Third Conditional

We use the third conditional when we talk about an imaginary or hypothetical

situation in the past, a situation which was not realized.
Usiamo il terzo tipo delle frasi ipotetiche quando parliamo di una situazione ipotetica
nel passato, una situazione che non si realizzò.

Type If clause Main clause

0
1
2
3 Past Perfect Would + have + past Participle

Se non avessi fatto tardi, saremmo arrivati in tempo. I you hadn’t been late, we
would have arrived on time.
Se non avessi perso il treno, non avrei conosciuto Carmen. If I hadn’t missed the
train, I wouldn’t have met Carmen.
I would have said hello, if I had seen you. Ti avrei salutato, se ti avessi visto.

Al posto di would have, possiamo usare could have (abilità), might have (possibilità),
should have (consiglio). Instead of could have, we may use could have, might have,
should have.

Se tu avessi studiato avresti potuto passare l’esame. If you had studied, you could
have passed the exam.
Se avessi avuto I soldi, avrei potuto comprarlo. If I had had the money, I might have
bought it.

Complete the senteces:

1. Peter woke up late and was 30 minutes late for work. If he
________________(wake up) early, he _______________________(not/be) late for
work.
2. I stayed at home yesterday because of the rain. If it
_____________________(not/rain), I ________________________(go out).
3. Bob won the lottery, so he didn't need to work anymore. He
__________________(not/quit) his job if he______________________(not/win) the
lottery.
4. Lucy was at the party, but I don't think she saw me. If she
____________________(see) me, she______________________(say) hello.
8. Tom failed his university exams. If he __________________________(study)
harder, he _____________________________(pass) them.

1
 Mixed Conditional

Third second mixed conditional (mixed 1):

We use a third second mixed conditional when we imagine present actions or
situations that are the result of an imaginary or hypothetical situation in the
past.
Usiamo la forma mista 1 quando la situazione presente è il risultato di un’azione
ipotetica nel passato.

Type If clause Main clause

Mixed 1 Past Perfect Would + infinitive (without to)

Mixed 2

If I hadn't called you yesterday, you wouldn't be here today. Se non ti avessi
chiamato ieri, oggi non saresti quì.
If she hadn’t gone out in that cold weather, she wouldn’t be ill today. Se non
fosse uscita con quel freddo, oggi non sarebbe ammalata.

Second third mixed conditional (mixed 2):

We use a second third mixed conditional when we imagine a situation in the
past that is the result of an imaginary or hypothetical situation that is still true.
Usiamo la forma mista 2 quando immaginiamo una situazione nel passato che è il
risultato di un’azione ipotetica nel presente.

Type If clause Main clause

Mixed 1

Mixed 2 Simple Past Would + have + past Participle

If you weren’t so lazy, you could have passed the exam. Se non fossi così pigro,
avresti potuto passare l’esame.
Yesterday, I heard a French song, but I didn't understand the words because I can't
speak French. If I could speak French, I would have understood the song. Se io
parlassi francese, avrei capito la canzone.

Complete the sentences below with a mixed 1.

1. Simon woke up early and is very sleepy now. If he
_____________________(not/wake up) early, he____________________
(not/be) sleepy now.
2
2. I am at home now because it started raining. If it
_____________________(not/start) raining, I_________________________(be)
out.
3. The Spanish team didn't train well at all, so they are not champions. If they
________________________(train) well, they ________________________(be)
champions.
4. I lost my job, so I need to look for work. If I ________________________
(not/lose) my job, I___________________________(not/need) to look for work.

*Interactive Exercises
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/StudyZone/410/grammar/3cond1.htm
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/StudyZone/410/grammar/allcnd1.htm
http://www.autoenglish.org/gr.con3.i.htm
http://www.better-english.com/grammar/con31.htm
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/if_clauses/type_3_mix4.htm
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/if_clauses/type_3_mix2.htm

*Please note:
Listen carefully to the following videos in YouTube, they speak about
Conditionals. Ascoltate attentamente i seguenti video di YouTube,
essi parlano del periodo ipotetico.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcWwk-2TLo4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7O-2nQKc-g