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Conditional 3 - Past Unreal Conditional: If + Past Perfect Would Have + Past Participle of The Verb

The Past Unreal Conditional is used to talk about imaginary situations in the past by using 'if' and the past perfect tense. It describes what would have happened differently if circumstances were different. There are also special forms for modal verbs like 'could have' and 'might have' in the conditional.

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20 views1 page

Conditional 3 - Past Unreal Conditional: If + Past Perfect Would Have + Past Participle of The Verb

The Past Unreal Conditional is used to talk about imaginary situations in the past by using 'if' and the past perfect tense. It describes what would have happened differently if circumstances were different. There are also special forms for modal verbs like 'could have' and 'might have' in the conditional.

Uploaded by

Murphy Doune
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Document: Conditional 3

Conditional 3 – Past Unreal Conditional


The Past Unreal Conditional (Conditional 3) is used to talk about imaginary situations in the past.
You can describe what you would have done differently or how something could have happened differently
if circumstances had been different.

Form:
If + past perfect = would have + past participle of the verb

KEEP IN MIND!

Only the word "if" is used with the Past Unreal Conditional because you are discussing imaginary
situations. "When" cannot be used.

Examples: I would have bought that computer when it had been cheaper. Not Correct
I would have bought that computer if it had been cheaper. Correct

EXCEPTION: Conditional with Modal Verbs

There are some special conditional forms for modal verbs in English:

 would have + can = could have


 would have + shall = should have
 would have + may = might have

The words "can," "shall" and "may" cannot be used with "would have." Instead, they must be used in
these special forms.

Examples: If I had gone to Egypt, I could have learned Arabic.


If she had had time, she might have gone to the party.

The words "could," should," "might" and "ought to" include Conditional, so you cannot combine them with
"would have."

Examples: If I had had more time, I could have exercised after work.
If he had invited you, you might have gone.

1 Conditional 3 – Past Unreal Conditional

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