English grammar: Third conditional

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third conditional

If + past perfect + would have + past participle

We use the third conditional to imagine a different past.
If I had done my homework, my teacher wouldn't have shouted at me.
(In reality, I didn't do my homework, and my teacher shouted at me. So we are imagining a different past)

She would have passed her exam if she had studied more.
(In reality she didn't study enough, and so she didn't pass her exam. So we are imagining a different past)

We can use other modal verbs in place of would.
If they'd come earlier, they could have got a seat.
(In reality, they didn't come early, and they didn't get a seat. In our different past, there was a possibility of a seat)

Mixed conditional if + past perfect + would + bare infinitive
Sometimes we want to say that the result of an action is now.
If it hadn't rained, I would have gone to the beach.
(In reality, it rained in the past, and I didn't go to the beach in the past)

If it hadn't rained, I would be at the beach / would be sitting on the beach.
(In reality, it rained in the past, and I am not at the beach now. This is a mixed conditional)

See also  0 conditional | 1st conditional | 2nd conditional

Houcine said...
"After a reading or listening activity, I ask students to write down all the sentences starting with 'if'. I write one of the examples on the board:

If it hadn't rained, he'd have gone to the beach.

I elicit the form first and then ask concept questions:

Did it rain? Ss: "Yes"
Did he want to go to the beach? Ss: "Yes"
Did he go to the beach? Ss: "No"
Did he regret it? Ss: "Yes"

Point out the relationship between REGRETTING and the FORM. Also point out that this new STRUCTURE is called third conditional. (NB: eliciting is better than explaining)

Good luck."

Simone said...
"I give each student a a slip of paper with a funny excuse for not handing in homework (my dog ate it, I was abducted by aliens, my dad forgot to do it, it flew out of the bus window, etc). Students are supposed to write a short note for the teacher using the third conditional, explaining why they did not bring their homework (If my dog hadn't eaten it... ) Next, students are encouraged to write another note with their own stupid excuses for missing a class."

Maureen said...
I use inventions. I ask the students what technology they use at home. I then ask them what would life be without these inventions.

For example: We wouldn't have been able to watch the situation in Iraq if the television had not been invented.

or a mixed conditional...

If the refrigerator had not been invented, we would not have been able to store ice cream at home.

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