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Knowledge Base – Third Conditional

Multiple Choice · B2 Level

Choose the best answer for each item about the Third Conditional. Click Check Answer to see feedback, and submit to see your score.

Question 1

Question:

Which is the correct form of the Third Conditional?

a) If + past perfect → would + base verb

b) If + past perfect → would have + past participle

c) If + simple past → would + past participle

Correct Answer: b) If + past perfect → would have + past participle.

Form: If + past perfect (had + V3) ⇄ would have + V3.

Question 2

Question:

Which sentence is correct?

a) If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.

b) If I studied harder, I would have passed the exam.

c) If I would have studied harder, I passed the exam.

Correct Answer: a) If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.

Third Conditional: past perfect in the if-clause + would have + V3 in the result.

Question 3

Question:

Which part is wrong in this sentence: If I would have called you, I would have told you the news.

a) If I would have called you

b) I would have told you the news

c) Both clauses are correct

Correct Answer: a) If I would have called you.

In standard English, do not use would in the if-clause: use past perfect → “If I had called you…”.

Question 4

Question:

Why is this sentence incorrect: If I studied harder, I would have passed yesterday?

a) It mixes the second and third conditional.

b) The verb studied should be past continuous.

c) “Would” must be used in both clauses.

Correct Answer: a) It mixes the second and third conditional.

Third conditional requires past perfect in the if-clause, not simple past.

Question 5

Question:

Which of these sentences is NOT a Third Conditional?

a) If I had left earlier, I would have caught the bus.

b) If I had saved money, I would have bought a car.

c) If I studied more, I would pass the exam.

Correct Answer: c) If I studied more, I would pass the exam.

This is a Second Conditional (present unreal), not Third (past unreal).

Question 6

Question:

What is missing here: If I had studied, I would passed the test?

a) “been”

b) “have”

c) “would”

Correct Answer: b) “have”.

Result clause needs would have + V3 → “would have passed”.

Question 7

Question:

Which sentence shows the correct word order?

a) Would have passed the test if I had studied.

b) I would have passed the test if I had studied.

c) If I studied, I would have passed the test.

Correct Answer: b) I would have passed the test if I had studied.

Subject + would have + V3 is required in the main clause.

Question 8

Question:

Which sentence is correct?

a) If she had worked harder, she would have succeeded.

b) If she worked harder, she would have succeeded.

c) If she had worked harder, she would succeeded.

Correct Answer: a) If she had worked harder, she would have succeeded.

Correct past unreal form in both clauses.

Question 9

Question:

Which sentence uses a modal correctly in the Third Conditional?

a) If I had known, I could have helped you.

b) If I had known, I could help you.

c) If I knew, I could have helped you.

Correct Answer: a) If I had known, I could have helped you.

Modal perfect: could have + V3 matches past unreal condition.

Question 10

Question:

Which sentence is wrong and why? If I had studied, I passed the test.

a) Wrong: “passed” should be “would have passed.”

b) Wrong: “had studied” should be “studied.”

c) Wrong: “would” is missing in the if-clause.

Correct Answer: a) Wrong: “passed” should be “would have passed.”

Third Conditional result needs would have + V3, not past simple.

Question 11

Question:

Which of these expresses a real past event, not a Third Conditional?

a) If I had studied, I would have passed.

b) If I had arrived earlier, I saw her.

c) If I had called, you would have answered.

Correct Answer: b) If I had arrived earlier, I saw her.

This mixes a real past result (past simple) with a conditional if-clause; it describes an actual event, not an unreal past consequence.

Question 12

Question:

What is the main meaning of the Third Conditional?

a) Imaginary situations in the present or future.

b) Regrets or unreal situations in the past.

c) Real facts about the past.

Correct Answer: b) Regrets or unreal situations in the past.

Third Conditional imagines different outcomes for past events.

Review the explanations above to reinforce the Third Conditional.