How to form Third Conditionals

We form the Third Conditionalin the following way: if-clause + main clause if+Past Perfect would/could/mightetc.+have+past participle If she hadn’t had the chocolate ice-cream, she would have been in a worse mood. If they hadn’t hired a taxi, they could have missed their plane.

How to use Third Conditionals

Use the Third Conditional to talk about an unreal situation in the past. If they had time, they would do it very well. We often use the Third Conditional to: ♦ talk about regrets If I had studied harder, I might have got better results. ♦ criticise You wouldn’t have had such problems if you had follwed my advice. ♦ make excuses If I had known you were in hospital, I would have visited you.

Conditionals with ‘ wish ’

To describe unreal situations we can also use wish. If the situation refers to the present we use Past Simpleafter wish. I wish you were here with me. (But you are not with me now) If the situation refers to the past we use Past Perfectafter wish. I wish I had visited you when you were in hospital last week. (But I didn’t visit you and I regret it) If the situation refers to the future we use wouldafter wish. I wish I would go to Greece next month. (But I can’t go to Greece because of financial problems and much work)

Mixed Conditionals

1) When the if-clause refers to the unreal situation in the present and the main clause refers to the unreal situation in the past we use if+Past Simple would/could/might +have+past participle If I were you, I would have taken this job offer.

2) When the if-clause refers to the unreal situation in the past and the main clause refers to the unreal situation in the present we use if+Past Perfect would/could/might +the main verb If you had done it in time, you wouldn’t have such problems now.

Let’s practice

1. Choose the correct form of the verb:

1. If I move / I’ll move to Boston, I live / I’ll live on Main Street.

2. If you call / you’ll call your mother, she’ll be very happy.

3. If the mechanic fixes our car on time, we drive / we’ll drive to Center ville.

4. If it rains / it’ll rain today, we won’t go to the park.

5. If I’m not in a hurry tonight, I write / I’ll write to her.

6. If she isn’t / won’t be sick, she’ll go to school.

7. If they’re / they’ll be tired tomorrow, they don’t go / won’t go to work.

8. If John doesn’t buy a new car, he buys / he’ll buy a motorcycle.

2. Match the two halves of the sentences:

Sam is thinking about his camping holiday with Andy.

1. If it’s sunny, a) we’ll make a fire.

2. If it rains, b) we’ll be able to see the stars.

3. If the sky is clear, c) we’ll go skating.

4. If the lake freezes, d) we’ll sit outside.

5. If the sea is clean, e) we’ll need an umbrella.

6. If we get cold, f) we’ll go swimming.

1... d … 2. ……. 3. …… 4. ……. 5. …….. 6. ………

3. In groups ask and answer these questions:

What will you do if...

a) someone close to you tells you they are going to marry someone you don’t approve of?

b) you get an e-mail from someone you fancy?

c) there’s a power cut tonight?

d) your mobile phone is stolen?

4. Complete the sentences with these phrases:

* If I had a motorbike * If I lost all my money * your English would improve

* If Peter ate less * I’m sure she’d tell me * If I were a famous model

* my uncle would stop too * my English teacher would be surprised

1. If you practiced more, ……. your English would improve. ………………………………

2. …………………………………………….., it would be easier to go and visit my friends.

3. ……………………………………………………………………., I would feel miserable.

4. If I started writing poetry, …………………………………………………………………

5. ……………………………………………………………………., he wouldn’t be so fat.

6. If my little sister did something wrong, …………………………………………………..

7. …………………………………………………, people would see my photo everywhere.

5. Complete the sentences. Use the correct form of the verbs in brackets:

Example: I’m not ill, but if I ….. were ….. ill, I wouldn’t go ….. to school. (be / go)

1. The weather report says there will be snow tomorrow. If it ….., I ………………………………………… at home. (snow / stay)

2. Do you need some money? Let me look in my pockets. If I ………some, I ………………… you some. (have / lend)

3. No, sorry. I haven’t got any money with me. But you know I ………it to you if I ……………… any. (give / have)

4. I’m sure of it. You ………… the test next week if you ………..………………………….. hard. (pass / study)

5. Would you like to go to the cinema? If you……………………… to go, I…………with you. (want / come)

6. What would you do in each situation? These are UNREAL PRESENT situations:

* call an ambulance * complain to the manager * run away

* try to catch it * ring the police

* walk to the nearest garage to get some

1. You find a fly in your soup. If I found a fly in my soup, I would complain to the manager.

2. You see a burglar breaking into your house. ……………………………………………..

3. You see a mouse in your kitchen. …………………………………………………………

4. Your car runs out of petrol. …………………………………………………………..

5. You see an accident. …………………………………………………………..

6. You see a ghost in your room. …………………………….............................................

7. What would you do if you...

a) found yourself in an earthquake?

b) found out your best friend had lied to you?

c) found some money in the street?

d) had the chance to go swimming with sharks.

8. Complete the following sentences in column A using the correct choice from column B.

A 1. Everyone on board the plane would have died 2. If the officials hadn’t stopped the poor man, 3. If the climbers had found an easy way, 4. I would be in a hospital now 5. We would have got wet 6. If he had had enough time last summer, 7. I might have come to your help 8. If the driver had not slept, 9. The young boy would have been very happy 10. If her father had been rich,

B a) If I had not been to a doctor.   b) if you had taken him to the fun-fair. c) if the plane had crashed. d) she could have bought some expensive clothes. e) so many people wouldn’t have been killed. f) he could have built his small house in two days. g) if we hadn’t taken our umbrellas. h) they could have reached the top easily. i) he would have gone on a holiday. j) if I had had time last Sunday.

9. Write sentences with “ WISH…”:

1. Ayşe isn’t here. I wish……………

2. She lives in İstanbul (and she hates it). She wishes ……………………………………………………

3. He can’t give up smoking. He wishes…………………………………

4. I’m not lying on a beautiful sunny beach (and that’s a pity).

I wish………………………………………………

5. They don’t know anything about cars (and their car has just been broken down). They wish …..........................….

6. He has pneumonia. He wishes …................….

7. She has to work tomorrow (but she’d like to stay in bed).

She wishes………………………………………

8. My brother doesn’t keep his room tidy. I wish……….

9. Sue doesn’t help with the housework. Sue’s mother wishes …………………………………………..

10. Mary often plays the piano in the middle of the night.

Her neighbours wish …………………………

10. You don’t like your new house. Write what you WISH:

“ The house is so old and dirty. You have to paint it.The house doesn’t have central heating. The kitchen is small.

I wish the house wasn’t so old and dirty ……………………

1. _______________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________

11. Using the bold type in the sentences, write WISHES as in the example:

1. You left the radio on and now the batteries don’t work.

You say, “…… I wish I hadn’t left the radio on. ”

2. It’s very dark outside and you can’t find your torch. You say, “…………………………………………………. “

3. You didn’t do your homework and your teacher is angry.

You say, “……………………………………….. “

4. You are looking at a beautiful flower. You don’t know what it is called. You say, “……………………………”

5. It’s raining outside and you want it to stop. You say, “……………………….. “

6. You stayed up late last night and today you’re very tired.

You say, “……………………………….. “

7. You are having a party but nobody has come yet.

You say, “…………………………………….. “

8. You have short, straight hair. You would like long, curly hair.

You say, “………………………………………….. “

9. You have just left your house and left the keys inside.

You say, “…………………………………….. “

10. It is Christmas Day and it doesn’t look like it is going to snow. You say, “…………………………. “

11. You live in the city. You prefer the countryside.

You say, “………………………………….. “

12. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form. Pay attention to Mixed Conditionals.

1. If I (be) you, I (go) on a business trip last week.

2. I (visit) this country last year if you (tell) me about your idea.

3. You (pass) the final exams successfully if you (be) more hard-working.

4. If he (listen) to me, he (be) a top executive now.

5. If you (stay) in bed last week, you (feel) better at the present moment.

6. They (arrest) him long ago if he (not be) so clever and cautious.

7. If she (not take) this train yesterday, she (be) all right now.

8. You (do) it last time if you (be) more self-confident.

Extra practice: