The Third Conditional
1. Form
We form the third conditional the following way:
| Main clause | If clause |
| would have + participle
I would have visited you. you would have passed the test. |
past perfect (continuous)
If I had had the time, If you hadn’t been partying, |
| If clause | Main clause |
| past perfect (continuous)
If I had had the time, If you hadn’t been partying, |
would have + participle
I would have visited you. you would have passed the test. |
2. Meaning
We use the third conditional to talk about a past event which did not happen. With the third conditional, we express how we would like to change the past.
If I had won the lottery last week, I would have bought that sports car. (But I didn’t win the lottery so I didn’t buy that sports car.)
3. Main clause + modals
It is possible to use could or might instead of would in the main clause of the conditional sentence.
He might have gone to the party if he had been invited.
He could have met lots of friends if he had gone to the party.
4. If clause + could
We can use could in the if-clause of the conditional sentence.
If I could have flown to New York yesterday, I would have seen the carnival.
Ready to test your knowledge?
Put the grammar rules above into practice with the challenge below.
