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10th Form May, 2019

The document discusses the third conditional, which is used to talk about unreal situations in the past. It provides examples of third conditional sentences, which consist of an "if" clause in the past perfect tense and a main clause with "would have" or a similar modal verb. It also notes that third conditional forms can be contracted. The document includes exercises matching third conditional sentences and writing new ones. It provides further practice identifying conditional types and using correct verb tenses in conditional sentences.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)

104 views4 pages

10th Form May, 2019

Uploaded by

Ricardo Costa

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10th form May, 2019

Third Conditional

The third conditional (also called conditional type 3) is a structure used for talking
about unreal situations in the past.

 Like the other conditionals, a third conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an
“if” clause and a main clause:

IF clause main clause

If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.

Explanation: I failed the exam, because I didn't study hard enough.

P.S. If the “if” clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the “if” clause comes
second, there is no need for a comma:

main clause IF clause

I probably would have passed the exam if I had studied harder.

 We use different verb forms in each part of a third conditional:

IF clause if + subject + past perfect verb*

main clause subject + would (OR could, OR might) have + past participle

*The past perfect is formed with the auxiliary verb “had”, and the past participle (or
third form) of the verb.

 Note also that third conditional forms can be contracted:

Full form If I had studied harder, I probably would have passed the exam.

Contracted form If I'd studied harder, I probably would've passed the exam.

1
Exercises

A- Match the sentences on the left with the ones on the right to get third
conditional sentences.

1 If Granny had taken the train, A he wouldn’t have got drunk.

2 If Jack had followed his dream, B she would have arrived much earlier.
3 If I had known you were in hospital, C I would have stopped.
4 If Ann had gone to the supermarket, D I would have come to see you.
5 If Ted hadn’t been out in the cold, E she would have been a better dancer.
6 If I had seen the red traffic light, F he would have become a great actor.
7 If the taxi hadn’t been so expensive, G she would have played with it all the
8 If Jane had taken dancing classes, time.
9 If John hadn’t drunk so much, H we would have built a beautiful
10 If there had been more snow, snowman.
11 If Kate had invited me to her party, I my father would have taken it.
12 If Mandy had got a doll for her J I would have accepted her invitation.
birthday, K she would have spent less money.
L he wouldn’t have caught a cold.

B- Write sentences with third conditionals.

1 Mary didn’t give me her phone number, so I didn’t call her.

If she had given me her phone number, I ………………………..……… her.

2 John didn’t have enough money with him last night, so he didn’t buy the painting .
If he …………………………… enough money with him, he ……………………the
painting.

3 My parents didn’t get to the station in time, so they missed their train.
If they ………………………..to the station in time, they………………….……their
train.

4 Tom didn’t do his homework so the teacher scolded him.

If Tom………………………………………….., the
teacher…………………………………..him.

5 It was very dark so I didn’t see your house.

If it………………………………………….so dark, I
...……………………………….your house.

6 Bob and Ted were very angry so they shouted at me.

If Bob and Ted…………………………..so angry, they
………………………………..at me.

2
FURTHER PRACTICE

A- What type is it? Type one, type two or type three?

1. How would you feel if you saw a bear? Conditional Type

2. I will miss you if you leave London. Conditional Type

3. Will you text me when you arrive there? Conditional Type

4. Emma would have opened her own shop if she had had the money. Conditional Type

5. If the policeman had been quicker, he would have caught the thief. Conditional Type

6. If I were you, I would do a computer course. Conditional Type

7. If it was your birthday, I would buy you a present. Conditional Type

8. Emma will write a report if the teacher asks her to. Conditional Type

9. If you don´t know the number, you won´t be able to phone him. Conditional Type

10. If she had sent us a photo, we would have recognized her. Conditional Type

B- Write the verbs in brackets in the correct verb tense.

1- The table will collapse if you (stand) ____________________on it.

2- I (give) ___________________you his address if I knew it.I don’t know his address
for the moment.

3- He could have understood you if you (speak) ____________________ more

slowly.You spoke too fast.

4- He (be) ____________________ late for the train if he doesn’t start at once.

5- More tourists (come) ____________________to our city if it had nice hotels.

6- Titanic (sink) if it (crash) into an

iceberg.