Third Conditional Grammar Guide mgr Anna Waligrska Kotfas

Third Conditional Grammar Guide mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas PWSZ Konin

Introduction: Clauses Conditional sentences usually consist of two clauses: Ø a conditional clause (or IF CLAUSE) and a main clause (or RESULT CLAUSE). Ø The result in the main clause is dependent on the condition in the conditional clause.

Third Conditional: Verb Patterns Ø RESULT CLAUSE would/wouldn’t + have + 3 f IF CLAUSE if + past perfect I would have told you her name if I had known it.

Third Conditional: Clause Order Ø You can reverse the two clauses of a third conditional sentence without changing the meaning: We would have lent you a map if we had it. = If we had a map, we would have lent it to you. REMEMBER ABOUT A COMMA WHEN YOU START A SENTENCE WITH IF CLAUSE!

Third Conditional: Variations of the main clause Ø MIGHT or COULD may be used instead of WOULD in the result clause with a slight change of meaning: If we had found him earlier, we could have saved his life. (= ability) If our documents had been in order, we could have left at once. (= permission / ability) If we had bought the lottery ticket, we might have won 50 million dollars. (= possibility)

Use: Impossible in the Past: Ø We use third conditional to talk about past situations with hypothetical results. The past situation is contrary to known facts, i. e. it is an unreal or impossible situation: I would have used your builder if I had managed to contact him. (= but I didn’t manage to contact him) I would have been in bad trouble if Jane hadn’t helped me. (= but she did, so I was OK)

Conditionals refer to: Ø 1 st future If I marry Mary, I will be happy. (= a real possibility) Ø 2 nd present If I married Mary, I would be happy. (= not very real, but it's still possible) Ø 3 rd past If I had married Mary, I would have been happy. (= impossible)

Examples Ø If she gets good grades, she will go to university. (= providing the condition is met, she will definitely go; likely) Ø If I had the time, I would learn Italian. (= I don't have the time, so I'm not going to learn Italian; unlikely) Ø If I had known, I would have helped. (= it didn't happen; impossible)

Mixed Conditionals Ø Third / Second If you had taken the course, you would know about it. (The conditions were not met because the person did not do the course and as a result does not know about it now. )

Mixed Conditionals Ø Second / Third If I could speak English, I wouldn't have needed to get the letter translated. (This means that I couldn't speak English then when I needed the translator and still can't. )

Bibliography 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Bourke K. : Verbs and Tenses: Intermediate. Test it, Fix it. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. Leech G. , Cruickshank B. , Ivanic R. : An A-Z of English Grammar & Usage. Harlow: Longman, 2004. Murphy R. : English Grammar in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Swan M. : Practical English Usage. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. Thomas A. J. , Martinet A. V. : A practical English Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986. Vince M. : Intermediate Language Practice (New Edition). Oxford: Macmillan Education 2010.