THE THIRD CONDITIONAL

THE THIRD CONDITIONAL

1. USE

   • SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN
   • IMAGINARY SITUATIONS IN THE PAST
     • IF I HAD KNOWN THE TRAINS WERE CANCELLED, I WOULD HAVE TAKEN A BUS
   • IMAGINE A DIFFERENT OUTCOME

2. TWO PARTS OF THE SENTENCE

   • ONE PART IS MADE WITH IF PLUS PAST PERFECT
     • IF I HAD KNOWN THE TRAINS WERE CANCELLED
   • THE OTHER PART IS MADE OF SUBJECT PLUS WOULD HAVE PLUS A PAST PARTICIPLE
     • I WOULD HAVE TAKEN A BUS
   • WE PUT TOGETHER THE TWO PART TO TALK ABOUT AN IMAGINARY SITUATION IN THE PAST, AND ITS IMAGINARY RESULT

3. THE STRUCTURE CAN CHANGE

   • IF + SUBJECT + PAST PERFECT, SUBJECT + WOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
     • OR
       • SUBJECT + WOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE IF + SUBJECT + PAST PERFECT

4. NEGATIVES

   • WE CAN USE NEGATIVES IN EITHER OR BOTH PARTS OF THE SENTENCE
     • ABID MET HIS WIFE AT UNIVERSITY. THEY'VE BEEN MARRIEDD FOR 3 YEARS NOW. IF ABID HADN'T GONE TO UNIVERSITY , HE WOULDN'T HAVE MET HIS WIFE
     • HADN'T
     • WOULDN'T
   • USEFUL TO TALK ABOUT THINGS WE'RE PLEASED WE DID, AS WELL AS THING WE WISH WE'D DONE DIFFERENTLY

5. PRONUNCIATION

   • IN THE IF PART:
     • I AND HAD ARE SHORTENED TO I'D
       • I HAD -----> I'D
   • IN THE MAIN PART:
     • I AND WOULD ARE SHORTENED TO I'D
       • I WOULD ----> I'D

6. TIP

   • THERE'S ONLY ONE WOULD, WE DON'T USE WOULD IN THE IF PART
     • CORRECT
       • IF TOM HAD SAID SORRY, SONIA WOULD HAVE FORGIVEN HIM
     • INCORRECT
       • IF TOM WOULD HAVE SAID SORRY, SONIA WOULD HAVE FORGIVEN HIM