English grammar
Third conditional: if + past perfect, would have + past participle
Say what would have happened if things had been different, using the third conditional.
From the scene If I had known…
In short
To imagine a different past and its result, use if + had + participle, then would have + participle.
Your turn
Which one goes with result: would have + participle?
Options: if I had known · if I hadn't left it at home · I would have come earlier
Show answer
result: would have + participle → I would have come earlier
How it works
To imagine a different past and its result, use if + past perfect (the condition) and would have + past participle (the result).
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
If I had known, I would have (blank) as a porter!
Options: come · came · coming
Show answer
If I had known, I would have come as a porter!
¡Si lo hubiera sabido, habría venido de botones!
Good to know
If I had known, I would have come earlier. In speech: if I'd known, I'd have come.
Good to know
Never would have in the if-part.
condition: if + had + participle if I had known
Elena
No. If I had known, I would have come earlier.
No. Si lo hubiera sabido, habría venido antes.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
No. (blank), I would have come earlier.
Options: If I had known · If I hadn't left it at home · If I had brought the camera
Show answer
Elena
No. If I had known, I would have come earlier.
No. Si lo hubiera sabido, habría venido antes.
result: would have + participle I would have come earlier
Elena
No. If I had known, I would have come earlier.
No. Si lo hubiera sabido, habría venido antes.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
No. If I had known, (blank).
Options: I would have come earlier · If I hadn't left it at home · If I had brought the camera
Show answer
Elena
No. If I had known, I would have come earlier.
No. Si lo hubiera sabido, habría venido antes.
negative condition: if + hadn't if I hadn't left it at home
both together if I had brought the camera, I would have taken a thousand photos
Elena
No. If I had brought the camera, I would have taken a thousand photos.
No. Si hubiera traído la cámara, le habría hecho mil fotos.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
No. (blank).
Options: I would have come earlier · If I had brought the camera, I would have taken a thousand photos · If I had known
Show answer
Elena
No. If I had brought the camera, I would have taken a thousand photos.
No. Si hubiera traído la cámara, le habría hecho mil fotos.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| condition: if + had + participle | if I had known |
|---|---|
| result: would have + participle | I would have come earlier |
| negative condition: if + hadn't | if I hadn't left it at home |
| both together | if I had brought the camera, I would have taken a thousand photos |
More lines from the story
- ElenaIf I had known, I would have come as a porter!¡Si lo hubiera sabido, habría venido de botones!
- ElenaThe actor was here an hour ago!¡El actor estuvo aquí hace una hora!
- JaviYes. An hour ago I took the actor's bags up.Sí. Hace una hora le subí las maletas al actor.
- NuriaAnd have you brought the camera, in case he comes back?¿Y ha traído la cámara, por si vuelve?