Third conditional
450 fill-in-the-gap exercises, 45 tests of ten
Had plus the past participle after if, would have plus the past participle in the result. For what did not happen.
The past participle is the third form in verb tables: written, gone, built. It never changes with the subject.
Practice this form
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The pattern
Two perfect forms, one on each side:
If they had caught the train, they wouldn’t have been late.
Both halves describe something that did not happen. They caught no train and they were late.
What it is really for
Regret, blame and explanation after the fact:
- If I had listened to you, this wouldn’t have happened. — regret
- If you had checked the figures, we would have spotted it. — blame
- If the alarm had worked, they would have woken up. — explanation
could have and might have
Replace would have to soften the claim:
- We could have caught it. — it was possible
- She might have agreed. — perhaps she would
Inversion without if
In formal writing, if can be dropped and had moved to the front:
If I had known… → Had I known…
The meaning is identical. This turns up in written English and in exam papers.
wish and if only
Both take the same form as the third conditional’s if-clause:
I wish I had said nothing. If only we had left earlier.
All forms
| If-clause | Main clause | Example |
|---|---|---|
| had + past participle | would have + past participle | If I had known, I would have called. |
| had + past participle | could have, might have | If we had left earlier, we could have caught it. |
| hadn't + past participle | wouldn't have + past participle | If it hadn't rained, we wouldn't have stayed in. |
Examples
Taken from the 450 sentences in this drill. The answer is highlighted.
- If I had studied harder, I would have gotten a better grade.
- If the baker had come at five, the bread would have been warm.
- If she had studied, she would have passed the test.
- If they had studied harder, they would have passed the exam.
- If they had gone to Italy, they would have learned Italian.
- If he had won the lottery, he would have bought a new house.
- If he had followed the instructions, the shelf would have been straight.
- She would have avoided the traffic if she had left the house at seven.
- If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.
- If we had printed a larger map, we wouldn't have missed the turning.
- If they had arrived on time, they wouldn't have missed the beginning.
- If they had caught the train, they wouldn't have been late.
Mistakes to avoid
Wrong: If I would have known, I would have called. correct: If I had known, I would have called.
The if-clause takes had, never would have.
Wrong: If she had studied, she would passed. correct: If she had studied, she would have passed.
The result needs would have plus the past participle.
Wrong: If I had went there, I would have seen it. correct: If I had gone there, I would have seen it.
After had comes the past participle. Went is the past.