Table of Contents
Grammar Exercise – Conditional Sentences Type 3
Do the conditional sentences type 3 exercises below and test your understanding of the third conditional.
These if-clause type 3 exercises help you practice talking about imaginary past situations and their results.
Click the button to check your answers once you finish.
(Before doing the exercises, you may want to read the lesson on conditional sentences.)
Quick Reminder: Conditional Type 3
Conditional sentences type 3 are used to talk about unreal situations in the past.
Form:
If + past perfect, would have + past participle
Example:
If I had known about the meeting, I would have attended it.
Conditional Sentences Type 3 Exercise (Multiple Choice)
Conditional Type 3 – Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences using the correct third conditional form.
- If she ______ (leave) earlier, she would have caught the last train.
- We wouldn’t have missed the flight if we ______ (arrive) on time.
- If they ______ (follow) the warning signs, the accident wouldn’t have happened.
- I would have helped you if you ______ (tell) me about the problem.
- If he ______ (study) harder, he would have passed the final exam.
- If I ______ (know) your phone number, I would have called you.
- They ______ (lose) the match if their best player hadn’t been injured.
👉 Click the button to check your answers.
2. had arrived
3. had followed
4. had told
5. had studied
6. had known
7. wouldn’t have lost
Why this works well:
- Different task format (completion vs MCQ)
- Reinforces form recognition
- Keeps the page from feeling “thin”
Key Points to Remember – Conditional Sentences Type 3
- Conditional sentences type 3 talk about imaginary situations in the past.
- They describe things that did not happen and their unreal results.
- Form:
If + past perfect, would have + past participle - The if-clause type 3 uses the past perfect tense.
- Third conditionals are often used to express regret, criticism, or missed opportunities.
- Other modals such as could have and might have can replace would have.
Example:
If I had known about the exam, I would have studied harder.
FAQ: Conditional Sentences Type 3
What is a Type 3 conditional sentence?
A Type 3 conditional sentence (also called the third conditional) is used to talk about imaginary or unreal situations in the past and their possible results. These situations did not happen, so the result is also unreal.
Example:
If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.
What is the rule of the 3rd conditional?
The rule of the third conditional is:
→ If + past perfect, would have + past participle
It is used to express regret, criticism, or hypothetical past results.
How do you form type 3 conditionals?
Type 3 conditionals are formed using:
→ If-clause: if + had + past participle
→ Main clause: would have + past participle
Example:
– If they had left earlier, they would have arrived on time.
What is type 3 in grammar?
In grammar, type 3 refers to a conditional structure used to describe situations in the past that are impossible to change. It focuses entirely on past events and imagined outcomes.
What is an if-clause type 3?
An if-clause type 3 uses the past perfect tense and refers to an unreal past condition.
Example:
– If she had known about the meeting, she would have attended it.
Can we use other modals in the third conditional?
Yes. Besides would have, you can also use:
– could have
– might have
Example:
– If we had left earlier, we might have avoided the traffic.
