Unit 23 — If Things Had Been Different | Past Perfect and Third Conditional

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Martin was looking forward to a holiday in France. Things did not go as planned, and now he keeps imagining what might have happened if events had been different.

If Martin hadn't caught a cold, he would have gone to France.
If he had gone to France, he might have visited a vineyard.
If he had visited a vineyard, he could have brought back some wine.

These sentences describe imagined alternatives to the past. We cannot change what happened, but we can imagine different outcomes.

Work through the steps in order. In each scored exercise, choose Check answers for feedback on each answer. Choose Show answers whenever you need help, even if every answer is wrong.

Step 1

What actually happened?

Read Martin's story first. Notice the order of events before you consider what might have happened differently.

Martin had planned a week in France with his friend Paul. Before the holiday, Martin visited his nephew, who had a bad cold. A few days later, Martin caught a cold too. He felt too ill to travel, so he cancelled the trip.

Paul went to France without him. He visited a vineyard, enjoyed some excellent food and brought back a bottle of wine for Martin. Martin was disappointed. He started imagining the holiday he had missed — and all the things that might have happened if he had gone.

Martin says he caught his cold from his nephew. His sister thinks he probably caught it on the crowded bus he took home. Martin cannot be sure.

Check your understanding

Choose the complete sentence that answers each question.

1. What had Martin planned before he became ill?

2. What did Martin do when he felt too ill to travel?

3. What did Paul do in France?

4. Does Martin know for certain where he caught the cold?

Step 2

Looking further back: the Past Perfect

We often use the Past Perfect to make it clear that one event happened before another past event. It is formed with had + past participle.

Earlier event
Martin had visited his nephew.

Later event
Martin caught a cold.

Martin had visited his nephew before he caught a cold.

The Past Perfect is not needed every time we mention two past events. We use it when it helps make the order clear or when we look back from a later point in the past.

Complete the sentences

Use the Past Perfect form of the verb in brackets.

1. By the time Martin became ill, he ______ the ferry. (book)

2. He ______ his suitcase before he started to feel ill. (pack)

3. Paul ______ a guidebook before they planned their route. (buy)

4. Martin ______ to that part of France before. (never / be)

Step 3

Imagining a different past

We use the third conditional to imagine a different past and its possible result.

If Martin hadn't caught a cold, he would have gone to France.
if + had(n't) + past participle · would have + past participle

Martin did catch a cold, and he did miss the holiday. The sentence imagines the opposite situation. It does not change what really happened.

Remember: use had in the if-clause and would have in the result clause. Do not use would have in both parts.

Choose the correct forms

1. Which sentence expresses Martin's regret correctly?

2. Choose the correct third conditional.

3. Martin left home too late and missed the bus. Which sentence imagines a different result?

Step 4

Would have, might have, could have

The result of an imagined past can be more or less certain. Compare these examples.

Would have

If Martin had gone to France, he would have visited Paul.

Martin believes this was the likely or expected result.

Might have

If Martin had gone to France, he might have visited a vineyard.

This was possible, but not certain.

Could have

If Martin had gone to France, he could have visited a vineyard.

He would have had the opportunity or ability to do so.

These meanings can overlap, but the examples show useful differences. Martin cannot know exactly what he would have done.

Choose the best expression for the meaning

1. Martin is not sure what he would have done. If he had gone to France, he ______ visited a vineyard.

2. There were several vineyards open to visitors. If Martin had gone, he ______ visited one of them.

3. Paul had promised to meet Martin at the station. If Martin had arrived, Paul ______ met him there.

4. Martin is guessing: if he had gone to France, he ______ discovered a new favourite restaurant.

Step 5

Martin's chain of regrets

Martin keeps imagining how one different event might have changed what happened next. Complete each sentence with the third conditional form of the verbs in brackets.

Martin says that if he hadn't caught a cold, he would have gone to France. If he had gone to France, he might have visited a vineyard. If he had visited a vineyard, he could have brought back some wine. And if he had brought back some wine, he might have invited his friends round for a party.

His sister points out that Martin can still have a party. He does not need French wine to invite his friends!

1. If Martin ______ a cold, he would have gone to France. (not catch)

2. If Martin hadn't caught a cold, he ______ to France. (go)

3. If he had gone to France, he ______ a vineyard. (might / visit)

4. If he had visited a vineyard, he ______ back some wine. (could / bring)

5. If he had brought back some wine, he ______ his friends round. (might / invite)

Step 6

What do we know, and what are we imagining?

Some details are facts in Martin's story. Others are only possibilities he imagines. Choose the sentence that best matches the information.

1. Which statement describes what actually happened?

2. Which statement describes a possible but uncertain alternative?

3. What does Martin's sister think?

4. Which sentence best expresses the point his sister makes?

Step 7

Compare the three conditionals

We have used all three conditionals in the course. Compare what each one means.

First conditional

If Martin catches the next train, he will arrive on time.

A real possibility in the future.

Second conditional

If Martin had more money, he would travel more often.

An imaginary or unlikely present or future situation.

Third conditional

If Martin had caught the earlier train, he would have arrived on time.

An imagined alternative to the past.

Choose the correct conditional

1. The weather forecast says rain is possible tomorrow. Choose the first conditional.

2. I don't live by the sea, but I imagine it. Choose the second conditional.

3. She didn't set an alarm and missed the train. Choose the third conditional.

4. Martin did not go to France. Choose the third conditional with a possible result.

How about you?

Choose one of these situations, or think of your own. Write a few sentences about how things might have been different. You do not have to describe a personal regret.

You missed a bus or train.
You forgot to take something important with you.
You chose one activity instead of another.
You had a wonderful day that might not have happened if you had made a different choice.

Useful beginnings: If I had …, I would have … / I might have … / I could have …

This is your own writing, so there is no single correct answer. Check that the if-clause uses the Past Perfect and that the result uses would have, might have or could have + a past participle.

Self-check

I have used had + a past participle in the if-clause.

I have used would have, might have or could have + a past participle in the result.

I have made clear that I am imagining a different past.