What is Third Conditional | List and Examples
To refer some actions which have no possibility to be happened in past third conditional sentences are used. In one word we can explain unreal past actions with the formula of third conditional. In present article, we are going to discuss about third conditional in detail with which students will have depth knowledge over it. After understanding details about third conditional students will be able to use third conditional in spoken and written English more fluently.
Third conditional is also called past unreal conditional for mentioning past actions which are unreal to occur. Like all other conditional this is also followed by the same structure of two clauses in a complex sentence. A sentence of third conditional consists of two clauses which are if clause and main clause. Verbs forms will be different for each part of clause to express the different actions. The structure to form third conditional will be:
If clause+ past perfect tense, main clause+ could/would/might+ have+ verb 3rd form.
Examples
If I had got a huge prize money, I could have bought that car.
If I had applied in time, I would have studied in the college.
If the working environment had been good, I could have performed better.
If the weather had been good, we would have gone for long drive.
Rules of Third Conditional
For further explanation we must consider the important rules to follow in third conditional sentence as general concept. Including third conditional in texts for expressing the meaning is equally important like other conditional sentences. We have discussed the rules below:
i) If clause usually comes first in a sentence after that main clause is used in third conditional. For that a comma is placed after if clause.
Ex.
If I had won the first prize, I would have got more money.
ii) In the reverse structure no comma will be used when the main clause comes first to start a sentence.
Ex.
We could have gone for picnic if we had leaves.
iii) In third conditional structure, contracted forms of verbs can be used in both clauses.
Ex.
If you’d got up earlier, you would’ve caught the first train.
If you’d reached on time, you could’ve met with them.
iv) Third conditional is often used in sentences for expressing things which did not happen in past. It creates the sense or feeling of misfortune and regret in some cases.
Ex.
If you had not been so careless, you would have got your money back.
If you had asked me, I would have helped you.
FAQs:
1.) When do we use third conditional in a sentence?
Answer. To mention any action which is about unreal past or did not happen at all in past we use third conditional sentence.
2.) What is the common structure of third conditional sentence?
Answer. The common structure for third conditional is, if clause is in past perfect tense whereas main clause is followed by would/might/could+ have+ verb 3rd form. So in simple form, if clause is used with past perfect tense and main clause with future perfect tense.
For more update follow net explanations page