How can you get better at using the third conditional? Ask BBC Learning English

How can you get better at using the third conditional?

Here's a question from Vitoria.

Why is using third conditional so difficult?

That was Vitoria's question, but we also want your questions.

You can email us at [email protected].

But now, on to the third conditional.

So what is the third conditional?

Well, here's an example.

This was Phil yesterday.

He had a problem and he needed help.

If you'd called me, I would have helped you.

First, understanding the meaning isn't easy.

The third conditional is used to talk about things in the past that did

or didn't happen,

but you're imagining a different reality to what actually happened in the past.

So, you didn't call me, so I didn't help you.

But if you had called me, then I would have helped you.

This is the imaginary situation.

Georgie panicked in her job interview yesterday.

She hadn't practised.

If she'd practised for the interview, she wouldn't have panicked.

Did she panic? Yes.

Why? Because she hadn't practised for the interview.

This is a regret.

She wishes that she'd done something differently.

Now, to make the third conditional easier, try to swap the clauses around.

She probably wouldn't have panicked if she'd practised for the interview.

This sounds a bit more natural.

I would have helped you if you'd called me.

Now, getting the grammar right is also very important.

I would have helped you.

'I' plus 'would' plus 'have' plus the past participle.

That's the third form of the verb.

Help, helped, helped

If you'd called me.

'If' plus 'you' plus the past perfect.

Here's another example.

They said she would have got the job if the interview had gone better.

She would have got the job

if the interview had gone better.

And then there's the pronunciation, especially contractions.

I would have helped you.

I would have.

I would've.

I would have helped you. If you'd called me.

If you had. If you'd.

If you'd called me. I would've helped you if you'd called me.

It's really important to practise.

Have a go now.

Would have.

Would've.

Would have eaten.

Would've eaten.

Would have gone out.

Would've gone out.

If I had. If I'd.

If I'd known.

If I'd known.

Now, the other thing to remember is that the whole conditional is often not used.

Quite often we only use half of it.

Phil, I got into university.

Oh, wow. That's amazing.

Ergh, if I'd studied harder...

Anyway, what are you studying?

I'm studying drama.

Nice. I would have studied dance.

That's all for now,

but check below and you'll find more on this topic. See you soon.