TYPE THREE

 Type 3 Conditional

In type 3 conditional sentences, the tense in the if clause is the past perfect and the tense in the main clause is the perfect conditional or perfect continuous conditional.

If clause (condition) Main clause (result / effect) If + past perfect perfect conditional or perfect continuous conditional If this thing had happened that thing would have happened.

EXAMPLE

• If it had rained, you would have gotten wet.
• You would have gotten wet if it had rained.
• You would have passed your exam if you had worked harder.
• If you had worked harder, you would have passed your exam.
• I would have believed you if you hadn't lied to me before.
• If you hadn't lied to me before, I would have believed you.

Function

Type 3 conditionals refer to past probable conditions and possible past outcomes. In type 3 conditional sentences, the time is past and the situation is presupposed or not real.

EXAMPLE

• If I had worked harder I would have passed the exam. 
• If I had known you were coming I would have baked a cake. 
• I would have been happy if you had called me on my birthday.

Contraction 

Both would and had can be shortened to 'd, which can be confusing if you're not sure about using type 3 conditional sentences. 

Remember 2 rules: 

1. Would never appear in the if clause, so if 'd appears in the if clause, it must be short for had. 

2. Had never appears before have, so if 'd appears in front of the pronoun right before have, it must be an abbreviation of would.

Perfect conditional tense 

The perfect conditional of any verb consists of three elements: would + have + past participle 

Have followed by a past participle is also used in other patterns. This pattern is called the "perfect infinitive".