The third conditional

  • B1 · Intermediate
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min

The third conditional, if + had + past participle, would / might / could have + past participle, for a past that did not happen: If he had gotten the job at KFC, he might never have started Alibaba. From the story of Jack Ma's rejections to a chain of what-ifs and advice that comes too late.

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If it had snowed,would havewouldn't have

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Reading: the man who heard "no"Reading comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find the third conditionalGrammar exercise
  6. 6The third conditionalGrammar rule
  7. 7Choose the right formGrammar exercise
  8. 8A chain of what-ifsGrammar exercise
  9. 9Find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  10. 10Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
  11. 11Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  12. 12Now you tell me!Speaking practice
  13. 13About youGrammar exercise
  14. 14Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: which is right?Grammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: a lucky stopGrammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: build the sentencesGrammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: a no that changed thingsDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. Have you ever applied for something and heard "no"? What happened next?
  2. Which famous businessperson do you admire? Why?
  3. How do you usually feel after a "no": angry, sad, or ready to try again?

Grammar rule

The third conditional

if + had + past participle, would have + past participle

For a past that did not happen: we imagine it, and its result.

if part: had + past participleresult: would have + past participle
PositiveIf it had snowed on Friday,the schools would have closed.
NegativeIf you hadn't called me,I wouldn't have woken up in time.
QuestionIf you had met Jack Ma at that hotel,what would you have asked him?
  • might have = maybe would have (a guess) · could have = would have been able to: If I had spoken Italian, I could have ordered in Italian.
  • The if part can come first (with a comma) or second (no comma): The schools would have closed if it had snowed.
  • Short forms: If I'd known (= had) · I would've known, I'd have known (= would have). We say "would-uv", but we never write would of.
  • had had is fine: If we had had more time, we would have stayed longer.
Second or third? If we lived closer, we would visit more often. (now: we don't live close) · If we had lived closer, we would have visited more often. (the past: we didn't live close then)

Watch out

  • No would in the if part (in careful English): If I would have known → If I had known.
  • After have, the past participle: would have went → would have gone · had took → had taken.
  • Questions: Would she have called us? Where would you have gone?

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