have been stuck in the traffic
jam for hours!
---> But we didn't take that route
so we didn't get stuck
Third Conditional

PRACTICE!
Look at these events that changed history.
What would or wouldn't have happened if these events
never occurred?

The Twin Towers were attacked on


September 11th
Alexander Bell invented the
telephone in 1876
John Logie Baird invented the TV

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