20 Third Conditional

A Conditional Sentence is usually composed by two parts: the if-clause (or conditional clause) that expresses the condition, and the Main Clause that expresses the consequence of that condition.

We use the Third Conditional to talk about situations that for some reason didn’t happen in the past and the supposed results which cannot occur anymore.

The Third Conditional clause can be expressed through two kinds of structures that differ in the order of words but not in the meaning:

or

1. If I had changed my mind, we could have met them.
   We could have met them, if I had changed my mind.
2. If she had lost weight, she would have fit in her summer clothes.
   She would have fit in her summer clothes, if she had lost weight.

We use the Third Conditional to talk about:

1. Supposed result of a past situation (what could have happened) that did not happen;
2. Impossible conditions because they didn’t happen in the past and this cannot be changed.

We use a Third Conditional to talk about situations that for some reason didn’t happen in the past and the supposed results which cannot occur anymore.

A Conditional sentence is usually composed of two parts: the “if-clause” (or conditional clause) that expresses the condition, and the Main Clause that expresses the consequence of that condition.

These are the possible structures:

• Subject + would have + past participle +if + subject + past perfect (e.g. I would have gone shopping if I had known we need groceries.);
  
• If + subject + Past perfect + subject + would have+ past participle (e.g. If I had known we need groceries, I would have gone shopping.).

For example:
— “I would have gone shopping if I had known we need groceries.” - “If I had known we need groceries, I would have gone shopping.” = I did not know we need groceries, otherwise I would have gone. It happened in the past.

Let’s revise this content within the [Form] section. Take a look at the [Example] section that shows its use within a context.