(it is raining)
If we
were staying
at the other hotel, we wouldn't have such a nice view of the river.
(we are not staying at the other hotel)
If the kids
weren't shouting
all the time, perhaps I wouldn't feel so stressed.
(the kids are shouting all the time)
Modals in the second conditional
Main clause
We can use modals other than would in the main clause of a sentence in the second conditionaclass="underline"
If no one was late, we
could start
the meeting on time.
(ability)
If you asked George, he
might be
able to help you.
(possibility)
If-clause
We can use could in the if-clause to express ability, possibility or permission:
I'd go to the beach with you if I
could swim
.
(ability)
If you
could be
a famous person, who would you be?
(possibility)
I wouldn't go to bars if people
could smoke
inside.
(permission)
Were to in the if-clause makes the condition even less likely:
If he
were to propose
to you now, what would you say?
We can use would in the if-clause to express requests. Sometimes, the main clause is omitted:
If you
'd
just
fill in
this form, please.
Related topics:
Modals to express ability: CAN, COULD, BE ABLE TO
Modals to express permission / prohibition: CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT, BE ALLOWED TO, MUSTN'T, BE TO
Modals to express possibility: MAY, MIGHT, CAN, COULD
Third conditional
IF + PAST PERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE | WOULD + PERFECT INFINITIVE
The third conditional describes an unreal situation with reference to the past. We imagine a hypothetical situation, something that did not happen:
If the driver
had fastened
his seat belt, he
would
probably
have survived
the accident.
Here If the driver had fastened his seat belt means that he did not fasten his seat belt.
In the if-clause, we use the past perfect subjunctive form of the verb, which is identical to the past perfect tense:
If we
had booked
our flight earlier, it would have been cheaper.
If you
had taken
a taxi, you would have caught the train.
If I
had revised
more, I would have done better on my exam.
Quotes:
If the Romans had been obliged to learn Latin, they would never have found time to conquer the world. - Heinrich Heine
Related topics:
Past perfect subjunctive
The modal WOULD to express unreal situations
Wishes about the past
AS IF / AS THOUGH
WOULD RATHER / WOULD SOONER + perfect infinitive
WOULD RATHER / WOULD SOONER + clause with the past perfect subjunctive
Past perfect continuous subjunctive in the third conditional
The past perfect continuous subjunctive can be used in the if-clause of a sentence in the third conditional to express an unreal action in the past which is imagined as continuous:
If the driver
had been wearing
a seat belt, he would probably have survived the accident.
If I
had been living
in New York at the time, I would have gone to the show.
If I
hadn't been working
all day, I would have gone jogging.
Modals in the third conditional
Main clause
We can use modals other than would in the main clause of a sentence in the third conditionaclass="underline"
If I had had the right tools, I
could have fixed
my bike.
(ability)
If the weather had been worse, they
might not have reached
the top.
(possibility)
If-clause
We can use could + perfect infinitive in the if-clause to express ability or possibility:
If he
could have got
to the station on time, he might have caught the train.
(ability)
If I
could have known
this would happen, I'd never have started dating him.
(possibility)
Were to + perfect infinitive is also possible in the if-clause; however, it is less common:
If he
were to have asked
me, I would have said yes.
Related topics:
Modals to express ability: CAN, COULD, BE ABLE TO
Modals to express possibility: MAY, MIGHT, CAN, COULD
Mixed conditionals
We can mix the second and third conditionals:
IF + 2ND CONDITIONAL | 3RD CONDITIONAL
This type of mixed conditional expresses a general condition with an imaginary result in the past:
If I
spoke
better English, I
could have got
the job.
(I don't speak English well enough, so I didn't get the job)
If you
were
smarter, you
wouldn't have borrowed
money in the first place.
(you are not smart; that's why you borrowed money)
IF + 3RD CONDITIONAL | 2ND CONDITIONAL
This type of mixed conditional expresses a hypothetical condition in the past with an imaginary result in the present: