Learn English Grammar: How to use the 3rd conditional

Easy test teacher. If I hadn´t watched this video, I wouldn´t have gotten ten out of ten in the test. Good lesson. Regards!

CART

nice :)

batuhanbora

Interesting lesson. I have a doubt about this example you used: if Mary had a little lamb, we would have had a farm. According to the rule, the first part of the sentence, we should use past perfect. Shouldn’t we? Thank you for your help Benjamin

Fatimuccia

If I hadn’t been to engvid I couldn’t have known you

kotoz

If had smiled more, I would have got laid..
This sentence make good sense to me..
Very nice..I regret though :-/

erek

if you had smiled more,you would have gotten laid.
regards
sarmad

sugeon73

If you had been more concentrated you would have written this sentence correctly

nicoliniv

If I hadn’t missed lots of lessons in this site, I wouldn’t poor English like now.

Ratanakiri Cambodia

if you handnot missed lots of lessons in this site ,you wouldnot have gotten poor english like now
regards
sarmad

sugeon73

Thank you for ur correcting ma mistake.

Ratanakiri Cambodia

I marked the wrong option to number 7 and 9. That’s always was my big trouble during the tests. I do need to learn more about “would have”…

CostaGeeo

☺ 10 out of 10. Thank you Benjamin for this useful lesson !

Annie

Thank you for this lesson. If I had studied English regularly, my English proficiency would’ve been much higher than it’s now

kegga

8/10, thank you!

Torwit

If I hadn’t liked engvid.com I wouldn’t have watched this video.

Rusol1987

Well done! Have a cat gif. :)

engVid Moderator

So cute!

ClauDri3

engVid Moderator

Please, dear engVid Moderator, where do you find these cat gifs?

Marcio07

Giphy and Tenor, mostly!

engVid Moderator

Thanks a lot. :)

Marcio07

thanks MrBenjamin for this lesson, it’s good.
in the exemple (befor the last one) you’ve said :
“if Mary had a little lamb, we would have had a frirm”
i guess you mean :
“if Mary had had a little lamb, we would have had a frirm” , it should be past participle instead of the past simpt. thanks again

struggleForEng

You’re right !

Yolclout

Hallo Benjamin,

There is a sentence :
If Marry had a litte lamb, we would have had a farm.

Is this correct ?

If Marry had had a litte lamb, we would have had a farm.

adrijana

if bieleve you are right.

sugeon73

Yeah, you are probably right. If + past participle (had) equals past simple, and we have to have past perfect so it is :If+had+ past participle (had).
Thats why “If Mary had had ..” is right. (but I could be wrong :) )

ChrisOldo

I have looked it up in many different sources, and right form of this sentence should be:
If M had had a little lamb, we would have had a farm. In this way I learned the third conditional properly. I am preparing me for FCE as well. Good luck ChrisOldo.

adrijana

guys could ou help me about conjugation, first read this pargraph :
“Woods university had a big problem, and the problem had to do with the budget,Because the university had not been given a big enough bugdet to operat in the way that it was used to operationg for the coming year”
my problem is in the latest statment “it was used to operationg for the coming year”
how does an “ing” verb come after “to” , i guess this statment lacks the verb “to be”,so it should be like:
“it was used to be operationg for the coming year”,all of you are welcom to clarify this point.

struggleForEng

“be used to” is a phrase. So, “to” in that sentence doesnt necessitate a verb.
“be used to + something”

mgunen

struggleforEng .I might be wrong,but what i think is here: “used to” use as a preposition.

Annie

why not it could be,thanks, i’ll search more about it

struggleForEng

High Benjamin: if Mary had a little lamb: pas simple not past perfect

takayashu

Good observation Takayashu.I noticed as well. Is it not had had? Or can we use the simple past as well?

siby

Thank You

Hamada Badawy

Can we say that the rule for the 3rd conditional is:
If + Past Perfect + Would||Could + Present Perfect ?
Thanks a lot Benjamin

zimil

No, this is not correct.
Rule for Present Perfect is:
I/you/we/you/they + have + past participle
he/she/it + has + past participle

But 3rd conditional requires for all persons to use HAVE. So when she/he/it is used it is required to use HAVE also.

Sample:
If she had studied hard, she would HAVE passed the exam. (correct)

But in your case of present perfect, then it should be:
If she had studied hard, she would HAS passed the exam. (wrong)

From above it is clearly we should not write the rule as “Present Perfect” but:
If + Past Perfect + Would/Could/Should +
would + HAVE + Past Participle.

rokaly

Thanks Benjamin, this lesson was great..I got 10/10..If I hadn’t studied this lesson, I wouldn’t have learned this.. :)

marcos alexandre

Thank you for your great lesson, Benjamin.

Worawitoo

Thanks Benjamin!!
As many students wrote above, I think there´s a mistake in the example of the farm. That´s not the 3rd conditional.

knopfler86

Hello,
Thanks for the lesson.I have a question about the sixth quiz: the past participle is been, not worried,isn’t it?
Thank you for your answer

Gilbert Emaha Pente

If I had not this comment,
You wouldn’t have seen it.
Thanks for the useful moment,
with that I had a meet.

svetashev

Well, I think that the Third Conditional is the last one to learn an Upper-Intermediate Level but when you use Mixed Conditional Forms then you are studying for an Advanced Level, this is my case, I had studying this forms before but it’s a good idea to review them to remember and practice again. Thanks a lot teacher Benjamin or Ben, a good performance and explanation in British English. Regards.

angardiobel

I have to fix a mistake in a verb tense of my last post, it was “I had been studying…”, so I think it’s the right form. Thanks.

angardiobel

I didn’t catch anything, but I’ve got 8/10.
Benjamin, thanks a bunch (so funny phrase :)))

joe921

if i hadn’t spent time following your video, i coudn’t have understood the lesson. is this correct ?because there is not a regret here, thank for your lesson.

SKIKDA

Thanks for this lesson. It is not easy to remember these structure, mainly on third conditional.

Fernando Moreira

thank you!love your lessons

zined

Thanks so much teacher Benjamin.
This lesson was Great!
Also interesting lesson
Really it’s not forgotten and important to learnt the third conditional such had/would/hadn’t/wouldn’t

Muad Abdiaziz

Great lesson , Benjamín. I love your body language, and your accent is wonderful.I wonder if you have videos to practice pronunciation with you !,

Zatufomo

Hi Benjamin.
First of all thank you for your always very lively lessons. In the example “If Mary Had a lamb…” doesn’t it should be “If Mary had had a lamb” ?
Many thanks.
Angel

europeangel

If I had not watched this lesson 3 times I would not have passed the quiz. so I did ten of ten.

Thank very much! Benjamin

Br Kairat

karik44

I’m glad for this lesson even though you made a mistake. In the example: If Mary had a little lamb, we would have had a farm, as you can see there’s something missing right there, It should be like this: If Mary had “had” a little lamb, we would have had a farm. when we use the past perfect it comes with the past participle. Let me know if I’m wrong or not, Thanks :)

FranciscoJavier97

I feel the same. There is the missed word “had”. Help us, plz))

destrkast

thanks a lot

Rodrigo Ribeiro

Yupiiiiii 10/10

Yeify

I got 10/10. I am going to write more articles about anything interest me.

mawut

If I had not done the test I wouldn’t have knew the results.

siby

Thank you Benjamin. I learnt a word “gotten”. I didn’t know it’s possible to say “got” or “gotten”. I’ve got 9 out of 10 but I made a careless mistake, so I am happy in spite of everything. Good week end and best regards. Marie-Claude

mclaude

If I had not taken this Quiz, I would have missed the chance of knowing that I’m good at english

Shrishti

good job

Fianna-law

9 out of 10
If I had’t watched your video, I wouldn’t have umderstood the third condition.
Right !

saudKSA

hi everyone

@Akbar97

Thanks, lesson very interesting !

Rozenn

Dear sir very Nice and interesting lesson

ANAND P B

Thank you so much.
It’s very useful grammar.

hkhaledh30

think you mr benjamin for this lesson I follow you carfully for indersting.
hello for all students

marirchaouki

9/10 thank you , the video was helpful .

Zahra@AB

if i hadnt so lazy typing on the keyboard i woundnt got 9 out of 10 in the quiz.

sabrhusna

Thank you so much for your teachings

beaelias99

Thank you. It is very easy to understand. If I hadn’t watched this video, I wouldn’t understood this topic.

isra.p53

If you hadn’t taught the 3rd conditional detailedy, I couldn’t have gotten the perfect

Terrysam

“If I´d had a teacher like Benjamin I would have speaked english since long time ago”

thanks Benjamin, thanks EngVid

elephant73

Very good, Benjamin. Thanks a lot!

Júlio César L Sousa

If i had studied more hardly, i would have passed the exam.

tutumao

Thank you for great lesson

sipho

great lesson! thank you very much indeed . Already waiting for your next lessons)

Yeleubay.Iliyas

Grammar the 3rd conditional I got a 100%
Thank you Ben

Littlebit71

If I had not taken the test I would not have learned about the 3rd conditional

javier.ocb

i got 100% soo i am an english’s master now :p :p :p

bouguenara-zakaria-2

thnx for your help i got 90 i just start and i hope i get better one agin thank you so much

milad1214

If I hadn’t watched this english class I would have probably taken zero.

Thanks for explanation, teacher!

dsantos1987

Thank you for a great lesson ?I got 90% because the “take, took, taken” always confuses ? I’m looking forward to seeing the next lesson

harcsasera

If I hadn’t watched a very good lesson on third conditional with Bejamim, I wouldn’t have gotten 10/10! Thank you teacher!!! :-)

juniorbr26

This movie is helpfull :)
Thank you guy!

your-boy-nikolay

Thank you! I love your classes.

Ramiro.

Why should I use “gotten” instead of just “got”? There is not such a word as “gotten” in British English. The 3rd form of “get” is “got”, isn’t it? Do you consider exactly American English?

destrkast

I got 10/10. Your lesson is very good, easy… If I hadn’t watched this video, I wouldn’t learned about 3rd conditional.

mardej

10/10. Thank you^^

Aliya S

Thanks teacher . It was better if the questions were from different kind of conditionals , it this way we think more about the correct item and learn better !

Soei

Wow I’ve got 10. If i had learned this lesson before. I would have understood this 3rd form very well. Correct me if I’m wrong teacher.

tuinui27

Very nice buddy, god bless you

vadrenaline

I got it 10/10. Thanks for this lesson.

marcelomm030273

thanks teacher for the explanation

KAMALMAN

if I had asked people from Engvid to be my friend on Facebook, I would have gotten a lot of friends from all over the world!
hey guys,do you want to be my friends?

lemarvillois

Since you have the opportunity please add me on Skype.
lenilsonsg@outlook.com

lenilsonsg

i wanna be a friend
where are u from??

shahenda saied

Woow I had managed to answered all the questions without mistake

saxarla

I will study more,promise!

lealcaveira

Sir, I got 10 up to 10 in after first listened
that’s so awesome.

SILENT PATHAN

beautiful
can i chat with u
in English conversation??

shahenda saied

Thank you so much for the the lesson Benjamin. good job.

SuleimanUnderarmor

If I hadn’t watched this video I wouldn’t have understood this issue so well!
I would have had better results on my English test if I had watched this video.
If you hadn’t explain 3th conditional so clearly I wouldn’t have caught the sense of this grammar.
Thanks a lot!

svetlyo

Thanks Benjamin for this lesson! This is a very important subject.

And, I beg you, don’t try to kiss the parrot again — next time, you may lose part of your mouth if it catch you with that strong beak :)

Fabio Cicerre

Thank you Benjamin. I have got full marks. Please involved more complicated sentences.

Abdullah9852

Very good 100%

Mayuyita

HI, Benjamin, could you please explain the #2.
“If I had been more friendly,” means this person was not polite at the conference? So he didn’t meet any friend there? Is that right?
2. I went to a conference last week. If I had been more friendly, I ___________ met more people.
couldn’t
would’ve
can’t
will

SelenaL

Correct answer is:
would’ve = would have

rokaly

If I haven’t watched your videos on YouTube, I couldn’t gotten 8 out of 10.

Hope this sentence is correct

Ibo5018

If you hadn’t watched this video on you tube, you couldn’t have gotten 8 out of 10

Marden10

Thank you!!!

Desita

Thank you so much, teacher. You were really helpful, now I’ve understood all the Conditionals,. I really appreciate it.

maggie92lem

Thanks teacher, this lesson is very useful….!!!

Jakub Alvarez

I like the way you teaching us….

zoranseremet

thanks for everybody

sameh22

Great lesson! Thank you, Benjamin :)

NathalieBomfim

If I had watched all of your videos, I would speak english better.

jeanpierobom

If i had known the options were easy i would not have attempted this quiz.

btw its cool :)

tehan

Thanks for your precious lesson. It´s de first time that I could watch your videos, and I love them. I need to improve my level for my future job and I hope you could help me.

capi007

Thank you very much! I understand your lessons!

yaresolga

Millions of thanks Benjamin, you’re the best :D (10/10) !!!

Lucas Avelino

Thank you ?

Uldana

thanks, if I had seen this video, I would have gotten a great score in English exam.

best wishes for you and engvid team.

msharafi93

*Sir, why ‘been’ has been used in the following sentence, although 3rd conditional structure doesn’t has this format. Please help. Thanks
If Jim had called his wife, she wouldn’t have been __________ about him all night.

Davidkhan

It is OK. Be is irregular verb. “Been” is the past participle of verb be.

be – was/were – been
go – went – gone
meet – met – met
work – worked – worked
etc.

Check the irregular verbs:
https://www.engvid.com/english-resource/irregular-verbs/

rokaly

thanks “sir” really if had seen this video ,i would have gotten good marks on English test

loma 163

Thank you, Benjamin!!! If I had paid more attention, I wouldn’t have scored 90 but 100!!

JJulian

OMG! I do love this language!!!!!

Sonia1234

Thank you Benjamin

kheireddine007

Thank you Benjamin. Maybe someone has already asked that question : shouldn’t it be “If Mary had had a little lamb…”??

Tyrion

spox :)
thx a lot :)

Daro1975

Dear Benjamin,
I thought he example “If Mary had a little lamb …” at the third conditional must be “If Mary had had a little …” or am i wrong.
I enjoy your method of teaching.

Tiny

tinyvissers

I suppose you’re right. It is just a typo …
take it easy :)
Thank you Benjamin ♥♥♥

Albertitioali

I have also thought the same thing.

faizul

if ı hadnt meet you .ı would have some trouble about english grammer thamk youuu benjamin !!! . by the way ı am watching you from turkey .

Blackdream

got 10 woooow

ibrahimaziz

Thanks Benjamin!

Alex-1956

I got 10 wow
Thank you so much:)

Nazanin Zahra .T

Thank you!

Soei

Thank you, Benjamin.
A question about the first example at the end of your video:
If Mary had a little lamb,…
Shouldn’t be:
If Mary “had had” a little lamb,…?

isaac.1201

I feel so sad like you! :D

SherlyYT

8/10 dun dun DUN

SherlyYT

Thanks a lot Benjamin abound this lesson … if I had not watched this lesson I couldn’t leaned more about English language

Safaa76

If I hadn’t skipped my English class a long, long time ago, I would have been able to study abroad.
If I hadn’t mixed around with bad boys, I would have studied harder.
I wish I could return to the past using the time machine.
If only I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.

faizul

10/10
1. If I hadn’t watched the video, I would not have scored so well in the quiz.

2. I wouldn’t have passed the exam if I hadn’t worked hard.

3. I wouldn’t have made it up to university, if I hadn’t allowed for college.

4. I would not have been so worried about my cousin’s health if he had not overdosed himself with sleeping pills.

Ashifa

It’s all about conditionals!
Zero conditional:

If it rains, the floor becomes wet.

First conditional:

If it rains, the downtown’s main road will be slippery for a walk.

Second conditional:

If it were rained that night, I could go outside and have a cup of coffee.

Third conditional:

If it had not rained that night, I would have met my uncle at the airport.

Thanks Benjamin for the great videos and helping us learn the structure and construction of conditionals right from Zero to Third level.

Ashifa

If you work hard, you can pass.
If you work smartly, you will get good grades.
If you were a hard worker, you could top the exam.
If you had worked hard, you would have passed.

Ashifa

I don’t know if I’m thinking right but, both second and third conditional are about your regerts , however the second is about your state or how were you , and the third is about actions. For instance :
Second conditional:
If the bus were faster, I wouldn’t be late. ( State then state)
Third conditional:
If the bus had arrived earlier, I wouldn’t have delayed ( action then action ) . If your understanding missed up , just ignore me :)

Ali - kh

If I had tried this test without watching your video I wouldn’t have scored 10/10 … Thx ;)

Adam

If I hadn’t found this website, I wouldn’t have made progress! Thank your teacher!

mcnacho

If I hadn’t eaten gyro I wouldn’t have food poisoned

Mobin2016

If i hadn’t listened to this session carefully, I wouldn’t have gotten 100 marks.
Thank you Sir! Subscribed too.

kdanish

Benjamin thank you, immensely grateful!

AlessandroItaly

I got it right 9.

izabeldonato

10/10 yes! good lessons

weigao

ıf ı had studıed every day ı could have passed my fınal exam

ogulnur

If I had listened to my friend. I would have been at home.

hnieto

“If Marry had a little lamb…” Beg a pardon, but shouldn’t the past perfect form look like: ” If Marry had had a little lamb…”. Because if it shouldn’t, so what is the difference with the Past Indefinite?)

Igor222

9/10
Thank you!

Paul Melvin

I wouldn’t have been able to work in customer service in Canada if I hadn’t watched engVID back home.

Thanks, Benjamin

Ahmed Al-Khaffaf

I appreciate for your lesson. It’s so gripping.

Kong Huynh

Thank you teacher

Mollybb

100/100 even i haven’t watched the full video but thanks a lot benjamin sir

waynebuffalo

if i had studied english harder i would have been a registered Nurse now

prema ananthi

If I had had watched this video carefully I wouldn’t made lots of mistakes
Is this correct can anyone answer me please

Waleed jan2341

There is a mistake in sentense “If Marry had a little lamp”. Or i understude something wrong??

Volodja1604

If I had seen his msg on time last night , we would’ve talked whole night.

Ekta2002

If I would’ve been serious about my first interview, I hadn’t faced rejection.
Guys pls let me know is it correct or not?

Ekta2002

thanks a lot

PhariDa

thank you teacher Benjamin for your class
for my level is little complicated but is funny learn more grammar and vocabulary.

emanuelse1393

THANKS. I got 100.

Amira Abdulaziz

Dear Benjamin,
Though I never learned this at school, I know there’s another form of the 3rd. conditional which is never spoken about (or at least, I have never seen): eg. Had I studied harder, I could have passed my exams.
Can you make a video about this as well? It would be be remarkably interesting.
By the way I love the way you teach. Congratulations! I love watching your videos even on subjects I already know very well… :)