Third Conditional for Lessons Learnt

We use the third conditional to talk about things which have already happened and cannot be changed. It’s used to talk about mistakes, problems, regrets and what should have been done and can therefore be a useful structure for talking about lessons learned in a project, i.e. both the positive and negative outcomes.

Look at these examples:

“If we had provided the specifications on time, the supplier would have finished the product at the deadline”.

(Meaning: We didn’t provide the specifications on time and the product wasn’t completed within the deadline.)

“We wouldn’t have achieved this amazing success if we hadn’t had such an organized and motivated team”.

(Meaning: We were very successful because we had an organized and motivated team.)

Third conditional form:

If + past perfect + would + present perfect

If we had co-ordinated more, this would never have happened.

(The order of the clauses can be changed without changing the meaning)

Now choose the correct sentences in the quiz below:

1. a If we had invested well, we would have made a profit.

b If we invested well, we would have made a profit.

c We would make a profit if we had invested well.

 
 
 

2. a If we didn’t check the code, the program would have crashed.

b The program would have crashed if we hadn’t checked the code.

c The program wouldn’t have crashed if we hadn’t checked the code.

 
 
 

3. a If we had asked the expert first, it wouldn’t have taken so long to decide.

b If we asked the expert first, it wouldn’t have taken so long to decide.

c If we have asked the expert first, it wouldn’t have took so long to decide

 
 
 

4. a We will run into trouble if we wouldn’t outsource some of the work.

b We would have run into trouble if we haven’t outsourced some of the work.

c We would have run into trouble if we hadn’t outsourced some of the work.

 
 
 

5. a If you had told me that there was a change to the staffing procedure, I wouldn’t have done the interview already.

b If you told me that there was a change to the staffing procedure, I will have done the interview already.

c If you would have told me that there was a change to the staffing procedure, I wouldn’t have done the interview already.

 
 
 

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