English grammar
Third conditional in full: if I'd (= had) + participle, I'd (= would) have + participle
Imagine a different past in every person, using the full third conditional and its spoken contractions.
From the scene If you hadn't gone back…
In short
For a different past, use if + had + participle, then would have + participle. In speech, 'd means had or would.
Your turn
Which one goes with they → you: a whole family history?
Options: if they hadn't got married, you wouldn't have been born · if she hadn't gone back, she wouldn't have married him · if we'd known…
Show answer
they → you: a whole family history → if they hadn't got married, you wouldn't have been born
How it works
You have met the third conditional before.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Rosario! If you (blank) gone back, we'd have conquered Madrid!
Options: hadn't · wouldn't have · haven't
Show answer
Rosario! If you hadn't gone back, we'd have conquered Madrid!
¡Rosario! ¡Si no hubieras vuelto, habríamos conquistado Madrid!
Good to know
Now use it fluently with every subject and in its spoken form, where 'd does two jobs: in the if-part it means had (if we'd known), in the result it means would (we'd have brought you together).
Good to know
In standard English, would never goes in the if-part.
she: if-part with hadn't, result with wouldn't have if she hadn't gone back, she wouldn't have married him
Javi
So if she hadn't gone back, she wouldn't have married him...
O sea que si no hubiera vuelto, no se habría casado con él...
Your turn
What fills the gap?
So (blank)...
Options: if they hadn't got married, you wouldn't have been born · if we'd known · if she hadn't gone back, she wouldn't have married him
Show answer
Javi
So if she hadn't gone back, she wouldn't have married him...
O sea que si no hubiera vuelto, no se habría casado con él...
they → you: a whole family history if they hadn't got married, you wouldn't have been born
Nuria
And if they hadn't got married, you wouldn't have been born.
Y si no se hubieran casado, tú no habrías nacido.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And (blank).
Options: if we'd known · if they hadn't got married, you wouldn't have been born · if she hadn't gone back, she wouldn't have married him
Show answer
Nuria
And if they hadn't got married, you wouldn't have been born.
Y si no se hubieran casado, tú no habrías nacido.
spoken: 'd = had in the if-part if we'd known…
Javi
Doña Elena, if we'd known, we'd have brought you two together years ago.
Doña Elena, si lo hubiéramos sabido, las habríamos juntado hace años.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Doña Elena, (blank), we'd have brought you two together years ago.
Options: you wouldn't have been born · if we'd known · she wouldn't have married him
Show answer
Javi
Doña Elena, if we'd known, we'd have brought you two together years ago.
Doña Elena, si lo hubiéramos sabido, las habríamos juntado hace años.
spoken: 'd = would in the result …we'd have brought you two together
Javi
Doña Elena, if we'd known, we'd have brought you two together years ago.
Doña Elena, si lo hubiéramos sabido, las habríamos juntado hace años.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Doña Elena, if we'd known, (blank) years ago.
Options: you wouldn't have been born · we'd have brought you two together · she wouldn't have married him
Show answer
Javi
Doña Elena, if we'd known, we'd have brought you two together years ago.
Doña Elena, si lo hubiéramos sabido, las habríamos juntado hace años.
anyone in the if-part, not would if anyone had told me, I wouldn't have believed it
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
| she: if-part with hadn't, result with wouldn't have | if she hadn't gone back, she wouldn't have married him |
|---|---|
| they → you: a whole family history | if they hadn't got married, you wouldn't have been born |
| spoken: 'd = had in the if-part | if we'd known… |
| spoken: 'd = would in the result | …we'd have brought you two together |
| anyone in the if-part, not would | if anyone had told me, I wouldn't have believed it |
More lines from the story
- ElenaRosario! If you hadn't gone back, we'd have conquered Madrid!¡Rosario! ¡Si no hubieras vuelto, habríamos conquistado Madrid!
- ElenaShe did, dear. In sixty-five we worked together on Gran Vía.Salió, hijo. En el sesenta y cinco trabajábamos juntas en Gran Vía.
- ElenaFor love. Javi's grandfather was waiting for her in Medellín.Por amor. El abuelo de Javi la esperaba en Medellín.