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Expressing unreal past situations and imagined results.
Practice: build the sentences →The Third Conditional describes an unreal or hypothetical past condition and its imagined past result.
It is used when the condition did not happen, or is presented as contrary to what actually happened, and the speaker imagines a different outcome.
If I had known, I would have helped you.
Если бы я знал, я бы тебе помог.
Unreal past condition and its imagined result.
If she had studied, she would have passed the exam.
Если бы она училась, она бы сдала экзамен.
Contrary to what actually happened.
If we had left earlier, we would have caught the train.
Если бы мы вышли раньше, мы бы успели на поезд.
Imagined different outcome.
The Third Conditional commonly uses the Past Perfect in the if-clause and would have followed by a past participle in the main clause.
For example, If I had known, I would have helped you.
If I had known, I would have helped you.
Если бы я знал, я бы тебе помог.
Past Perfect + would have + past participle.
If they had arrived earlier, they would have seen the show.
Если бы они пришли раньше, они бы увидели шоу.
Basic third conditional form.
If he had studied, he would have passed.
Если бы он учился, он бы сдал.
Standard pattern.
The if-clause normally uses the Past Perfect to refer to an unreal or hypothetical condition in the past.
For example, If she had left earlier, she would have caught the train.
If she had left earlier, she would have caught the train.
Если бы она вышла раньше, она бы успела на поезд.
Past Perfect: had + past participle.
If I had seen him, I would have said hello.
Если бы я его увидел, я бы поздоровался.
Past Perfect in if-clause.
Would have + past participle expresses the imagined result of the unreal past condition.
For example, If we had taken a taxi, we would have arrived earlier.
If we had taken a taxi, we would have arrived earlier.
Если бы мы взяли такси, мы бы приехали раньше.
Would have + past participle.
If I had studied, I would have passed the test.
Если бы я учился, я бы сдал тест.
Imagined result.
The if-clause can come first and is normally followed by a comma.
For example, If I had known about the problem, I would have told you.
If I had known about the problem, I would have told you.
Если бы я знал о проблеме, я бы сказал тебе.
If-clause first, comma after.
If she had taken the job, she would have moved to London.
Если бы она приняла работу, она бы переехала в Лондон.
If-clause first.
The main clause can come first and is normally not separated by a comma before the if-clause.
For example, I would have told you if I had known about the problem.
I would have told you if I had known about the problem.
Я бы сказал тебе, если бы знал о проблеме.
Main clause first, no comma.
She would have moved to London if she had taken the job.
Она бы переехала в Лондон, если бы приняла работу.
Main clause first.
The Third Conditional describes past situations that are presented as contrary to reality.
For example, If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.
If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.
Если бы я учился усерднее, я бы сдал экзамен.
Contrary to reality in the past.
If they had not missed the flight, they would have arrived on time.
Если бы они не опоздали на самолёт, они бы приехали вовремя.
Unreal past condition.
The main clause describes what would have happened differently if the past condition had been different.
For example, If they had left earlier, they would have arrived on time.
If they had left earlier, they would have arrived on time.
Если бы они вышли раньше, они бы приехали вовремя.
Imagined different outcome.
If I had taken that job, I would have earned more money.
Если бы я принял ту работу, я бы зарабатывал больше.
Imagined past result.
The Third Conditional can express regret about a past decision, action, or missed opportunity.
For example, If I had taken the job, I would have moved to London.
If I had taken the job, I would have moved to London.
Если бы я принял ту работу, я бы переехал в Лондон.
Regret about a past decision.
If I had studied medicine, I would have become a doctor.
Если бы я изучал медицину, я бы стал врачом.
Regret about a missed opportunity.
The Third Conditional can criticize or evaluate a past action by imagining a better alternative.
For example, If you had listened to me, you would not have made that mistake.
If you had listened to me, you would not have made that mistake.
Если бы ты послушал меня, ты бы не совершил эту ошибку.
Criticism of a past action.
If he had been more careful, he would not have lost his job.
Если бы он был осторожнее, он бы не потерял работу.
Evaluation of a past action.
Could have + past participle can express an alternative possible result that did not occur.
For example, If we had left earlier, we could have caught the earlier train.
If we had left earlier, we could have caught the earlier train.
Если бы мы вышли раньше, мы могли бы успеть на ранний поезд.
Could have for alternative possible result.
If I had studied harder, I could have got a better grade.
Если бы я учился усерднее, я мог бы получить лучшую оценку.
Possible alternative result.
Might have + past participle can express a less certain hypothetical past result.
For example, If we had taken the other road, we might have arrived sooner.
If we had taken the other road, we might have arrived sooner.
Если бы мы поехали другой дорогой, мы, возможно, приехали бы раньше.
Less certain hypothetical past result.
If she had asked, he might have helped.
Если бы она попросила, он, возможно, помог бы.
Uncertain past result.
Negative forms can appear in either clause to describe unreal conditions or results that would not have occurred.
For example, If I had not missed the bus, I would not have been late.
If I had not missed the bus, I would not have been late.
Если бы я не опоздал на автобус, я бы не опоздал.
Negative in both clauses.
If she had not forgotten her keys, she would not have waited outside.
Если бы она не забыла ключи, она бы не ждала снаружи.
Negative unreal past condition and result.
Unless can sometimes replace if...not when the unreal past meaning remains clear and natural.
For example, We would have arrived on time unless we had missed the exit.
We would have arrived on time unless we had missed the exit.
Мы бы приехали вовремя, если бы не пропустили поворот.
Unless replaces if...not.
She would have passed unless she had made a mistake.
Она бы сдала, если бы не совершила ошибку.
Unless with unreal past meaning.
Would have is not normally used in the if-clause to express an ordinary unreal past condition.
Use the Past Perfect instead: If I had known, I would have helped you, not If I would have known.
If I had known, I would have helped you.
Если бы я знал, я бы тебе помог.
Correct: Past Perfect in if-clause.
If I would have known, I would have helped you.
Если бы я знал, я бы тебе помог.
Incorrect in standard English: would have not used in if-clause.
Would have can occur in an if-clause in contexts where it expresses willingness or persistence rather than ordinary conditional time.
For example, If you would have listened to me is possible in some varieties and contexts, but is not the standard basic Third Conditional pattern.
If you would have listened to me, you would not have made that mistake.
Если бы ты послушал меня, ты бы не совершил эту ошибку.
Non-standard in some varieties: would have in if-clause for willingness.
If she would have agreed, we would have solved it.
Если бы она согласилась, мы бы это решили.
Willingness interpretation; non-standard.
In formal English, had can replace if in some Third Conditional clauses.
For example, Had I known, I would have acted differently.
Had I known, I would have acted differently.
Если бы я знал, я бы действовал иначе.
Formal inversion: Had + subject + past participle.
Had she studied, she would have passed.
Если бы она училась, она бы сдала.
Inverted third conditional.
The structure Had + subject + past participle is an inverted form of If + subject + had + past participle.
For example, Had I known about the problem, I would have contacted you.
Had I known about the problem, I would have contacted you.
Если бы я знал о проблеме, я бы связался с тобой.
Inverted form of If I had known.
Had we arrived earlier, we would have seen the opening.
Если бы мы пришли раньше, мы бы увидели открытие.
Inverted conditional.
The Third Conditional can be used to imagine alternative outcomes of historical or personal events.
For example, If the team had scored earlier, they would have won the match.
If the team had scored earlier, they would have won the match.
Если бы команда забила раньше, они бы выиграли матч.
Alternative outcome of a past event.
If the treaty had been signed, the war would have ended sooner.
Если бы договор был подписан, война закончилась бы раньше.
Alternative history.
The condition clause identifies an unreal past cause, while the main clause describes its imagined consequence.
For example, If the driver had been more careful, the accident would not have happened.
If the driver had been more careful, the accident would not have happened.
Если бы водитель был осторожнее, авария бы не произошла.
Unreal past cause and imagined consequence.
If it had not rained, the match would have continued.
Если бы не пошёл дождь, матч бы продолжился.
Cause and effect.
The Third Conditional generally refers to unreal past situations, while the Second Conditional generally refers to hypothetical present or future situations.
Compare If I had studied, I would have passed with If I studied harder, I would pass.
If I had studied, I would have passed.
Если бы я учился, я бы сдал.
Third conditional: unreal past.
If I studied harder, I would pass.
Если бы я учился усерднее, я бы сдал.
Second conditional: hypothetical present/future.
The First Conditional describes a real or possible future condition, while the Third Conditional describes an unreal past condition.
Compare If I study, I will pass with If I had studied, I would have passed.
If I study, I will pass.
Если я буду учиться, я сдам.
First conditional: real future possibility.
If I had studied, I would have passed.
Если бы я учился, я бы сдал.
Third conditional: unreal past.
Third Conditional meanings often overlap with expressions of regret using wish and if only.
For example, If I had known, I would have acted differently is closely related to I wish I had known.
If I had known, I would have acted differently.
Если бы я знал, я бы действовал иначе.
Third conditional.
I wish I had known.
Жаль, что я не знал.
Wish expresses regret.
A past condition can sometimes have a present result, creating a mixed conditional rather than a standard Third Conditional.
For example, If I had taken that job, I would live in London now.
If I had taken that job, I would live in London now.
Если бы я принял ту работу, я бы сейчас жил в Лондоне.
Mixed: past condition, present result.
If she had studied medicine, she would be a doctor now.
Если бы она изучала медицину, она была бы сейчас врачом.
Mixed conditional.
Use the Past Perfect in the if-clause and would have + past participle in the standard result clause.
Common mistakes include using would have in the if-clause, using the Past Simple instead of the Past Perfect, confusing had and have, and mixing Second and Third Conditional forms.
If I had known, I would have helped you.
Если бы я знал, я бы тебе помог.
Correct third conditional.
If I would have known, I would have helped you.
Если бы я знал, я бы тебе помог.
Incorrect: would have not used in if-clause.
If I knew, I would have helped you.
Если бы я знал, я бы тебе помог.
Incorrect: mixes Second and Third Conditional.
If I had knew, I would have helped.
Если бы я знал, я бы помог.
Incorrect: had + past participle, not past simple.
If she had studied, she would have pass the exam.
Если бы она училась, она бы сдала экзамен.
Incorrect: would have + past participle, not base form.