I hope you have learnt your first 2 Conditional types well, if you have any questions, please do leave me messages. This will get more and more interesting!!!
Third Conditional
100% impossible because it happened
[ If (past perfect), (would + have + past participle) ]
Condition Result
- Susie told Paul, "If I had known you earlier, I would have dated you and then married you."
- Paul replied, "If I had known you earlier, I wouldn't have divorced with my wife.
Chances for condition to happen: 100% impossible because it happened
Alternatively, you can use
[ (would + have + past participle) if (past perfect) ]
Result Condition
- Susie told Paul, "I would have dated you and then married you if I had met you earlier."
- Paul replied, "I wouldn't have divorced with my wife if I had known you earlier."
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It might look a bit difficult but once you understand it, you wouldn't have any more problems with new examples.
First, how do you think Susie felt about Paul?
Did she think she knew Paul early enough? --- Nope.
Eventually, did she date Paul or married him? --- No.
Did she want to know Paul earlier? --- Yes.
So, you can tell that she obviously regretted not knowing Paul early enough, so she missed her chance. Sounds desperate.
What about Paul?
Did he think he knew Susie early enough? --- Nope.
Eventually, did he divorce with his wife? --- Positive.
What might have changed his mind about divorcing with his wife? --- by knowing Susie earlier.
So by knowing Susie earlier, could he save his marriage? --- Yes.
Question Time: So what is the hidden feeling that Paul has about Susie? What kind of a woman is Susie in Paul's point of view?
