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Teacher cue
B2 · English Grammar

Third
Conditional

If I had studied harder, I would have passed.

if + past perfect would have + p.p.
The idea

Imaginary situations in the past

Used to speculate about things that did not happen — and imagine a different outcome. The past can't be changed.

Examples

If I had studied harder, I would have passed. (I didn't study — I failed)

She would have gotten the job if she had arrived on time.

The structure

if + past perfect

→ would/could/might have + p.p.

Order is flexible — comma if "if" comes first.

The conditional family

Where does the third fit?

First
if + present → will + base

If it rains, I will stay home. (real future)

Second
if + past → would + base

If I had money, I would travel. (imaginary now)

Third
if + past perfect → would have + p.p.

If I had studied, I would have passed. (imaginary past)

Modal variations

Would, could or might have

If he had saved more money, he would have bought a car. (certain)
If she had studied, she could have passed. (possible)
If we had left earlier, we might have caught the train. (uncertain)
💡 Contractions in speech

'd = had or would  |  would've = would have

If I'd known, I would've told you.

She'd have come if she'd been invited.

⚠ Watch out

Common mistakes

If I would have known, I would have called.

If I had known, I would have called.

If she ^ arrived on time, she would have gotten the job.

If she had arrived on time, she would have gotten the job.

I would have pass if I had studied.

I would have passed if I had studied.

We wouldn't have lost if we would have used the map.

We wouldn't have lost if we had used the map.

Now it's your turn

Let's
practice.

Say the answer out loud — then tap to check.

Practice 1
tap to reveal

Fill the gap

If she(arrive)on time, she would have gotten the job.
If I had known, I(call)you.
He(pass)if he had studied more.
We wouldn't have gotten lost if we(use)the map.
If it(not / rain), we might have stayed longer.
Practice 2
tap a sentence to reveal the error

Spot the mistake

If they had leftA earlier, they would arrivedB beforeC the storm beganD.

Bthey would arrived → they would have arrived

✓ would have + past participle

If she had appliedA sooner, she would have gottenB the grant, becauseC the criteria wasD straightforward.

Dthe criteria was → the criteria were

✓ criteria is the plural of criterion → were

If we would have bookedA the tickets earlier, they would have beenB muchC cheaper thanD these.

AIf we would have booked → If we had booked

✓ no would have in the if-clause

Practice 3
tap to reveal a model answer

Complete the sentence

If I had studied harder,
She would have gotten the job
If we hadn't missed the bus,
If I'd known,
Speak & write

Your turn

Use if + past perfect, would/could/might have + past participle.

If you had studied a different subject, what would have happened?
If you had been born in a different country, how would life have been different?
Think of a mistake you made. What would you have done differently?
Complete: "If I had woken up earlier today, I…"
Recap

Remember this

If-clause
if + past perfect (had + p.p.)
Result clause
would/could/might have + p.p.
Use
imaginary past — regret / criticism
Never
"would have" in the if-clause

If + past perfect — never would have in the if-clause.

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