The Third Conditional – British English
We use the third conditional to talk about situations in the past that did not
happen, and to imagine different outcomes.
Structure:
If + past perfect, would/could/might + have + past participle.
Examples:
• If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.
• She could have gone to the party if she had finished her work.
• They might have arrived earlier if they hadn’t missed the train.
Complete the sentences using the third conditional:
1. If he __________ (leave) earlier, he __________ (catch) the train.
2. She __________ (not fail) the test if she __________ (study) more.
3. If we __________ (know) about the traffic, we __________ (take) another
route.
4. They __________ (enjoy) the trip more if the weather __________ (be) better.
5. If I __________ (see) you, I __________ (say) hello.
The Third Conditional – British English
Structure:
If + past perfect, would/could/might + have + past participle
Example:
If she had left earlier, she would have arrived on time.
Exercise 1 – Complete the sentences using the third conditional.
Complete only the underlined part using the correct form of the third conditional.
The situation is already described for you.
1. He missed the bus because he woke up late.
→ If he _______________________________, he
_______________________________.
2. She didn’t pass the exam because she didn’t study enough.
→ If she _______________________________, she
_______________________________.
3. We didn’t go to the beach because it rained all day.
→ If it _______________________________, we
_______________________________.
4. They didn’t arrive on time because they got lost.
→ If they _______________________________, they
_______________________________.
5. I didn’t take the job because I didn’t check my email.
→ If I _______________________________, I
_______________________________.
Exercise 2 – Complete the questions or sentences using the third
conditional.
6. What would you have done if you had lost your phone?
7. If she had told me the truth,
__________________________________________________
8. What could they have done to prevent the accident?
9. If we had taken a taxi,
________________________________________________________
Exercise 3 – Find and correct the mistake.
Each sentence below has one mistake related to the third conditional. Identify
and correct it.
10. If he would have studied more, he would have passed the test.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
11. She would have helped if she would know about the problem.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
12. If I had seen you, I will have said hello.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
13. They would have enjoyed the show if they didn’t arrive late.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
14. If you would told me, I could have helped.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Suggested Answers
Exercise 1:
1. had woken up earlier / would have caught the bus
2. had studied enough / would have passed the exam
3. hadn’t rained / would have gone to the beach
4. hadn’t got lost / would have arrived on time
5. had checked my email / would have taken the job
Exercise 2:
6. I would have asked someone to help me.
7. I would have trusted her.
8. They could have driven more carefully.
9. We would have arrived earlier.
Exercise 3:
10. If he had studied more, he would have passed the test.
11. She would have helped if she had known about the problem.
12. If I had seen you, I would have said hello.
13. They would have enjoyed the show if they hadn’t arrived late.
14. If you had told me, I could have helped.
Answers
1. If he had left earlier, he would have caught the train.
2. She wouldn’t have failed the test if she had studied more.
3. If we had known about the traffic, we would have taken another route.
4. They would have enjoyed the trip more if the weather had been better.
5. If I had seen you, I would have said hello.
