Third Conditional

Third Conditional

1. Used to talk about past events/situations that can not be changed, OR an unreal past event/situation.

   • Ex. If you hadn't eaten so much, you wouldn't have been sick.

2. Rule: If + Past Perfect--> would/ could/might + Past Participle

   • NOTE: Past Perfect= had + Past Participle
   • Ex. If I hadn't slept late last night, I wouldn't be so tired right now.

3. Great for...

   • Criticize someone for somethig that already happened and can't be changed.
     • Ex. If you had't missed the catch, we would have won the game!
   • Express regret
     • Ex. If I hadn't lost my wallet, I would have had much more fun on my vacation.
   • Wish for changes in the past
     • Ex. If I hadn't eaten Samuel's weird tasting pie, my belly wouldn't hurt so bad! I wish I had never eaten it!
   • Fun (useful for interviews or just to get to know somebody)
     • Ex. If you could've studied at any university in the world, where would it have been?

4. Exercises

   • 1) Do you have any regrets about the past or something you wish you could change?
     • a)If I had stood up for myself earlier, I wouldn't have had to deal with as much insecurity as I did while I was growing up.
       • b) If I hadn't broken my relationship with my antique best friend I would've gotten to see him grow and maybe I would still hear things abpout him.
         • c) If I had thought more carefuly what I was going to say that one time, I wouldn't have embarrassed myself infront of that many people.
           • d) If I had said goodbye to my best friend when I was leaving the school, maybe he wouldn't have gotten so upset with me afterwards.
             • e) If I hadn't been so naive back then, I would've realised many things I do now. (Not that I exaclty regret that lol)
   • 2) Have you ever needed to criticize someone for a decision he/she made or something he/she did?
     • A) If you had made up your mind about going to the party earlier, we wouldn't have been in a rush to get there!
       • B) If you hadn't lost that bet, we wouldn't have experienced such an embarrasment.
         • C) If you had just apologized when you were completely mean to Tina, she would've forgiven you.
           • D) If you had been braver and told her you liked her, maybe she would've said she liked you too.
             • E) If Ron had made his part of the project, I wouldn't have had such a bad grade.