Conditional statements are used to imagine things that might happen or could have happened. There are four types of conditionals in English.
The third conditional is used to discuss actions and situations in the past. By using the third conditional, we imagine or hypothesize another result of a past action or situation.
If + subject + had + past perfect […] subject + would have + past participle
Let’s look at some examples:
(Reality: I did not go to the party because you didn’t tell me about it.)
(Reality: I got a bad grade because I didn’t study for the exam.)
(Reality: We were on time for class because we did not get coffee earlier.)
(Reality: They didn’t go to the concert, so I didn’t go either.)
If + subject + had + past perfect […] subject + would not have + past participle
Or
If + subject + had + not […] subject + would have + past participle
(Reality: They left me at home by myself, so I was lonely.)
(Reality: I went to an event because I didn’t know it would start raining.)
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
(Reality: You alerted me to the car coming, so I didn’t get hit by it.)
(Reality: They wore their coats, so they were not cold.)
Finally, we can flip or invert these structures to create new sentences with the same meaning.
Subject + would have + past participle […] if + subject + had + past perfect
Inverted negative forms:
Subject + would not have + past participle […] if + subject + had + past perfect
Subject + would have + past participle […] if + subject + had + not + past perfect
As you may have noticed, ‘d can mean “had” or “would.” If you are unsure if ‘d means “would” or “had,” just remember:
● When ‘d is followed by a past participle (I’d gone), then ‘d = had.
● When ‘d is followed by a verb base or root form (I’d have), then ‘d = would.
Contractions are a great way to improve your fluency while speaking. However, be mindful that contractions should not be used in formal or academic writing.
The third conditional is used to talk about a past event or situation and imagine a different outcome. If you’re struggling to use the third conditional or would like an expert to give personalized feedback on your writing, we’ll proofread your first 500 words for free!
Δ
4-minute read
Are you writing a new business plan or looking to grow your company? Market research...
3-minute read
In today’s digital age, engaging and interactive presentations are a great way to capture your...
Creating engaging and visually appealing presentations is something that most professionals, as well as students,...
Medical writing is a niche branch of writing that focuses on creating content related to...
5-minute read
If you want to use information from a PowerPoint presentation in your essay, you’ll need...
In the fast-paced world of modern marketing, effective communication is essential for businesses looking to...