If - third conditional
If + subject+ past perfect verb phrase, subject + would + have + past participle verb
​
Subject + would + have + past participle verb + if + subject + past perfect verb phrase
Third Conditional - Explain
1 = An event in the past that did not happen.
2 = An event which would have followed 1, if 1 had have happened.
Past
Now
Future
Past perfect tense
would have past participle
Third Conditional - Examples
1 = An event in the past that did not happen.
2 = An event which would have followed 1, if 1 had have happened.
Past
Now
Future
had eaten this
would have been ill
If I had eaten this, I would have been ill.
​
I would have been ill if I had eaten this.
​
-
Did event 1 happen? No.
-
Did event 2 happen? No.
-
If event 1 did happen, would event 2 happen? Yes.
1 = An event in the past that did not happen.
"Hello"
2 = An event which would have followed 1, if 1 had have happened.
Past
had seen him
Now
would have said hello.
Future
If she had seen him, she would have said hello.
​
She would have said hello if she had seen him.
​
-
Did event 1 happen? No.
-
Did event 2 happen? No.
-
If event 1 did happen, would event 2 happen? Yes.
1 = An event in the past that did not happen.
2 = An event which would have followed 1, if 1 had have happened.
Past
Now
Future
had worn that
would have looked gorgeous.
If she had worn that, she would have looked gorgeous.
​
She would have looked gorgeous if she had worn that.
​
-
Did event 1 happen? No.
-
Did event 2 happen? No.
-
If event 1 did happen, would event 2 happen? Yes.
1 = An event in the past that did not happen.
2 = An event which would have followed 1, if 1 had have happened.
Past
Now
Future
read that book
would done better in his essay.
If he had read that book, he would have done better in his essay.
​
He would have done better in his essay if he had read that book.
​
-
Did event 1 happen? No.
-
Did event 2 happen? No.
-
If event 1 did happen, would event 2 happen? Yes.
Board games / Gaming
Vocabulary
Verbs
Third Conditional - Practice
rolled / I / had / a 2
would / won / we / have
If I had rolled a 2, we would have won.
​
We would have won if I had rolled a 2.
pressed / had / the green button / he
would / he / lost / have
Answer
If he had pressed the green button, he would have lost.
Answer
He would have lost if he had pressed the green button.
got / a wood card / she / had
David / a point / have / would / scored
Answer
If she had got a wood card, David would have scored a point.
Answer
David would have scored a point if she had got a wood card.
pressed / he / the X button / had
the gun / have / fired / would
Answer
If he had pressed the X button, the gun would have fired.
Answer
The gun would have fired if he pressed the X button.
Third conditional - negative
'If clause' - negative
If + subject + negative past perfect verb phrase, subject + would + have + past participle verb
​
Subject + would + have + past participle verb + if + subject + negative past perfect verb phrase
1 = An event in the past that did happen.
2 = An event which would have followed 1, if 1 had not happened.
Past
my car had not broken down
Now
I would have been on time
Future
If my car had not broken down, I would have been on time.
​
I would have been on time if my car had not broken down.
​
-
Did event 1 (car broken down) happen? YES.
-
Did event 2 (on time) happen? No.
-
If event 1 did not happen, would event 2 happen? No.
​
This means that the person would have been on time if their car worked.
1 = An event in the past that did happen.
2 = An event which would have followed 1, if 1 had not happened.
Past
Now
Future
he had not have text her
she would have gone by herself
If he hadn't have text her, she would have gone by herself.
​
She would have gone by herself if he hadn't have text her.
​
-
Did event 1(him texting her) happen? YES.
-
Did event 2 happen (her by herself)? No.
-
If event 1 did not happen, would event 2 happen? No.
​
This means that she would have been my herself if he didn't text her.
1 = An event in the past that did happen.
2 = An event which would have followed 1, if 1 had not happened.
Past
Now
We had not rolled a twelve
we would have lost
Future
Answer
If we had not rolled a twelve, we would have lost.
-
Did event 1(rolled a twelve) happen? YES.
-
Did event 2 happen? No.
-
If event 1 did not happen, would event 2 happen? No.
​
This means that they won because they rolled a twelve.
'non-if clause' - negative
1 = An event in the past that did not happen.
2 = An event which would not have followed 1, if 1 had happened.
Past
Now
Future
I had watched the film
I would not have read the book
If I had watched the film, I would not have read the book.
​
I would not have read the book if I had watched the film.
-
Did event 1(watched the film) happen? No.
-
Did event 2 (read the book) happen? YES.
-
If event 1 did happen, would event 2 not happen? Yes.
​
This means that they read the book but would not have if they watched the film first.
1 = An event in the past that did not happen.
2 = An event which would not have followed 1, if 1 had happened.
Past
I had got that train
Now
I would not have missed my flight
Future
If I had got the train, I would not have missed my flight.
​
I would not have missed my flight if I had got the train.
-
Did event 1(got that train) happen? No.
-
Did event 2 (missed the flight) happen? YES.
-
If event 1 did happen, would event 2 not happen? Yes.
​
This means that missed their flight because they did not get that train.
1 = An event in the past that did not happen.
2 = An event which would not have followed 1, if 1 had happened.
Past
Now
We had rolled a 2, 3 or 4
you would not have won
Future
Answer
If we had not rolled a 2, 3 or 4, you would not have won.
-
Did event 1(got that train) happen? No.
-
Did event 2 (missed the flight) happen? YES.
-
If event 1 did happen, would event 2 not happen? Yes.
​
This means that the person won because the couple did not roll a 2, 3 or 4.