Conditional Type 3

The type 3 conditional refers to an impossible condition in the past and its probable result in the past. These sentences are truly hypothetical and unreal, because it is now too late for the condition or its result to exist. There is always some implication of regret with type 3 conditional sentences. The reality is the opposite of, or contrary to, what the sentence expresses. In type 3 conditional sentences, the time is the past and the situation is hypothetical.

Examples

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 I had known you were coming, I would have baked a cake.

(But... I didn't know and I didn't bake a cake.)

I would have been happy if you had called me on my birthday.

(But... you didn't call me and I am not happy.)

In type 3 conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of "would" to express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the outcome.

Examples

If I had worked harder, I might have passed the exam.

You could have been on time if you had caught the bus.

If he called you, you could go.

If you bought another ticket for me, I might be able to join you.

Structure

In a type 3 conditional sentence, the tense in the "if" clause is the past perfect, and the tense in the main clause is the conditional perfect or the conditional perfect continuous.

If clause	Main clause
`if` + `Past Perfect`	`Conditional Perfect`
If this had happened,	that would have happened
	--
`if` + `Past Perfect`	`Conditional Perfect Continuous`
If this had happened,	that would have been happening

As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is identical.

Examples

If it had rained, you would have gotten wet.

You would have gotten wet if it had rained.

You would have passed your exam if you had worked harder.

If you had worked harder, you would have passed your exam.

I would have believed you if you hadn't lied to me before.

If you hadn't lied to me before, I would have believed you.

Conditional Perfect

Subject-Verb Agreement

Affirmative

I would have drunk...
- I'd have drunk...
You would have drunk...
- You'd have drunk...
We would have drunk...
- We'd have drunk...
They would have drunk...
- They'd have drunk...
He would have drunk...
- He'd have drunk...
She would have drunk...
- She'd have drunk...
It would have drunk...
- It'd have drunk...

Interrogative

Would I have drunk...?
Would you have drunk...?
Would we have drunk...?
Would they have drunk...?
Would he have drunk...?
Would she have drunk...?
Would it have drunk...?

Negative

I wouldn't have drunk...
- I would not have drunk...
- I'd not have drunk...
You wouldn't have drunk...
- You would not have drunk...
- You'd not have drunk...
We wouldn't have drunk...
- We would not have drunk...
- We'd not have drunk...
They wouldn't have drunk...
- They would not have drunk...
- They'd not have drunk...
He wouldn't have drunk...
- He would not have drunk...
- He'd not have drunk...
She wouldn't have drunk...
- She would not have drunk...
- She'd not have drunk...
It wouldn't have drunk...
- It would not have drunk...
- It'd not have drunk...

Conditional Perfect Continuous

Subject-Verb Agreement

Affirmative

I would have been drinking...
- I'd have been drinking...
You would have been drinking...
- You'd have been drinking...
We would have been drinking...
- We'd have been drinking...
They would have been drinking...
- They'd have been drinking...
He would have been drinking...
- He'd have been drinking...
She would have been drinking...
- She'd have been drinking...
It would have been drinking...
- It'd have been drinking...

Interrogative

Would I have been drinking...?
Would you have been drinking...?
Would we have been drinking...?
Would they have been drinking...?
Would he have been drinking...?
Would she have been drinking...?
Would it have been drinking...?

Negative

I wouldn't have been drinking...
- I would not have been drinking...
- I'd not have been drinking...
You wouldn't have been drinking...
- You would not have been drinking...
- You'd not have been drinking...
We wouldn't have been drinking...
- We would not have been drinking...
- We'd not have been drinking...
They wouldn't have been drinking...
- They would not have been drinking...
- They'd not have been drinking...
He wouldn't have been drinking...
- He would not have been drinking...
- He'd not have been drinking...
She wouldn't have been drinking...
- She would not have been drinking...
- She'd not have been drinking...
It wouldn't have been drinking...
- It would not have been drinking...
- It'd not have been drinking...

Contractions

Both would and had can be contracted to 'd, which can be confusing for some learners. Remember these 2 rules:

would never appears in the if-clause so if 'd appears in the if clause, it must be abbreviating had.
had never appears before have so if 'd appears on a pronoun just before have, it must be abbreviating would.

Type 2 Type 4