THIRD CONDITIONAL

THIRD CONDITIONAL

1. USE THE THIRD CONDITIONAL TO TALK ABOUT HYPOTHETICAL (UNREAL) SITUATIONS IN THE PAST AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES

   • IF I'D SEEN YOUR E-MAIL, I WOULD HAVE REPLIED TO IT

2. WE FORM THE IF CLAUSE WITH IF + PAST PERFECT. WE FORM THE MAIN CLAUSE WITH WOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

   • THE IF CLAUSE CAN COME EITHER AT THE BEGINNING OR AT THE END OF THE SENTENCE WITH NO CHANGE IN MEANING
     • EXAMPLE
       • IF IT HAD BEEN SUNNY YESTERDAY, WE WOULD HAVE GONE FOR A WALK

3. WE CAN USE MIGHT OR MAY INSTEAD OF WOULD TO TALK ABOUT HYPOTHETICAL POSSIBILITIES

   • EXAMPLE
     • IF MY CAR HADN'T BROKEN DOWN, I COULD HAVE TAKEN YOU TO THE AIRPORT YESTERDAY