Conditional Type 3
Sometimes we do things which we regret afterwards. Let us take the example of the little boy who was knocked down and killed by a car last week when he ran into the road to get his ball.
If he hadn’t run into the road, he would not have been killed.
, the car wouldn’t have knocked him down.
, he’d have lost his ball but not his life.
i.e. Here we are looking at a past event and are just imagining what would or might have happened if circumstances had been different.
Summary:
- When is conditional type 3 used ?
When we imagine the possible consequences of past actions and situations which did not in fact happen. |
If + Past perfect+ Would have (done) or Would have (done) + If + Past perfect |
Examples :
- If Jane had come to school yesterday, she would have done the test.
- Jane would have done the test if she had come to school yesterday.
( but Jane didn’t come to school yesterday , so she didn’t do the test.)
- If I had known his address , I’d have called to see him last week.
- I’d have called to see him last week if I had known his address.
(But I didn’t know it , so I didn’t call to see him.)
- If his boss had given him a holiday , he would have gone to Paris.
- He would have gone to Paris if his boss had given him a holiday.
( But his boss didn’t give him a holiday, so he didn’t go to Paris.)
- If she hadn’t worked hard , she wouldn’t have passed her exam.
- She wouldn’t have passed her exam if she hadn’t worked hard.
(But she worked hard , so she passed her exam.)
Exercise
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