Grammar Practice in Context - David Bolton, Noel Goodey 1997
41 I fin past situations (3rd conditional)
Quick reference
• We use the past perfect in the if clause to talk about something that didn’t happen or a situation that didn’t exist in the past. We use the past conditional in the main clause.
• We sometimes use the past perfect continuous (would have been + -ing) in the //clause.
You weren’t concentrating. If you’d (had) been concentrating, you would have seen that the traffic lights were red.
• We sometimes link the past with the present by using would or would be + -ing.
1 Becky and Polly went to Scotland for the weekend. They have just got back and they are talking about it. Read the dialogue and decide which answer, А, В, C or D best fits each space.
Becky: We (1) ... the weekend if it (2) ... the whole time.
Polly: Yes, if it (3) ... raining, we (4) ... out more.
Becky: And it was cold! If we (5) ... it was so cold in Scotland, we (6) ... some warm clothes.
Polly: And if your car (7) ... we (8) ... much more of Scotland.
Becky: And what about Saturday night? If you (9) ... the front door key of the guest house we were staying at, we (10) ... sleep in the car!
1 A would have enjoyed
2 A wouldn’t have rained
3 A stopped
4 A could have gone
5 A would have known
6 A might have take
7 A didn’t break down
8 A had seen
9 A wouldn’t have lost
10 A wouldn’t have had to
В enjoyed
В hadn’t rained
В would have stopped
В can have gone
В know
В might to take
В hadn’t broken down
В mightn’t have seen
В haven’t lost
В wouldn’t have to
C had enjoyed
C didn’t rain
C had stopped
C had gone
C knew
C might have taken
C doesn’t break down
C could see
C hadn’t lost
C didn’t have to
D would enjoy
D wouldn’t rain
D has stopped
D went
D had known
D might take
D wouldn’t have broken down
D could have seen
D didn’t lose
D hadn’t to
2 An old man is thinking about his past life. Write sentences with If+ past perfect + would have or wouldn’t have.
Example: I didn’t have any brothers or sisters. I had a lonely childhood.
If I'd had brothers or sisters, I wouldn't have had such a lonely childhood.
1 My parents were poor. I didn’t have many clothes.
If my parents ..., I ... more clothes.
2 I missed a lot of school lessons. I didn’t learn a lot.
If I ..., I could ... more.
3 I wasn’t very clever. I didn’t do very well at school.
If ... more clever, ... better at school.
4 I didn’t pass any exams. I never got a well-paid job.
If ..., I might ...
5 I was shy. I didn’t have many friends.
If ..., I ... friends.
6 I worked on a farm. I didn’t fight in the war.
If ..., I...
7 I didn’t leave this village. I never got a better job.
If ..., I could ...
8 I never got married. I never had any children.
If ..., I might ...
3 Four people are talking about big events in their lives. Complete their stories, using if + past perfect continuous + would(n’t) have and would(n’t) or would(n’t) be + -ing.
1 Andy: in a recent storm, lightning struck a tree, fifty metres from where 1 was standing. If I (stand) ... under the tree, I (be) ... killed. I (be) ... here now.
2 Carla: I first met my husband Larry on a cross-Channel ferry. I was feeling ill and he asked me il he could help me. If I (feel) ... ill, he (speak) ... to me. And we (live) ... together now.
3 Louise: When I had my accident, I wasn’t watching the road, so I hit the car in front. If I (watch) ... the road, I (hit) ... that car.
4 Adam: I applied for a job in Australia. At the interview I was feeling tired and they didn’t offer me the job. If I (feel) ... tired, they (offer) ... me the job.
I (be) ... in Australia now. I (surf) ... on Bondi Beach.
4 Complete these sentences about yourself. Check your answers with a teacher.
I If I’d been born a boy/girl ...
3 If I’d been born ten years earlier ...
2 If I’d chosen my own name ...
4 If I’d lived in the last century ...