Third Conditional

THIRD CONDITIONAL - Without possibility. Meaning, we are talking about impossible situations because they are in the past and we cannot change what has happened.


These kinds of sentences consist of an 'IF' clause (e.g. If I had gone there...) and the main clause (e.g. he would have seen me).


Here are other examples:
If I had studied harder, I would have got better grades.
If I had had time, I would have gone to the mall with him. 
If we had caught the earlier bus, we would have got there on time.


Notice that the main clause contains 'would', 'could' or 'might.


If I had seen him at the meeting, I would have asked him. (But he wasn't there so I didn't.)
If I had seen him at the meeting, I could have asked him. (But he wasn't there so it wasn't possible.)
If I had seen him at the meeting, I might have asked him. (But I'm not sure. Perhaps if the opportunity had arisen.)




COMMON MISTAKES


1. If I would have known about the practice, I would have gone to it.
Although commonly used in American English, this phrase is grammatically INCORRECT.


Why?
The correct form should be like this:
If + had + past participle, would + have + past participle


If I had known about the practice, I would have gone to it. 
This is CORRECT




2. If I would have asked them, they would have helped me. 
INCORRECT


Why?
In the if-clause we use the past perfect (had + past participle).


If I had asked them, they would have helped me
CORRECT




3. If you had spoken to my friend, she would tell you where I was.
INCORRECT


Why?
The main clause has must be like this:
would + have + past participle.


If you had spoken to my friend, she would have told you where I was.
CORRECT

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The IF-clause

Mixed Conditionals

There were situations when unreal Conditional sentences are mixed. This means that the time in the if-clause is not the same as the time in the result. 


Study the examples below to learn how to mix conditional verb forms.

Verbs in green are in the Present Unreal Conditional.

Verbs in red are in the Past Unreal Conditional.

Verbs in purple are in the Future Unreal Conditional.

Mixed Conditional Patterns

PAST

PRESENT

Examples:

• If I had won the race, I would be famous.
  But I didn't win the race  in the past and I am not famous now.
• If I had taken French in high school, I would have more job opportunities.
  But I didn't take French in high school and I don't have many job opportunities.
• If she had been born in the United States, she wouldn't need a visa to work here.
  But she wasn't born in the United States and she does need a visa now to work here.

PAST

FUTURE

Examples:

• If she had signed up for the ski trip last week, she would be joining us tomorrow.
  But she didn't sign up for the ski trip last week and she isn't going to join us tomorrow.
• If Mark had gotten the job instead of Joe, he would be moving to Shanghai.
  But Mark didn't get the job and Mark is not going to move to Shanghai.
• If Darren hadn't wasted his Christmas bonus gambling in Las Vegas, he would go to Mexico with us next month.
  But Darren wasted his Christmas bonus gambling in Las Vegas and he won't go to Mexico with us next month.

PRESENT

PAST

Examples:

• If I were rich, I would have bought that Ferrari we saw yesterday.
  But I am not currently rich and that is why I didn't buy the Ferrari yesterday.
• If Sam spoke Russian, he would have translated the letter for you.
  But Sam doesn't speak Russian and that is why he didn't translate the letter.
• If I didn't have to work so much, I would have gone to the party last night.
  But I have to work a lot and that is why I didn't go to the party last night.

PRESENT

FUTURE

Examples:

• If I didn't have so much vacation time, I wouldn't go with you on the cruise to Alaska next week.
  But I do have a lot of vacation time and I will go on the trip next week.
• If Cindy were more creative, the company would send her to New York to work on the new advertising campaign.
  But Cindy is not creative and the company won't send her to New York to work on the new campaign.
• If Dan weren't so nice, he wouldn't be tutoring you in math tonight.
  But Dan is nice and he is going to tutor you tonight.

FUTURE

PAST

Examples:

• If I weren't going on my business trip next week, I would have accepted that new assignment at work.
  But I am going to go on a business trip next week, and that is why I didn't accept that new assignment at work.
• If my parents weren't coming this weekend, I would have planned a nice trip just for the two of us to Napa Valley.
  But my parents are going to come this weekend, and that is why I didn't plan a trip for the two of us to Napa Valley.
• If Donna weren't making us a big dinner tonight, I would have suggested that we go to that nice Italian restaurant.
  But she is going to make us a big dinner tonight, and that is why I didn't suggest that we go to that nice Italian restaurant.

FUTURE

PRESENT

Examples:

• If I were going to that concert tonight, I would be very excited.
  But I am not going to go to that concert tonight and that is why I am not excited.
• If Sandy were giving a speech tomorrow, she would be very nervous.
  But Sandy is not going to give a speech tomorrow and that is why she in not nervous.
• If Seb didn't come with us to the desert, everyone would be very disappointed.
  But Seb will come with us to the desert and that is why everyone is so happy.

source: http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/mixedconditional.html

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Verbs and Their Various Forms

Subjunctive mood is used to express a wish; express a condition contrary to actual fact. The present subjunctive is conjugated as follows:

I were      We were

He were   They were

You were

Examples:

I wish she were there (expresses a wish)

If she were here, she would help us. (expresses a condition to actual fact)

Wrong:	I wish I was as tall as my father.
Right:	I wish I were as tall as my father.

Wrong:	If Anna was here now, she would show you how to sing.
Right:	If Anna were here now, she would show you how to sing.

To express situations involving obligation or duty forms, such word as 'must', 'should', 'ought' are used.

Examples:

We must reach our target.

I should clean the room today.

He ought to help his friend.

Sometimes a common error arises due to the use of an indicative to express duty/obligation.

Wrong:	If he comes, do I tell him to stay back?
Right:	If he comes, should I tell him to stay back?

There can be some miscellaneous errors in the use of verbs. One is a tendency to curtail verbs by dropping a letter or a syllable.

Wrong:	She never expects us to come.
Right:	She never expected us to come.

While using verbs one must keep in mind that the arrangement of verbs in a sentence should be logical, i.e. that of the actual sequence of events.

Wrong:	She ate, dressed and washed before nine o'clock. (wrong unless this was the order of procedure).
Right:	She washed, dressed and ate before nine o'clock.

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The rule for "is" and "are"

First things first:


SUBJECT
The subject tells you who or what is being talked about in the sentence. It is either a noun or pronoun. 


Example:
He is handsome. (Who is handsome? He is, therefore he is the subject)


VERB
The verb tells you what is happening in the sentence or a state of being.  


Example:
The trainees climbed the ladder. 
(What did the trainees do? They climbed the ladder. Therefore climbed is the verb.)


She is happy. 
(What state is she in? She is happy. Therefore is is the verb.)


Basic Rule:
The basic rule states that a singular subject takes a singular verb while a plural subject takes a plural verb. The trick is in knowing whether the subject is singular or plural. The next trick is recognizing a singular or plural verb.


Hint: 
Verbs do not form their plurals by adding an s as nouns do. In order to determine which verb is singular and which one is plural, think of which verb you would use with he or she and which verb you would use with they.


Example:
talks, talk
Which one is the singular form? 
Which word would you use with he? 
We say, "He talks." Therefore, talks is singular. 
We say, "They talk." 
Therefore, talk is plural.


Rule 1
Two singular subjects connected by or or nor require a singular verb.
Example:
My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today.


Rule 2
Two singular subjects connected by either/or or neither/nor require a singular verb 
Examples:
Neither John nor Susan  is available.
Either Kiana or Casey helps today with stage decorations.


Rule 3
When one of your two subjects is I, put it second and follow it with the singular verb am.
Example:
Neither she nor I am going to the festival.


Rule 4
When a singular subject is connected by or or nor to a plural subject, put the plural subject last and use a plural verb.
Example:
The book or the magazines are on the shelf.


Rule 5
When a singular and plural subject are connected by either/or or neither/nor, put the plural subject last and use a plural verb.
Example:
Neither Jenny nor the others are available.


Rule 6
As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are connected by and.
Example:
A car and a bike are my means of transportation.


Rule 7
Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by words such as along with, as well as, besides, or not. Ignore these expressions when determining whether to use a singular or plural verb.
Examples:
The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause 
of her shaking.


Rule 8
The pronouns each, everyone, every one, everybody, anyone, anybody, someone, and somebody are singular and require singular verbs. Do not be misled by what follows of.
Examples:
Each of the girls sings well.
Every one of the cakes is gone.


NOTE: Everyone is one word when it means everybody. Every one is two words when the meaning is each one.


Rule 9
With words that indicate portions—percent, fraction, part, majority, some, all, none, remainder, etc.—look at the noun in your of phrase (object of the preposition) to determine whether to use a singular or plural verb. If the object of the preposition is singular, use a singular verb. If the object of the preposition is plural, use a plural verb.
Examples:
Fifty percent of the pie has disappeared.
(Pie is the object of the preposition of.)


Fifty percent of the pies have disappeared.
(Pies is the object of the preposition.)


One-third of the city is unemployed.
One-third of the people are unemployed.
All of the pie is gone.
All of the pies are gone.
Some of the pie is missing.
Some of the pies are missing.


Rule 10
When either and neither are subjects, they always take singular verbs.
Examples:
Neither of them is available to speak right now.
Either of us is capable of doing the job.


Rule 11
The words here and there are never subjects because they are not nouns. In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject follows the verb.
Examples:
There are four hurdles to jump.
There is a high hurdle to jump.


Rule 12
Use a singular verb with sums of money or periods of time.
Examples:
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.


Rule 13
Sometimes the pronoun who, that, or which is the subject of the verb in the middle of the sentence. The pronouns who, that, and which become singular or plural according to the noun directly in front of them. So if that noun is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb.
Examples:
Charlene is the scientist who writes the reports.
(The word in front of who is scientist, which is singular. Therefore, use the singular verb writes.)


He is one of the men who do the work.
(The word in front of who is men, which is plural. Therefore, use the plural verb do.)


Rule 14
Collective nouns such as team and staff may be either singular or plural depending on their use in the sentence.
Examples:
The staff is in a meeting.
(Staff is acting as a unit here.)


The staff are in disagreement about the findings.
(The staff are acting as separate individuals in this sentence.)


The sentence would read even better like this:
The staff members are in disagreement about the findings.

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Proper use of Could, Would and Should

COULD

1. Used to indicate ability or permission in the past.

Examples:
I could run faster then. 
Only men could go to there
She could sing like a pro by the age of 3.


2. Used with hypothetical or conditional force.
Examples: 
If we could help, we would.
We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this weekend.


3. Used to indicate tentativeness or politeness. 
Examples:
I could be wrong. 
Could you come over here?


4. It's also used to give a suggestion.
Examples:
You could see a movie or go out to dinner.
You could have spent your vacation in Hawaii.




WOULD


1. Used to express wish, desire or intent.
Examples:
She said she would meet us at the corner.
I would like to see you there tomorrow.


2. Used to make a polite request: 
Example:
Would you go with me?


3. Used in the main clause of a conditional statement to express a possibility or likelihood.
Examples: 
If I had enough money, I would buy a car. 
We would have gone to the beach, had the weather been good. 
If he were an actor, he would be in adventure movies.


4. Used to express presumption or expectation. 
Example:
That would be Steve at the door. 


5. Used to indicate uncertainty.
Example:
He would seem to be getting better.


6. Used to express repeated or habitual action in the past.
Examples:
Every morning we would walk in the garden.
When they first met, they would always have picnics on the beach.




SHOULD


1. Used to express obligation or duty.
Examples:
You should send her a note.
I really should be in the office by 7:00 AM.


2. Used to express probability or expectation.
Examples:
They should arrive at noon.
By now, they should already be in Singapore.


3. Used to express conditionality or contingency.
Example:
If she should fall, then so would I.


4. Used to moderate the directness or bluntness of a statement.
Example:
I should think he would like to go.


5. Used to give recommendation and advice.
Examples:
When you go to Berlin, you should visit the palaces in Potsdam.
You should focus more on your family and less on work

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