Third Conditional

Third Conditional

1. Form

   • In a type 3 conditional sentence, the tense in the "if" clause is the past perfect, and the tense in the main clause is the perfect conditional or the perfect continuous conditional.

2. Uses

   • It talks about the past. It's used to describe a situation that didn't happen, and to imagine the result of this situation.

3. Function

   • Type 3 conditional sentences express an impossible past condition and its probable result, always with an implication of regret. They are hypothetical and unreal, as the reality is contrary to what the sentence expresses. The time is the past and the situation is hypothetical.

4. Examples:

   • If I were taller, I would buy this dress. If I were 20, I would travel the world. If I were you, I would give up smoking. If I were a plant, I would love the rain.

5. Contractions

   • Contractions Both would and had can be contracted to 'd, which can be confusing if you are not confident with type 3 conditional sentences.
     • 1. would never appears in the if-clause so if 'd appears in the if clause, it must be abbreviating had.
     • 2. had never appears before have so if 'd appears on a pronoun just before have, it must be abbreviating would.