If (2)

Third conditional

If clause                                     Main clause

If + Past Perfect                          would have

We use the Third conditional to talk about things in the past happening differently from the way they really happened.

• 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 it had rained last weekend,  we would have stayed at home. ( but it didn’t rain last weekend)
• If I had woken up on time, I would have taken the bus. (What really happened was that I didn't wake up on time, and so I didn't take the bus.)
• You could have arrived on time if you had used a map.
• We might have finished the work on time if they had helped us last week.
• If you hadn't lied to me before, I would have believed you.

The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a comma.

• I would have been happy if you had called me on my birthday. (But you didn't call me and I am not happy.)

We can also use this structure to express regret about the past.

• If you had married his brother instead of him, you could have been a happier person.
• If you had been driving more carefully, you wouldn't have hit that car.
• If David had married with me, I would have been the luckiest woman in the world. ( but he didn’t marry with me)
• If you want, we can use modals in both ‘ıf clause’ and ‘main clause’ or you can use modals only in one part.
• If my son could have taken the English course, he could have passed the exam.
• If  she could have gone to Mexico, she would have seen the best friends.
• If I had been an educated mother, I might have brought up my children better.

Second and third conditionals

If I went to the party, I would be tired tomorrow.

If I had gone to the party, I would have been tired.

In the first sentence, we use the second conditional because the party is in the future and we are imagining what the situation would be. In the second sentence, the party is in the past. We didn't go but we are imagining what would have happened if we had gone to it.

Compare these two sentences:

If I had gone to the disco on Saturday night, I would have met Sarah.

If I had gone to the disco on Saturday night, I would be tired now.

In the first sentence, we use the third conditional - a past possible action with the past result.

In the second sentence however, we use a mixed third and second conditional to describe a past possible action (third conditional) with a present result (second conditional).

Exercises

Second Conditional - Exercise 1 * Exercise 2 * Exercise 3 First & Second Conditionals - Exercise 1 * Exercise 2 * Exercise 3 * Exercise 4