Conditional type 3

Conditional type 3: this lesson explains the form and the use of conditional type 3. it also provides a link to exercises if you want to practice this.

The form of conditional type 3

The form of conditional type 3

[If + Subject + Past Perfect + complement] 
[subject + Modal in Past + Have + Past Participle + complement]‎

Examples :

• If she had taken her umbrella, she wouldn’t have gotten wet
• Tom would have had better marks if he had revised his lesson.

The use of conditional type 3

when we use the conditional type 3 we are referring to an impossible situation in the past. we wish the opposite of that situation.

consider this situation :

last month Ann was sick. Her friend Joan didn’t know this, and she didn’t go to see her. they met again after Ann got better. Joan said : If I had known that you were sick, I would have gone to see you. this means, that in reality, Joan didn’t know Ann was sick that why she said: ” if I had known….” and she didn’t go to see her.

Exercises are here : Conditional type 3 exercises.