Lesson: Third Conditionals
Completion requirements
If we had sold more, we would have made a profit.
This lesson gives you a brief overview of third conditionals.
How are third conditionals formed?
Third conditionals are formed like this:
Just as you may have noticed with the first and second conditionals, you can also swap the if-clause and the main clause around. If the if-clause comes in second place, you don't need a comma. Take a look at these examples:
He would have become a teacher if he had gone to university.
He would have been on time for the job interview if the bus hadn't been late.
| If-clause (condition) | Main clause (result) |
|---|---|
| If + past perfect | would + have + past participle |
| If I had won the lottery, | I would have bought a BMW. |
| If she had gone to bed earlier, | she wouldn't have been so tired for the exam. |
Just as you may have noticed with the first and second conditionals, you can also swap the if-clause and the main clause around. If the if-clause comes in second place, you don't need a comma. Take a look at these examples:
He would have become a teacher if he had gone to university.
He would have been on time for the job interview if the bus hadn't been late.