Le Third Conditional est le temps de l’imaginaire dans le passé. On l’utilise pour parler de choses qui ne se sont pas produites et pour imaginer leurs conséquences. C’est la structure idéale pour exprimer des regrets ou des critiques.
1. La Structure
Elle se compose de deux parties au passé “lointain”.
| Condition (IF) | Résultat |
|---|---|
| IF + Subject + Past Perfect | Subject + WOULD HAVE + Participe Passé |
Exemple :
- If I had studied harder, I would have passed. (Mais je n’ai pas assez étudié et j’ai échoué).
2. Quand l’utiliser ?
- Exprimer un regret : If I had known, I would have come.
- Exprimer une critique : If you had listened to me, you wouldn’t have made that mistake.
- Imaginer une autre vie : If Napoleon had won at Waterloo, history would have been different.
💡 Note sur la contraction
À l’oral, les formes sont très contractées :
- If I’d known, I would’ve come.
À toi de jouer ! ✍️
Complète avec la bonne forme au Third Conditional.
À toi de jouer ! ✍️
#1 If we (leave) earlier, we would have caught the train.
#2 If I (know) it was your birthday, I would have bought a gift.
#3 They (not / miss) the flight if they had taken a taxi.
#4 If she (tell) the truth, he would have forgiven her.
#5 What (you / do) if you had won the race?
#6 If it (not / rain) , we would have gone to the beach.
#7 I (call) you if I hadn't lost my phone.
#8 If he (be) more careful, he wouldn't have had an accident.
#9 We (buy) that car if we had had enough money.
#10 If you (ask) me, I would have helped you.