type 3

 

Conditional Sentence Type 3

when is third conditional (if clause type 3) used?

In general, we use conditional sentences for ideas or situations that depend on another. They are, therefore, subject to a condition. In particular, the third conditional sentence, which is also often called if-clause type 3, is used for circumstances that could have occurred due to a condition (in the past) but can no longer occur (in the present). Compare the following use of the conditional 3:

• Some examples to illustrate the use of the if-clause type 3:
• “If I hadn’t broken my leg, I would have travelled to South America with you.”
• “If he had taken the train, he wouldn’t have had a car accident.”
• “You wouldn’t have lost your job if you hadn’t insulted your boss.”
• Note: In all three cases, the circumstances (world trip, car accident, and work) would have come true if the condition stated in the if-part had been fulfilled. As this ought to have already happened in the past, the situation described can no longer occur in the present

 

Basically, a conditional sentence in English always consists of two clauses. One of them (the subordinate clause) usually starts with the word ‘if’ and specifies the condition while the other one (the main clause) returns the result. Concerning the spelling and clause position, it does not matter which of the two begins the complex sentence; however, in case ‘if’ is at the beginning, a comma must be placed between the two. Continuous or progressive aspect (which is the ing-form) can also be used in both clauses. Consider the details:

‘if’ + past perfect simple or continuous, clause with past conditional simple or continuous

Also, mind the position of the clauses:

• “If I had had the opportunity, I would have left.”
• A comma must be inserted because the sentence starts with ‘if’.
• “If you hadn’t turned off the TV, I would have been watching the match.”
• This order also requires a comma.
• “You would have chosen to leave if I had been talking all the time.”
• No comma needed here as ‘if’ appears in the second part.

Example Dialogue Type 3:

Najwa: Hey, you come alone. Where’s Aldo?

Ratna: He still in his room. I think his parents ask him to study harder.

Najwa: They didn’t let him go for a while?

Ratna: I don’t know. Maybe because Ryan got C last week. If he had studied, he would have got a better grade.

Najwa: I see.

Ratna: He said that he didn’t understand the exam material, so he chose to sleep the night before.

Najwa: If he had told me, I would have taught him about the exam material.

Ratna: Maybe he didn’t want to trouble us.