GRAMMAR SECTION

Past Unreal Conditional

The past unreal conditional consists of two clauses, an if clause and a would clause.

The if-clause refers to an unreal past event or condition:

• If I had arrived on time... (I didn't)

• If it hadn't rained yesterday... (it did)

The would clause describes the consequence:

• ...I wouldn't have missed the train.

• ...we would have gone to the beach.

• It wasn't warm yesterday. We didn't go to the beach.

• If it had been warm yesterday, we would have gone to the beach.

An unreal past condition may have a consequence in either the present or the past.

• If you had listened to my advice, you wouldn't be in trouble now. (now)

• If it had rained an hour ago, we would have stayed inside.
• If it had rained an hour ago, the streets would be wet. (now)

Second
Conditional
The second conditional (also called conditional type 2) is a structure used for
talking about unreal situations in the present or in the future

The structure of a second conditional sentence

Like a first conditional, a second conditional sentence consists of two clauses,
an "if" clause and a main clause:

if clause main clause

If I had a million dollars, I would buy a big house.

If the "if" clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the "if" clause comes second, there is
no need for a comma:

main clause if clause

I would buy a big house if I had a million dollars.

We use different verb forms in each part of a second conditional:

if clause if + subject + simple past verb*

main clause subject + would + verb

*Note that this "simple past" form is slightly different from usual in the case of the verb BE.
Whatever the subject, the verb form is "were", not "was": If I were rich, I'd buy a big house.

Using the second conditional

The second conditional is used to talk about things which are unreal (not true or
not possible) in the present or the future -- things which don't or won't happen:

Example Explanation
If I were you, I would drive
I am not you -- this is unreal.
more carefully in the rain.

Jan will not leave -- that's not

Paula would be sad if Jan left.
going to happen.

If dogs had wings, they would Dogs don't have wings -- that's
be able to fly. impossible.
 Third
Conditional

Introduction
The third conditional (also called conditional type 3) is a structure used for
talking about unreal situations in the past. This page will explain how the third
conditional is formed, and when to use it.

The structure of a third conditional sentence

Like the other conditionals, a third conditional sentence consists of two clauses,
an "if" clause and a main clause:

if clause main clause explanation

If I had
I would have I failed the exam, because I
studied
passed the exam. didn't study hard enough.
harder,

If the "if" clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the "if" clause comes second, there is
no need for a comma:

main clause if clause

I probably would have passed the exam if I had studied harder.

We use different verb forms in each part of a third conditional:

if clause if + subject + past perfect verb*

subject + would (OR could, OR might) have +

main clause past participle

*The past perfect is formed with the auxiliary verb "had", and the past participle (or third form)
of the verb.

Note also that third conditional forms can be contracted:

If I had studied harder, I probably would

Full form have passed the exam.

Contracted If I'd studied harder, I probably would've

 form passed the exam.

Using the third conditional

The third conditional is used to talk about things which DID NOT HAPPEN in
the past. If your native language does not have a similar construction, you may
find this a little strange, but it can be very useful. It is often used to express
criticism or regret:

Example Explanation
If you had driven more Criticism: You had an accident
carefully, you would not have because you didn't drive carefully
had an accident. enough.

If we had played a little

Regret: We didn't play well, so we
better, we could have won the
lost the game.
game.

If you had saved your money, Criticism: You didn't save your
you could have bought a money, so now you can't afford a
computer. computer.

If it had snowed, we could Regret: It didn't snow, so we

have gone skiing. couldn't go skiing.