Third conditional

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• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

The third conditional

goal: you understand what the third conditional does and how to form it. 

If I .... (know) about your problem, I .... (said) it in the first place.

1. knew - would say
2. had known - would have said
3. had known - would say
4. knew - would have said

You ... (get) wet if it ... (rain)

1. would get - has rained
2. will get - rains
3. would have gotten - had rained
4. get - rain

The third conditional

The type 3 conditional refers to an impossible condition in the past and its probable result in the past. These sentences are truly hypothetical and unreal, because it is now too late for the condition or its result to exist.

There is always some implication of regret with type 3 conditional sentences. The reality is the opposite of, or contrary to, what the sentence expresses.

The third conditional

if clause: had + past participle 

main clause: would + have + past participle

If I had worked harder I would have passed the exam. 

(But I didn't work hard, and I didn't pass the exam.)

The third conditional

If I had known you were coming I would have baked a cake. (But I didn't know and I didn't bake a cake.)

I would have been happy if you had called me on my birthday. 

(But you didn't call me and I am not happy.)

She would have been sorry if she ... (miss) it

1. missed
2. had missed
3. miss
4. has missed

If they hadn’t come, I ... (be) disappointed

1. would be
2. would were
3. will have been
4. would have been

If you ... (tell) me, I ... (go).

1. had told - would go
2. told - would have gone
3. had told - would have gone
4. tell - will go

Additional info third conditional

You can replace would by could or might. 

It suggests probability/possibility instead of something definitive. 

You could have been on time if you had caught the bus.

Vincent van Gogh might not have painted the painting 

if he had felt better. 

We ... (go) if we had known about it.

1. could have gone
2. could go
3. would gone
4. could gone

If I ... (study) for a good profession, I .... (could/buy) my own flat.

1. studied - could have bought
2. had studied - could have bought
3. had studied - could buy
4. had studied - could have buyed

If I ... (get) a good mark in my Masters, I ... (could/do) a Phd.
(use a - in between the answers)

Difference in meaning 2nd/3rd

2nd: talk about hypothetical situations in the present.

3rd: talks about the same situation but in the past.

2nd: If I had more money, I would buy that fancy car.

3rd: If I'd had more money, I would have bought that fancy car

Now show what you know!

If you .... (ask) me I ... (tell) the truth.
(Use a - in between the answers)

We ... (get) lost if we ... (not/have) the map.
(Use a - in between the answers)

If the shops ... (open), they ... (buy) something.
(Use a - in between the answers)

If Ann ... (know) earlier, she ... (not/done) what she did.
(Use a - in between the answers)

If you ... (phone) me right away, I ... (could/do) the job well.
(Use a - in between the answers)

The class ... (sing) a song if somebody ... (play) the guitar.
(Use a - in between the answers)

Your turn

Do ex. 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 on pages 88/89

Homework: LC 64, 65 

before Thursday 16 June!