Conditional sentence type III
1. Form
In a Type 3 conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the past perfect, and the tense in the main clause is the perfect conditional:
| 'IF' CLAUSE | MAIN CLAUSE |
|
If + past perfect |
Perfect conditional |
Perfect conditional - form
The perfect conditional of any verb is composed of two elements: would + the perfect infinitive of the main verb (=have + past participle):
| Subject | would | perfect infinitive |
| He They |
would would |
have gone... have stayed... |
| Affirmative | ||
|
I |
would |
have believed ... |
| Negative | ||
|
She |
wouldn't |
have given... |
| Interrogative | ||
|
Would |
you |
have left...? |
| Interrogative negative | ||
|
Wouldn't |
he |
have been...? |
Example: to go, Past conditional
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
|
I would have gone |
I wouldn't have gone |
Would I have gone? |
|
You would have gone |
You wouldn't have gone |
Would you have gone? |
|
He would have gone |
She wouldn't have gone |
Would it have gone? |
|
We would have gone |
We wouldn't have gone |
Would we have gone? |
|
You would have gone |
You wouldn't have gone |
Would you have gone? |
|
They would have gone |
They wouldn't have gone |
Would they have gone? |
In these sentences, the time is past, and the situation is contrary to reality. The facts they are based on are the opposite of what is expressed.
Type 3 conditional sentences, are truly hypothetical or unreal, because it is now too late for the condition or its result to exist. There is always an unspoken "but..." phrase:
- If I had worked harder I would have passed the exam
(but I didn't work hard, and I didn't pass the exam). - If I'd known you were coming I'd have baked a cake
(but I didn't know, and I haven't baked a cake).
NOTE: Both would and had can be contracted to 'd, which can be confusing. Remember that you NEVER use would in the IF-clause, so in the example above, "If I'd known" must be "If I had known", and "I'd have baked" must be "I would have baked.."
Examples:
a. If I'd known you were in hospital, I would have visited you.
b. I would have bought you a present if I'd known it was your birthday.
c. If they'd had a better goalkeeper they wouldn't have lost the game.
d. If you had told me you were on the Internet, I'd have sent you an e-mail.
e. Would you have bought an elephant if you'd known how much they eat?