TYPE 3. 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:
'IF' CLAUSE | MAIN CLAUSE |
If +
past perfect If it had rained If you had worked harder |
Perfect
conditional you would have got wet you would have passed the exam. |
Perfect conditional -
form
The perfect conditional of any verb is composed of two elements:
would + the perfect infinitive of the main verb (=have + past
participle):
Subject | would | perfect infinitive |
He They |
would would |
have
gone... have stayed... |
Affirmative | ||
I | would | have believed ... |
Negative | ||
She | wouldn't | have given... |
Interrogative | ||
Would | you | have left...? |
Interrogative negative | ||
Wouldn't | he | have been...? |
Example: to go, Past conditional
Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
I would have gone | I wouldn't have gone | Would I have gone? |
You would have gone | You wouldn't have gone | Would you have gone? |
He would have gone | She wouldn't have gone | Would it have gone? |
We would have gone | We wouldn't have gone | Would we have gone? |
You would have gone | You wouldn't have gone | Would you have gone? |
They would have gone | They wouldn't have gone | Would they have gone? |
In these sentences, the time is past, and the situation is contrary to reality. The facts they are based on are the opposite of what is expressed.
Type 3 conditional sentences, are truly hypothetical or unreal, because it is now too late for the condition or its result to exist. There is always an unspoken "but..." phrase:
NOTE: Both would and had can be contracted to 'd, which can be confusing. Remember that you NEVER use would in the IF-clause, so in the example above, "If I'd known" must be "If I had known", and "I'd have baked" must be "I would have baked.."
Examples:
a. If I'd
known you were in hospital, I would
have visited you.
b. I would have bought you a present
if I'd known it was your birthday.
c. If they'd had a better goalkeeper
they wouldn't have lost the game.
d. If you had told me you were on the
Internet, I'd have sent
you an e-mail.
e. Would you have
bought an elephant if
you'd known how much they eat?