Third conditionals (sometimes called Type 3 conditionals) are sentences where the speaker is thinking about the past and how it could have been different.
So, normally a 3rd conditional sentence expresses some kind of regret.
This grammar construction is sometimes known as a ‘true hypothetical’ and that is a good description because we are always talking about somehow changing the past, but as no-one has invented a time machine, it is impossible to go back and change the past, so all 3rd conditional sentences are therefore 100% hypothetical
Third Conditional Formula and Example:
If something had happened = this other thing would have been the result
If + (had + past participle) = would have + past participle
If he had known she was coming home early, he would have made her a nice meal
The 2 parts of the sentence (the clauses) can be switched around/reversed with no difference in meaning. For example
He would have made her a nice meal if he had known she was coming home early.
Good luck with this tough third conditional quiz today!
20 Day English Challenge Quizzes
Day 1: Spelling difficult words CLICK HERE
Day 2: Perfect email sentences CLICK HERE
Day 3: Unusual vocabulary CLICK HERE
Day 4: In vs On vs At English prepositions CLICK HERE
Day 5: Advanced Phrasal Verbs test CLICK HERE
Day 6: Upper Intermediate Idioms quiz CLICK HERE
Day 7: Upper Intermediate Modal Verbs test CLICK HERE
Day 8: Business English vocabulary (Upper Int) CLICK HERE
Day 9: English Grammar 50/50 Quiz CLICK HERE
Day 10: Present Perfect vs Past Simple grammar test CLICK HERE
Day 11: Choose the right word English comprehension quiz CLICK HERE
Day 12: Improve your Advanced Vocabulary CLICK HERE
Day 13: More Advanced Vocabulary CLICK HERE
Day 14: Vocabulary to pass Advanced Exams CLICK HERE
Day 15: Newspaper English language quiz CLICK HERE
Day 16: More Newspaper English sentences comprehension CLICK HERE
Day 17: British Slang quiz CLICK HERE
Day 18: More English Slang vocabulary test CLICK HERE
