Question

Can you explain about Conditional Sentence Type 3 along with example?

Answer 1

`"Formula for conditional type 3"`:
`"If + past perfect + would/could/might + have + past participle"`

Explanation:

The type 3 conditional refers to an impossible past condition and its probable past result. The sentences of type 3 conditional are truly hypothetical and unreal and hence is also known as past hypothetical conditional.

In these sentences:

• The tense in the if-clause is the past perfect simple (had + past participle) or progressive (had been + verb+ing).
• The tense in the main clause is the perfect conditional (would have + past particicple) or the perfect continuous conditional(would have been + verb+ing).

Examples:

• If I had been more careful, I would not have had an accident.

• I would not have had an accident if I had been more careful.

• I would not have been awake if they had not made that noise.

• I would have been sleeping if they had not been making that noise.

• If we had started earlier, we could have finished on time. (ability)

• If we had started earlier, we might have finished on time. (possibility)

• If we had been correct, we could have participated again. (ability or permission)

• I was sitting in the balcony because it was very hot. If it had not been very hot, I would have been sitting in my office.

• She was wearing a rain coat. If she hadn't been wearing one, she would have got wet.

`Note:`
Both would and had can be contracted to 'd. In this case remember two rules:

1. Would never appears in the if-clause so if 'd appears in the if-clause, it must be abbreviating had.

2. Had never appears before have so if 'd appears after a pronoun just before have, it must be abbreviating would.

Hope it helps...