Class 26-2: Past Unreal Conditionals

Rules:

The past unreal conditional is used to express imaginary or unreal situations in the past. You are describing an action you would have done differently or how an action could have happened differently. (Example 1)

Note: the past unreal conditional is in the past, so you no longer do the actions in the present.

Only the word if is used with the past unreal conditional. When you are discussing imaginary situations when cannot be used.

Examples:

1. If I had been a better student, I could have earned better grades.

2. If I would have played the lottery last week, I could have won $100 million.

3. If I had been faster, I could have been an Olympian.

Sentence Structure Formula:

If + past perfect, would/could have + past participle

1. If I had been a famous scientist, I could have been rich.
2. If you had been listening, you would have heard the directions.

would/could have + past participle, if + past perfect

1. I could have been rich, if I had been a famous scientist.
2. You would have heard the directions, if you had been listening.

Noun + would have + past participle, if + past perfect

1. Susan would have studied, if she had not gone to work.
2. I could have helped, if you had asked me.

Noun + would have + past participle, if + past perfect

1. If she had not gone to work, Susan would have studied.
2. If you had asked me, I could have helped.

Note: You do not need to use I in your sentences to use conditional. You can use he / she / it / they / Tom / Emily / etc.