Third Conditionals
TRANSCRIPT IN ENGLISH:
Host:
"Hello, English Dojo listeners! Welcome back to another episode! Today, we’re going to talk about something a little more advanced – the third conditional. If you've already learned about the first and second conditionals, you're halfway there! The third conditional is used to talk about things that didn’t happen in the past – and how things would have been different if they had. In this episode, I’ll explain what it is, how to use it, and give you some examples to make it easier to understand. Ready? Let’s dive in!"
[Segment 1: What Is the Third Conditional?]
Host:
"So, let’s start with the basics. The third conditional is used when we want to talk about a hypothetical situation in the past – something that didn’t happen, but we imagine what could have been different if it had. It’s often used to express regret or to imagine an alternative outcome to something that already happened.
The structure of the third conditional is:
If + past perfect, would have + past participle
Let’s break that down.
Past perfect is formed with 'had' + past participle (for example, 'had eaten').
Would have + past participle is used for the result in the imagined situation."
[Segment 2: Examples of the Third Conditional]
Host:
"Let’s look at a couple of examples to make this clearer.
If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.
Here, I didn’t study hard enough, and I didn’t pass the exam. But I’m imagining what could have happened if I had studied more.If they had left earlier, they would have caught the train.
In this case, they didn’t leave early enough, so they missed the train. We’re imagining that if they had left earlier, they would have caught it."
[Segment 3: Using the Third Conditional to Express Regret]
Host:
"One of the most common uses of the third conditional is to express regret about something that happened (or didn’t happen) in the past. For example,
If I had known about the party, I would have gone.
This means I didn’t know about the party, and as a result, I didn’t go. But I wish I had known because I would have gone.
Another example:If I had worked harder, I would have been promoted.
Here, I’m expressing regret about not working hard enough. In my imagination, if I had worked harder, I would have gotten the promotion."
[Segment 4: Negative Third Conditional]
Host:
"Just like with other conditionals, you can make the third conditional negative. If you want to say that something would not have happened in the past, you simply add 'not' after 'would.'
For example:
If I hadn’t missed the bus, I would have arrived on time.
This means I missed the bus and didn’t arrive on time. But if I hadn’t missed the bus, I would have arrived on time.
Another example:If they hadn’t argued, they would have enjoyed the movie.
In this case, the argument happened, so they didn’t enjoy the movie. But if they hadn’t argued, they would have enjoyed it."
[Segment 5: Key Points to Remember]
Host:
"Let’s quickly summarize the key points to remember about the third conditional:
It talks about hypothetical situations in the past – things that didn't happen but could have.
The structure is: If + past perfect, would have + past participle.
It’s often used to express regret or imagine how things could have been different.
You can also make the third conditional negative by adding 'not' after 'would.'"
[Segment 6: Practice Time!]
Host:
"Alright, let’s practice a bit. I’ll give you some situations, and you tell me how to finish the sentence using the third conditional:
If I had known about the meeting...
The full sentence could be: If I had known about the meeting, I would have attended.
If they had brought their jackets...
The full sentence could be: If they had brought their jackets, they wouldn’t have been cold.
If I had saved more money...
The full sentence could be: If I had saved more money, I would have bought the new phone."
[Outro]
Host:
"Great job, everyone! I hope you now feel more comfortable using the third conditional to talk about things that didn’t happen in the past and imagine how they could have been different. It’s a great way to express regret, reflect on missed opportunities, or just imagine alternate realities. Thanks for listening to today’s episode! Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be using all the conditionals with confidence. Until next time, take care!"
TRANSCRIPT EN ESPAÑOL
¡Hola, oyentes de English Dojo! ¡Bienvenidos de nuevo a otro episodio!
Hoy vamos a hablar de algo un poco más avanzado: el tercer condicional. Si ya has aprendido sobre el primer y segundo condicional, ¡ya estás a mitad de camino! El tercer condicional se usa para hablar de cosas que no sucedieron en el pasado y de cómo habrían sido diferentes si hubieran ocurrido. En este episodio, te explicaré qué es, cómo usarlo y te daré algunos ejemplos para que sea más fácil de entender. ¿Listos? ¡Vamos a ello!
[Segmento 1: ¿Qué es el tercer condicional?]
Anfitrión:
"Empecemos con lo básico. El tercer condicional se usa cuando queremos hablar de una situación hipotética en el pasado, algo que no ocurrió, pero imaginamos qué podría haber sido diferente si hubiera sucedido. A menudo se usa para expresar arrepentimiento o para imaginar un resultado alternativo de algo que ya pasó.
La estructura del tercer condicional es:
If + pasado perfecto, would have + participio pasado
Vamos a desglosarlo.
El pasado perfecto se forma con 'had' + participio pasado (por ejemplo, 'had eaten').
Would have + participio pasado se usa para el resultado en la situación imaginada."
[Segmento 2: Ejemplos del tercer condicional]
Anfitrión:
"Veamos un par de ejemplos para que quede más claro:
If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.
Aquí, no estudié lo suficiente y no aprobé el examen. Pero estoy imaginando qué habría pasado si hubiera estudiado más.
If they had left earlier, they would have caught the train.
En este caso, no salieron lo suficientemente temprano, así que perdieron el tren. Estamos imaginando que, si hubieran salido antes, lo habrían alcanzado."
[Segmento 3: Usar el tercer condicional para expresar arrepentimiento]
Anfitrión:
"Uno de los usos más comunes del tercer condicional es expresar arrepentimiento por algo que ocurrió (o no ocurrió) en el pasado. Por ejemplo:
If I had known about the party, I would have gone.
Esto significa que no sabía sobre la fiesta y, como resultado, no fui. Pero desearía haberlo sabido porque habría ido.
Otro ejemplo:
If I had worked harder, I would have been promoted.
Aquí estoy expresando arrepentimiento por no haber trabajado lo suficiente. En mi imaginación, si hubiera trabajado más, me habrían ascendido."
[Segmento 4: Tercer condicional en negativo]
Anfitrión:
"Al igual que con otros condicionales, puedes hacer el tercer condicional negativo. Si quieres decir que algo no habría sucedido en el pasado, simplemente añade 'not' después de 'would.'
Por ejemplo:
If I hadn’t missed the bus, I would have arrived on time.
Esto significa que perdí el autobús y no llegué a tiempo. Pero si no lo hubiera perdido, habría llegado a tiempo.
Otro ejemplo:
If they hadn’t argued, they would have enjoyed the movie.
En este caso, discutieron, así que no disfrutaron de la película. Pero si no hubieran discutido, la habrían disfrutado."
[Segmento 5: Puntos clave a recordar]
Anfitrión:
"Resumamos rápidamente los puntos clave sobre el tercer condicional:
Habla de situaciones hipotéticas en el pasado, cosas que no sucedieron pero podrían haber sucedido.
La estructura es: If + pasado perfecto, would have + participio pasado.
A menudo se usa para expresar arrepentimiento o imaginar cómo podrían haber sido las cosas.
También puedes hacer el tercer condicional negativo añadiendo 'not' después de 'would.'"
[Segmento 6: ¡Momento de práctica!]
Anfitrión:
"Bien, practiquemos un poco. Te daré algunas situaciones y tú completa la oración usando el tercer condicional:
If I had known about the meeting...
La oración completa podría ser: If I had known about the meeting, I would have attended.
If they had brought their jackets...
La oración completa podría ser: If they had brought their jackets, they wouldn’t have been cold.
If I had saved more money...
La oración completa podría ser: If I had saved more money, I would have bought the new phone."
[Despedida]
Anfitrión:
"¡Gran trabajo, todos! Espero que ahora se sientan más cómodos usando el tercer condicional para hablar de cosas que no sucedieron en el pasado e imaginar cómo podrían haber sido diferentes. Es una gran manera de expresar arrepentimiento, reflexionar sobre oportunidades perdidas o simplemente imaginar realidades alternas. Gracias por escuchar el episodio de hoy. Sigan practicando y pronto usarán todos los condicionales con confianza. ¡Hasta la próxima, cuídense!"
