Third Conditionals Exercises and Definition, Conditionals Type 3

Third Conditionals Exercises and Definition, Conditionals Type 3

Conditionals Type 3

Conditional sentences generally show us the possible outcome of a condition, that is, these sentences are sentences in which the expected actions are dependent on a condition. Conditionals Type 3, on the other hand, is a type of conditional sentence used to describe situations that have happened in the past and are impossible to change anymore. These sentences are usually used to make a serious criticism or express regret.

How to Make Conditionals Type 3 Sentences

To construct Conditionals Type 3 clauses, you must set the Past Perfect Tense in your If clause. If we make a small reminder about the Past Perfect Tense, we can say that you should use the auxiliary verb had and the third form of the verb. For main clauses, you need to use would have and the third form of the verb, this is called the modal perfect.

If it had snowed last night, we would made a snowman but it didn’t snow enough last night.

If Harper could have spoken Japanese fluently, she would have worked in Tokyo but she could not (couldn’t).

Important Notes About Conditionals Type 3

As in other conditionals sentences, if clause and main clause can be replaced in type 3 sentences, but if a sentence starts with if clause, you should not forget to put a comma after this sentence. If your sentence starts with the main clause, you should not put a comma, otherwise, you will make a punctuation error.

If Eliza had more money, she would have gone to my hometown. / Eliza would have gone to my hometown if she had more money.

If I had had breakfast, I would been more successful at my exams. / I would been more successful at my exams if I had had breakfast.

Grammatically, we can use the past perfect tense, the past perfect continuous tense, and could + have + V3 in if clauses. In main sentences, would + have + V3, could + have + V3 and might + have +V3. We have to use it. These patterns are the most important patterns you need to know to learn Conditionals Type 3.

If I had known that you were waiting for me, I would not (wouldn’t) have made you wait.

If Johnny had came to the cinema a bit early, he would seen the movie. If he had come sooner, he could have seen the movie.

Example Sentences

• If she had gone on a picnic, she would have had a lot of fun.
• If I had studied hard enough, I would have passed the math exam.
• If scientists hadn’t invented the cures for the illnesses, a lot of people would have died.
• If they had worked hard, they would have finished on time.
• If he had come, he would have seen me.
• If he had been good at math, he would have got a high score from the exam last week.
• If we had had the necessary ingredients for a cake, we could have made a cake.