Casa · B1 Intermediate · Lesson 15 of 20 · Step 2

Social Issues

Hypothetical past situations and regrets

Form and use the third conditional (if + past perfect, would have + past participle)
Talk about hypothetical past situations and their imagined results
Discuss social issues and express opinions about past decisions

Words · tap a card to see it used

Grammar

Third conditional — if + past perfect, would have + past participle

Use the third conditional to talk about unreal or hypothetical situations in the past — things that did NOT happen. Structure: If + subject + had + past participle, subject + would have + past participle. The 'if' clause can come first or second.

If I had known about the problem, I would have helped.

She would have passed the exam if she had studied harder.

If they had left earlier, they wouldn't have missed the train.

We would have donated more if we had had the money.

Exercises · type, then check

1. Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets to form the third conditional.

1.If she (study) harder, she would have passed the test.

2.They would have helped if they (know) about the situation.

3.If the charity (receive) more donations, it would have built the school.

4.I (volunteer) if I had had more free time.

5.If the government (act) sooner, fewer people would have suffered.

2. Choose the correct option to complete each third conditional sentence.

1. If I had seen the news, I ___ about the protest.

2. She ___ to the meeting if she had felt better.

3. If they ___ the email, they would have responded.

4. We wouldn't have been late if the bus ___.

5. If he ___ more carefully, the accident wouldn't have happened.

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Reading

What If Things Had Been Different?

Last year, a small town was badly affected by flooding. Many residents lost their homes and businesses. Experts later said that if the local council had built better flood defences, the damage would not have been so severe. Some people felt that if the government had listened to scientists years ago, they would have prepared for extreme weather. A local volunteer group helped families after the disaster. One organiser said that if more people had volunteered, they would have been able to help everyone sooner. The event made the whole community think about what they could have done differently. It also raised awareness about the importance of planning for the future.

1. What did experts say could have prevented the severe damage?

2. What did the volunteer organiser say about help?

Speaking · say it out loud, with a partner or alone

1Think of a decision you made in the past. What would have happened if you had made a different choice? Tell your partner using the third conditional.

2Discuss with your partner: If your country had invested more in education ten years ago, how would things be different today?

Writing

Write 6–8 sentences about things you wish had happened differently in your life or in the world. Use the third conditional.

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