Variations on Past Unreal Conditionals

Variations on Past Unreal Conditionals

1. "If" = Condition . "Would" = Result

2. To express a situation where both the unreal condition (if clause) and the imagined result are in the past

   • If + had(n't) + past participle | would(n't) + have + past participle
     • If you'd told me, I would have written it down
   • If + had(n't) + been + verb + -ing | would(n't) + have + past participle
     • We would've missed the announcement if you hadn't been paying attention

3. To express a situation where the unreal condition is in the past, and the imagined result is in the present

   • If + had(n't) + past participle | would(n't) + verb
     • If you hadn't heard the announcement, we would still be at the station
   • If + had(n't) + past participle | would(n't) + be + verb + -ing
     • If you hadn't heard the announcement, we would be waiting on the wrong platform now
   • If + had(n't) + been + verb + -ing | would(n't) + verb
     • If you had been watching the children, Oliver wouldn't have a broken arm now
   • If + had(n't) + been + verb + -ing | would(n't) + be + verb + -ing
     • If you had been watching the children, we wouldn't be cleaning up this mess now