Conditional - if Clauses - Type Three
Type 3 - Third Conditional(it is also known as the "past unreal conditional")
The third conditional sentences are used to talk about situations in the past that didn’t happen and their hypothetical - imaginary consequences.
Important: We use this type only for the actions happened in the past. Therefore, situations are past and impossible to change and we just imagine the other way.
Example 1:
I didn’t study for the test, so I failed it.
(It is past and impossible to change and I just imagine the other way and say: )
If I had studied for the test, I wouldn’t have failed it.(reality: I didn't study, and failed)
Example 2:
She was late for school, because she didn’t go to bed early.
(It is past and impossible to change and I just imagine the other way and say:)
She wouldn’t have been late for school if she had gone to bed early.
Example 3:
My parents didn’t let me go out so I couldn’t go to cinema with you.
(It is past and impossible to change and I just imagine the other way and say:)
If my parents had let me go out , I could have gone to cinema with you.
How to form Third Conditional Sentences
We use Past Perfect Tense in the condition part.
We use would / could / might + have + verb3 in the main clause.
if + had verb3, would / could / might have verb3
*.If I hadn't run, I might have missed the train.
*.If you had taken your umbrella, you wouldn't have got wet.
*.They could have caught the bus if they had hurried.
*.What could you have bought if you hadn't lost your money?
*.Would you have come to his party if he'd invited you?
*.Might you have apologized to her if she had called you?
*.If we had had some time, we could have met.
*.Tom would have joined us if he hadn't been ill.
*.If I had known it, I would have told you.
*.If Sally had studied regularly, she could have passed the test.
*.If I hadn't lost your phone number, I might have called you earlier.
*.If they had informed me before, they wouldn’t have still been waiting there.
*.If she had known the address, she would have been able to help them.
*.If I hadn’t had to get up early this morning, I would have slept more.
*.If she had been listening to me, she wouldn’t have had any problems in the exam.
*.If we had been able to borrow some money, we could have bought it.
Use of a comma
When we use if clause at the beginning of the sentence we use a comma(,) :
*.If you had taken your umbrella, you wouldn't have got wet.
but when we use if clause at the end of the sentence we don't use a comma:
*.You wouldn't have got wet if you had taken your umbrella