Third conditional

Third Conditional

We use the Third Conditional to talk about an event or situation that did not happen in the past:

Conditional clause             main clause

If+ Past Perfect                - would + Perfect

If Bruce had asked me,     I would have said 'yes.

X If I wouldn't have become a teacher, I would like to be an actor.

Yes If I had not become a teacher, I would have liked to be an actor.

• Notice how we can make either clause negative, with changes in the meaning:

If I had taken an umbrella, I wouldn't have got wet. (= but I did get wet)

If I hadn't taken an umbrella, I would have got wet. (= but I didn't get wet)

• Both clauses can be negative:

They wouldn't have missed their plane if they hadn't woken up late. (- but they did wake up late, and they did miss their plane)

• Instead of would, we can use could or might) modal verbs in the main clause:

 If you'd asked, I could've told you the answer.

I might have gone to the party if I had known about it.

• We often use if only meaning I wish very strongly'

If only he had asked, I'd have helped him.

Mixed Conditionals

Sometimes we make sentences which mix Second and Third Conditionals, especially when a past event has an effect in the present:

If you hadn't invited me, I wouldn't have gone to the party. (= I did go to the party - Third conditional)

If you hadn't invited me, I wouldn't be here now. (= I'm at the party now - Third + Second Conditionals)