100+ Examples of Third Conditional Sentences

Examples of Third Conditional Sentences

Third conditional sentences express hypothetical situations in the past and their imagined outcomes. They are formed with an if clause in the past perfect tense and the main clause in the conditional perfect tense.

What are Third Conditional Sentences?

Ever imagined how things might have turned out differently if you made a different choice in the past? Third conditional sentences help us do just that! They express hypothetical situations in the past that didn’t happen and the imagined consequences of those situations. Think of it as rewinding the clock and hitting “replay” with a twist.

Rules of the Third Conditional Game:

• Time Travel in Tenses:
  • “If” clause: Use the past perfect tense to describe the unrealized condition in the past. (“If I had studied harder…”)
  • Result clause: Use “would have” + past participle to describe the imagined outcome. (“…I would have passed the exam.”)
• Modal Mayhem:
  • You can sometimes swap “would have” with “could have” or “might have” to express different shades of possibility in the imagined outcome. (“If I had woken up earlier, I could have caught the train.”)
• Beyond “Would Have”:
  • In formal writing, you might encounter “should have” + past participle in the result clause, often to express missed opportunities or obligations. (“He should have apologized for his mistake.”)
    
    

Examples to Spark Your Imagination:

• Regret: “If I hadn’t eaten so much pizza, I wouldn’t feel so sick now.”
• Missed Opportunities: “If I had known you were interested, I would have asked you out.”
• Hypothetical Scenarios: “If dinosaurs hadn’t gone extinct, the world would be a very different place.”
• Expressing Wishes: “If I had a million dollars, I would travel the world.”
  
  

Here are 100+ examples of third conditional sentences:

• If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.
• If she had known about the job, she would have applied.
• If he had listened to the weather forecast, he wouldn’t have forgotten his umbrella.
• If it had been warmer, we would have gone swimming.
• If they had left earlier, they wouldn’t have missed the train.
• If I had won the lottery, I would have traveled the world.
• If she had finished her project on time, she wouldn’t have been stressed.
• If he had taken the job offer, he would have moved to a new city.
• If it had rained, we would have stayed indoors.
• If they had invited us, we would have attended the party.
• If I had known you were coming, I would have baked a cake.
• If she had practiced more, she would have performed better.
• If he had asked for directions, he wouldn’t have gotten lost.
• If it had snowed, we would have built a snowman.
• If they had checked the schedule, they wouldn’t have missed the event.
• If I had invested in stocks, I would have made a profit.
• If she had remembered her passport, she would have traveled abroad.
• If he had set his alarm, he wouldn’t have overslept.
• If it had been sunny, we would have gone for a hike.
• If they had saved money, they wouldn’t have gone into debt.
• If I had practiced piano more, I would have performed at the concert.
• If she had taken the earlier flight, she wouldn’t have missed the meeting.
• If he had checked his email, he would have received the invitation.
• If it had been cooler, we would have gone camping.
• If they had listened to the warning, they wouldn’t have gotten hurt.
• If I had known it was your birthday, I would have bought a gift.
• If she had studied abroad, she would have learned a new language.
• If he had read the reviews, he wouldn’t have watched that movie.
• If it had been quieter, we would have enjoyed the concert more.
• If they had taken the bus, they wouldn’t have been late.
• If I had finished my work, I would have joined you for lunch.
• If she had followed the recipe, the cake wouldn’t have burned.
• If he had listened to his doctor, he wouldn’t have gotten sick.
• If it had been less crowded, we would have stayed longer.
• If they had arrived on time, they wouldn’t have missed the opening act.
• If I had known you were allergic, I wouldn’t have served peanuts.
• If she had accepted the offer, she wouldn’t be unemployed.
• If he had paid attention, he wouldn’t have made that mistake.
• If it had been foggy, we wouldn’t have gone for a drive.
• If they had visited earlier, they would have seen the cherry blossoms.
• If I had known about the sale, I would have bought more clothes.
• If she had visited the doctor sooner, she would have recovered faster.
• If he had taken the shortcut, he wouldn’t have been late.
• If it had been a holiday, we would have gone to the beach.
• If they had arrived earlier, they wouldn’t have missed the sunrise.
• If I had brought my camera, I would have taken pictures.
• If she had remembered her anniversary, she wouldn’t be in trouble.
• If he had left earlier, he wouldn’t have hit traffic.
• If it had been warmer, we would have gone for a picnic.
• If they had ordered dessert, they would have tried the chocolate cake.
• If I had known about the sale, I would have bought a new phone.
• If she had attended the meeting, she would have known about the changes.
• If he had finished his chores, he wouldn’t be grounded.
• If it had been colder, we would have worn jackets.
• If they had turned off the stove, the food wouldn’t have burned.
• If I had seen the sign, I would have turned left.
• If she had arrived on time, she wouldn’t have missed the beginning.
• If he had taken the train, he wouldn’t have been delayed.
• If it had been sunnier, we would have gone to the beach.
• If they had taken the elevator, they wouldn’t have missed the start.
• If I had known you were allergic, I wouldn’t have served seafood.
• If she had followed the instructions, the project wouldn’t have failed.
• If he had checked the weather, he wouldn’t have gotten wet.
• If it had been less windy, we would have flown kites.
• If they had read the map, they wouldn’t have gotten lost.
• If I had brought an umbrella, I wouldn’t have gotten soaked.
• If she had brought her passport, she wouldn’t have missed the flight.
• If he had listened to the forecast, he wouldn’t have worn shorts.
• If it had been cooler, we would have gone for a walk.
• If they had finished their homework, they wouldn’t have missed the movie.
• If I had known about the traffic, I would have taken a different route.
• If she had remembered her phone, she wouldn’t be unreachable.
• If he had finished his work, he wouldn’t be stressed.
• If it had been warmer, we would have eaten outside.
• If they had taken the subway, they wouldn’t have been late.
• If I had known about the sale, I would have bought more.
• If she had checked her email, she wouldn’t have missed the message.
• If he had chosen the healthier option, he wouldn’t have gotten sick.
• If it had been sunnier, we would have gone to the park.
• If they had turned off the lights, they wouldn’t have gotten a fine.
• If I had paid attention, I would have remembered your name.
• If she had left earlier, she wouldn’t have missed the bus.
• If he had taken the medicine, he would have felt better.
• If it had been less humid, we would have gone for a run.
• If they had followed the recipe, the cake wouldn’t have fallen.
• If I had studied more, I would have passed the test.
• If she had arrived earlier, she wouldn’t have missed the meeting.
• If he had filled the gas tank, he wouldn’t have run out of fuel.
• If it had been sunnier, we would have gone for a hike.
• If they had taken the earlier flight, they wouldn’t have been delayed.
• If I had known about the event, I would have attended.
• If she had finished her project, she wouldn’t be stressed.
• If he had bought the tickets earlier, he wouldn’t have paid more.
• If it had been quieter, we would have slept better.
• If they had ordered earlier, they wouldn’t have waited so long.
• If I had known about the sale, I would have bought new shoes.
• If she had arrived earlier, she wouldn’t have missed the lecture.
• If he had saved more money, he wouldn’t have borrowed.
• If it had been colder, we would have worn coats.
• If they had left earlier, they wouldn’t have missed the sunrise.
• If I had finished my work, I would have gone out.
• If she had listened to the warnings, she wouldn’t have gotten hurt.
• If he had practiced more, he wouldn’t have lost the match.
• If it had been snowier, we would have gone skiing.
• If they had arrived on time, they wouldn’t have missed the beginning.
• If I had known about the change, I would have prepared.
• If she had finished her meal, she wouldn’t have been hungry.
• If he had studied harder, he wouldn’t have failed.
• If it had been darker, we wouldn’t have played outside.
• If they had left earlier, they wouldn’t have gotten stuck.
  
  

These examples illustrate how third conditional sentences express imagined outcomes based on hypothetical past situations.

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