Ch 4
Third Conditional and Conditional Linkers
If I had known, I would have come · unless · as long as · even if
0
If you heat ice, it melts. — always true
1
If it rains, we'll stay in. — a real possibility
2
If I won the lottery, I'd travel. — imagined present / future
B2 adds the third conditional for the past that did not happen, and linkers other than if.
If + had + past participle, would / could / might + have + past participle
If I had known about the party, I would have come.
I didn't know, so I didn't come.
If we hadn't missed the bus, we might have won.
might / could have = a possible result.
regret
If I'd studied harder, I'd have passed.
criticism
If you'd listened, you wouldn't have got lost.
relief
If she hadn't braked, she'd have hit the dog.
Spoken: I'd = I had (if-clause) or I would (result). If I'd known, I'd have helped.
Unless you hurry, you'll miss the train.
= If you don't hurry …
I won't go unless you come too.
No second negative: Unless you hurry (not unless you don't hurry).
You can borrow my bike as long as you bring it back today.
as long as = only if.
I'm going for a run even if it rains.
even if = the result is the same either way.
If I would have known, I would have come.
→
If I had known, I would have come.
no would in the if-clause
If she had asked me, I would help her.
→
If she had asked me, I would have helped her.
past result → would have + past participle
Unless you don't study, you'll fail.
→
Unless you study, you'll fail.
unless already means if not
I'll go even it rains.
→
I'll go even if it rains.
even if, not even
Talk about the past that didn't happen.
1
What would you have done differently last year?
2
Finish: If I hadn't started learning English, …
3
Tell me a time you were lucky: If … hadn't …, …
4
Say a rule with unless and one with as long as.
Recap
third conditional
If + had + PP, would have + PP
If I'd known, I'd have come.
possible result
might / could have + PP
we might have won
unless
= if not
Unless you hurry, …
as long as
= only if
as long as you're careful
even if
result the same either way
even if it rains