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Unit 15: Conditionals | Grammar | B1
We form the third conditional with if + past perfect — would have + past participle.
E.G. If you had been at the party, you would have met the president’s wife.
Meaning: But you weren’t at the party, so you didn’t meet her.
This type of conditional sentence expresses something contrary to fact in the past.
EXERCISE 1
Match the first and second halves of the following sentences:
| 1. If the weather had been better, | A. I would have got some sleep. |
| 2. If the baby hadn't cried all night, | B. if you'd done more revision. |
| 3. I would have explained | C. if she'd chosen the right numbers. |
| 4. If the prices on the menu hadn't gone up so much, | D. we would have gone to the beach. |
| 5. She would have won the lottery | E. if you hadn't introduced us. |
| 6. You would have passed your exam | F. I wouldn't have found the village. |
| 7. If you hadn't given me the map, | G. if you'd given me the chance. |
| 8. We wouldn't have met | H. we would have eaten at the French restaurant. |
EXERCISE 2
Use the above structure to make statements with if about the following situations, as in the example:
e.g. He made careless mistakes and failed the exam.
If he hadn’t made careless mistakes, he wouldn’t have failed the exam/ he would have passed the exam.
Note that the clauses can be placed the other way around.
He would have passed the exam if he hadn’t made careless mistakes.
1. She didn't bring a coat, so she felt cold.
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2. They invited us to their party, so we invited them to ours.
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3. He didn't buy the suit because it was too expensive.
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4. I'm tired because I went to bed late last night.
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5. I'm sorry I asked for your help; I didn't realise you were so busy.
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6. You didn't organise the wedding properly; that's why it was a disaster.
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EXERCISE 3 | Conditional clauses with ‘unless’
We use unless in conditional clauses instead of using if not.
E.G. You will be tired tomorrow if you don’t go to bed early.
You will be tired tomorrow unless you go to bed early.
Read the following sentences and then express them in one sentence using unless and retaining the original meaning.
1. You can't go to the reception. You haven't been invited.
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2. I'll probably see you at the weekend, but I won't if I'm busy.
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3. You're going to fail your exams. Work harder!
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4. If you don't help me, I'll never finish the gardening.
_____________________________.
5. As long as you don't touch that wire, you won't get an electric shock.
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6. She won't come back if you don't apologise.
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