Note:
1 „Were‟ is used for both singular and plural subjects.
2 The use of type 2 conditional in “If I were you, I would ………” is a
common form of advice.
3. Conditional Sentence Type 3
The if-clause is in the past perfect or the past perfect continuous tense, the main clause uses would have and past participle Verb 3, or would have
been and present participle Verb-ing.
Table 2.3 Conditional Sentence Type 3 TYPE
IF CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE
MEANING
Type 3
Past perfect
If you had worked hard,
would have + past participle
you would have succeeded.
Untrue in the past Fact:
You didn ‟t work
hard, so you didn ‟t
succeed.
Past perfect continuous
If it had not been raining
yesterday afternoon,
would have been + present participle
I would have been
going out for a walk.
Fact: It was raining
yesterday afternoon. I was not going out for a
walk.
Function: Conditional sentence type 3 is used to talk about actions or situations
that did not take or were not taking place in the past, but we can imagine the probable result.
1 If you had come to the party last night, you would have met my cousin. In truth, you didn
‟t come to the party last night.
2 If he had not been late this morning, his teacher would not have punished him. In truth, he was late.
Some books added others type of conditional sentences like mixed conditional sentence.
4. Mixed Conditional Sentence
Mixed conditional sentence is a combination of conditional sentence type 2 and conditional sentence type 3.
Table 2.4 Mixed Conditional Sentences TYPE
IF CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE
MEANING
Mixed Type
Simple past
If I were a bird,
would have + past participle
I would have flown to your place last night.
Untrue in the present or future.
Fact: I am not a bird,
so I didn ‟t fly to your
place.
Past perfect
If you had worked hard,
would + simple form
you would succeed.
Untrue in the past. Fact:
You didn ‟t work
hard. Now, you don ‟t
succeed.
Function:
Mixed conditional sentence is used to talk about actions or situations that did not take or were not taking place in the past, but we can imagine the
probable result in the present, or actions or situations that do not take place in the present, but we can imagine the probable result in the past.
