if conditional type 3

 If Clauses – Type 3 is used to express the past and  the impossible situations that can no longer be changed. In other words, The condition specified in  the clause is imaginary or unreal or impossible condition in the past that did not happen.

The tense in if clause is generally past perfect tense; the tense in main clause is generrally modal perfect ( would + have + V3 )

Although there are different uses which we will specify below;

Type	If clause (condition)	Main clause (result)
Type 3	Past perfect If   +   Past perfect continuous         Could have + 3	would Subject

Examples:

• If he had talked to me, I would have listened to him. ( but he didn’t talk to me )
• If it had rained last weekend,  we would have stayed at home. ( but it didn’t rain last weekend)
• If she had saved enough money, she would have bought a new bicycle. ( but she didn’t save enough money )

Notes:

1. The sentence can begin with an if clause or a main clause. If the sentence begins with an ‘if clause’, put a comma between the if clause and the main clause.

(If) + (past tense, or could ) + (,) + ( present unreal conditional (would) or modals)

(present unreal conditional (would) or modals ) + (if) + (past tense, or could)

Examples:

• If I had studied, I would have passed the exam. (or) I would have passed the exam if I had studied.
• If the museum had been open, we would have seen many different handworks. (or) We would have seen many different handworks if the museum had been open.

2. If you want, we can use modals in both ‘ıf clause’ and ‘main clause’ or you can use modals only in one part.

Examples:

• If I had had the  power, I might have looked after myself.
• If my son could have taken the English course, he could have passed the exam.

3. In Type 3, one or two of the clauses can be negative

Examples:

• If I had passed my exam, I would not ( wouldn’t ) have been sad.
• If you had not ( hadn’t ) listened to me, you would n’t have been successful.

4. Using Type3 in questions

Examples:

• What would have happen if there hadn’t been any electricity in our lives?
• Would you have helped me if you had had time?

5. Tenses and structures can be used in If Clauses- Type 3 are given below:

a. In If Clause;  we can use past perfect tense, past perfect continuous tense and  could + have + V3.

Examples:

• If Jack had known where you were, he would probably have came you.

b. In main clause; We can use would + have + V3, could + have + V3 and might + have +V3.

Examples:

• If you had came here a bit early, you would have seen the most famous actor of London.

dialogue : 

Khalisya : Hi, Najma. How was the party?

Najma : I would have gone to the party if it hadn’t rained.

Khalisya : Oh, sorry. I think you went to the party.

Najma : It’s okay. Anyway, you said that you bought a new earphone. How is it?

Khalisya : It’s good. But right after I bought the new one, I found my old earphone in my pencil case!

Najma : Really? So, you have two earphones right now.

Khalisya : Yes. I wouldn’t have bought a new earphone if I had found the old one earlier.