For lower levels
1. What is the Third Conditional?
We use the third conditional to talk about imaginary past situations.
Imaginary past situations are things that did NOT happen, but we imagine a different result.
👉 We use it to express regret, relief, or “what could have happened.”
2. Form
| Part | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| If-clause | if + had + past participle | if he had studied |
| Result clause | would have + past participle | he would have passed |
Grammar structure:
If + had + past participle, would have + past participle.
*had + past participle = past perfect
Positive Forms
| What happened (real past) | Imaginary result (third conditional) |
|---|---|
| She didn’t set an alarm, so she woke up late. | → If she had set an alarm, she would have woken up on time. |
| They didn’t bring a map, so they got lost. | → If they had brought a map, they wouldn’t have gotten lost. |
| I didn’t study, so I didn’t pass the test. | → If I had studied, I would have passed the test. |
Negative Forms
If-clause (negative)
If she hadn’t forgotten her keys…
Result clause (negative)
…she wouldn’t have been late.
| What happened (real past) | Third Conditional (Negative) |
|---|---|
| She forgot her wallet, so she went back home. | If she hadn’t forgotten her wallet, she wouldn’t have gone back home. |
| They arrived late, so they lost their seats. | If they hadn’t arrived late, they wouldn’t have lost their seats. |
| I didn’t save my work, so I lost my project. | If I hadn’t forgotten to save my file, I wouldn’t have lost my project. |
Let’s Practice!
Practice 1
Practice 2
Speaking
Practice 1
Spin the wheel.
Complete the sentences
Practice 2
Answer the questions
Practice 3
Flip a card.
Read the situation.
Make a sentence using the third conditional.