Categories: Sentences

Conditional Sentences Type 3: Understanding Two Important Aspects Swiftly

As we know, there are four types of conditional sentences. They are: Zero Conditional Sentences, First Conditional Sentences, Second Conditional Sentences, Third Conditional Sentences. In this episode, we are going to discuss the Third Conditional Sentences (Conditional Sentences Type 3).

Contents hide

1. 1. The Use of Conditional Sentences Type 3

1.1. Expressing Imagined Past Situations

1.2. Past perfect tense in the “if” clause

1.3. “Would have + past participle” in the Main Clause

1.4. Implications of regret

2. 2. Pattern of Conditional Sentences Type 3

2.1. Conditional Sentences Type 3 Exercise

2.4. Conditional Sentences Type III Video

1. The Use of Conditional Sentences Type 3

Conditional Type 3 is used to talk about impossible situations in the past. It expresses a hypothetical situation that didn’t happen and its potential consequence.

Expressing Imagined Past Situations

Conditional sentence type 3 is used to express an imagined situation in the past. It is unlikely to happen. Nobody can change the past, can they? The situation is imaginary and contrary to what actually happened.

Let’s see the following examples:

If he had played well last night, We would have won the football match.
If you had come to the party last night, you would have seen Sue.
If I hadn’t gone to Oslo a few years ago, I would not have met my wife.
If I had known that you were ill, I would have gone to see you.
He wouldn’t have had an accident if he hadn’t driven his car carelessly.

“Would have + past participle” in the Main Clause

You use the main clause to express the potential outcome. The structure: “would have + past participle”.

See the following past participles:

Screenshot by Author

Implications of regret

Type 3 conditionals often convey a sense of regret or disappointment about something that didn’t happen.

2. Pattern of Conditional Sentences Type 3

Conditional sentences type 3 have the following pattern:

Sub Clause (If Clause/Conditional Clause)	Main Clause
If + Past Perfect Tense If + Subject + had + Verb III	Subject + would + have + Verb III

Conditional Sentences Type 3 Exercise

Exercise I

In this exercise, you have to choose the correct verb form in the bracket!

The accident wouldn’t have happened if the driver (didn’t stop, hadn’t stopped, stopped) suddenly.
If she had had enough money, she (would buy, would have bought, bought) the diamond ring.
If she hadn’t cheated in the match, she (would not be disqualified, would not have been disqualified, was disqualified).
If all of the passengers had put on a life-jacket, a lot of them (wouldn’t die, wouldn’t have died, didn’t die) when the boat capsized last week.
He (wouldn’t be, wouldn’t have been, was not) ill if he hadn’t gone out in the rain.

Exercise II

Write a conditional sentence type III base on the situations given.

Example:

Situation: There was a football match last Sunday. You didn’t watch it because you didn’t know it.

You write: If I had known (there was a football match last Sunday), I would have watched it.

There was a good movie last night. You didn’t know it, so you didn’t watch it.
Your old friend was in town yesterday. You didn’t invite him to dinner because you didn’t know about it.
My special girlfriend needed a screen protector. You didn’t buy it for her because you didn’t know about it.
It rained last night. My mother didn’t bring an umbrella with her because the weather was fine.
I was starving last night. There was no food in the fridge.

Answers

Exercise I

The accident wouldn’t have happened if the driver hadn’t stopped suddenly.
If she had had enough money, she would have bought the diamond ring.
If she hadn’t cheated in the match, she would not have been disqualified.
If all of the passengers had put on a life-jacket, a lot of them wouldn’t have died when the boat capsized last week.
He wouldn’t have been ill if he hadn’t gone out in the rain.

Exercise II

If I had known (there was a good movie last night), I would have watched it.
If I had known (my old friend was in town), I would have invited him to dinner.
I would have bought a scree protector for my special girlfriend if I had known she needed one.
My mother would have brought an umbrella with her if the weather hadn’t been fine.
I wouldn’t have been starving last night if there had been some food in the fridge.