Grammar worksheet: Third conditional

Expressing regret and imagining a different past

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Third conditional can be a tricky structure, but with it, you can imagine how a different past could have given you different outcomes. Use it to talk about how you wish things were different, or to express regret about the past.

Here are some examples.

• If I had started studying sooner, I would have gone to bed earlier last night. (Actually, I didn’t start studying in advance, so I went to bed late.)

• I wouldn’t have agreed to meet up with him if I had known about his reputation. (In reality, I didn’t know about his reputation, I met up with him, and probably had a bad time.)

• I wish I’d stayed in New York one more week. (Now, I’m not in New York any more and I only stayed the amount of time originally planned).

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Exercise 1: Practice forming the past perfect. Complete the sentences using the verbs in brackets.

1. If I _______ (noticed) she was feeling sad, I would _______ (comfort) her.

2. She would _________ (win) the tournament if she ________ (not make) a mistake in the second round.

3. I wish I ________ (not drink) so much coffee.

4. I would __________ (give) him the money if he _______ (ask).

5. I wish you ________ (tell) me Sarah was getting a divorce!

Exercise 2: Match the sentence halves

1. I wouldn’t have booked that hotel…

2. If I had known about her illness…

3. I would have got my yearly bonus…

4. I would have got away with it too…

   a. … I’d have visited her in hospital sooner.

   b. … if my manager had written a better performance review.

   c. … if I’d read the terrible reviews it received online.

   d. … if it wasn’t for those meddling kids.

Exercise 3: Writing practice

Think back to an experience you had that was not great. How would you change it for a better outcome? Write a short paragraph (5-10 lines) describing the situation, and then say how you wish it had been different using third conditional.

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Answers

Exercise 1

1. If I had noticed she was feeling sad, I would have comforted her.

2. She would have won the tournament if she hadn’t made a mistake in the second round.

3. I wish I hadn’t drunk so much coffee.

4. I would have given him the money if he had asked.

5. I wish you had told me Sarah was getting a divorce!

Exercise 2

1 - C, 2 - A, 3 - B, 4 - D