English Conditional Sentences, If Clause Type 3, Conditional Type 3
TYPE 3 – UNTRUE IN THE PAST
In If Clauses Type 3, it is used to reverse the events that occurred in the past, to put forward a condition and to express the result of that condition. It is usually used for sentences that express complaints.
Example Sentences;
- If I had studied hard enough, I would have passed the math exam.
- If the student had listened to the teacher carefully, he would have answered the questions easily. ( but he didn’t )
- If my daugter had seen this toys, she probably would have wanted me to buy them. ( but she didn’t see them)
- If I had guessed the future, I would have taken some precautions againist what would happen. ( but I didn’t guess)
- If she had found his phone number, she might have called him for the party. ( but she didn’t find it)
- If I could have spoken english very well, I would have talked to the tourists in Paris. ( but I couldn’t)
- If he had been good at math, he would have got a high score from the exam last week. ( but he wasn’t good at)
- If we had had the necessary ingredients for a cake, we could have made a cake. ( but we didn’t have)
- If I had been a smart boy, I would not have annoyed my mother. ( but I wasn’t a smart boy)
- If Marry had had a meeting, she would have gone to the Office. ( but she didn’t have a meeting)
- If I had waited for you more, I would have missed the plane. ( but I didn’t wait )
- If she had gone on a picnic, she would have had a lot of fun. ( but she didn’t go)
Structures that we can use in the basic sentence;
1-Would have done and would have been doing
- If he had worn a coat, he wouldn’t have caught a cold.
- If she had started to work earlier, he wouldn’t have still been working at midnight.
2-Would have been able to and would have had to
- If your friend had helped me with the presentation, I wouldn’t have had to work on it until midnight.
- If I hadn’t run to the bus stop, I wouldn’t have been able to catch the bus.
3-Might have done (possibility) and could have done (permission and ability)
- If your boyfriend had been well-qualified, he might have been considered for the post.
- If he hadn’t learnt all the prepositions by heart, I couldn’t have done well on the test.
Structures that can be used in conditional statement;
1-Past Perfect Tense
- If there had been enough people, we would have started the meeting.
2-Past Perfect Continuous (had been doing)
- If I had been wearing my seat belt at the time of the accident, I wouldn’t have got so badly injured.
- If she hadn’t been sleeping when I got home, I could have given her the news.
3-Had had to and had been able to
- If I hadn’t had to work on my office last night, I could have watch my favourite movie.
- If they hadn’t been able to persuade their landlady, she wouldn’t have paid for the burst pipe in the bathroom.
