GRAMMAR REVIEW! The third conditional
The
third conditional is used to talk about hypothetical situations in the past—things that didn't happen, and what the result would have been if they had. It's often used to express regret, criticism, or just to imagine alternate outcomes.
Structure:
If + past perfect, would have + past participle
Examples:
If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.
(But I didn't study hard, and I didn't pass.)
If she had left earlier, she wouldn't have missed the train.
(She left late and missed it.)
They would have won the game if they had practiced more.
(They didn't practice enough, so they lost.)
Quick Formula:
Condition (If...): past perfect → had + past participle
Result (Main clause): would have + past participle
Common Uses:
• Regret:
If I had known, I would have come earlier.
• Blame:
He wouldn't have failed if he had listened.
• Speculation:
If we had taken the other road, we might have avoided traffic.
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