Third Conditional Presentation

How it works

Imagining a different past: If I had left earlier, I wouldn't have missed the flight. Regrets, criticism and lucky escapes, plus the mixed conditional.

• If I had known, I would have come. Would have belongs only in the result. Russian puts «бы» in both halves (если бы я знал, я бы пришёл), and colloquial Spanish «si habría sabido» pulls the same way. The if-clause needs had + past participle.
• If I had known, I would have helped. Had needs the past participle (known), not the past simple (knew).
• If I had had more time yesterday, I would have finished the report. Yesterday is past, so this is an imagined past: had had and would have finished. Russian «если бы у меня было время» is the same for now and for yesterday, which hides the difference.

The form

Examples (1/2)

• ✈️If I had left earlier, I wouldn't have missed the flight.
• 🏨If we had booked in advance, we would have paid less.
• 💼She would have got the job if she had prepared better.
• 🤔What would you have done if he had said no?
• 🤝If you had told me, I could have helped.

Examples (2/2)

• 💑If I hadn't met Lucas, I wouldn't have moved to Spain.
• 🏆We might have won if we had trained harder.
• 💾If I had saved my work, I wouldn't have lost the file.
• 🗼If I had taken that job, I would be in Paris now.
• 📞I wouldn't have known if you hadn't called.

Which is right?

1. If I had known, I would have come.
2. If I would have known, I would have come.

Would have belongs only in the result. Russian puts «бы» in both halves (если бы я знал, я бы пришёл), and colloquial Spanish «si habría sabido» pulls the same way. The if-clause needs had + past participle.

Which is right?

1. If I had knew, I would have helped.
2. If I had known, I would have helped.

Had needs the past participle (known), not the past simple (knew).

Which is right?

1. If I had more time yesterday, I would finish the report.
2. If I had had more time yesterday, I would have finished the report.

Yesterday is past, so this is an imagined past: had had and would have finished. Russian «если бы у меня было время» is the same for now and for yesterday, which hides the difference.

Summary