Everyday Grammar: Third Conditional

From the creator

Jill: Hi John! Have you seen the Man in the High Castle? John: Yes – the show about a fictional universe that is similar to ours. In that universe, the United States was occupied after World War 2. Jill: Right! The show explores an unreal situation in the past – and the possible results that come from that situation. John: I love shows and books that explore history in that way! Jill: Me too! I was thinking that the Man in the High Castle is in some ways like a kind of conditional statement we talk about in grammar classes. John: Right! We sometimes call such statements the third conditional. This kind of statement suggests that if one thing happened, another thing would have happened. Jill: Right. John: Here’s an example: If I had studied the lesson, I would have passed the test. Jill: But the reality is you did not study for the lesson, so you did not pass the test. John: Don’t worry - I wasn’t the worst student in my class [cut to graphic of John Russell’s name in last place on a list of grades] Jill: The structure for this kind of conditional statement is past perfect (or past perfect subjunctive)+ A modal + have + a past participle Graphic: If I had studied the lesson, I would have passed the test Past perfect modal+have+past participle John: That’s complicated! Jill: What is important is that English learners understand the idea and situation of this kind of conditional. John: That’s right! The details will come with practice, listen

Published 2021-08-22 · Watch on YouTube ↗
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