Condicional tipo 3

Formación

En una oración condicional de tipo 3, el tiempo verbal de la proposición "if" es el "past perfect" y el de la cláusula principal puede ser el "perfect conditional" o el "perfect continuous conditional".

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Proposición "if" Proposición principal
If + past perfect "perfect conditional" o "perfect continuous conditional"
If this thing had happened that thing would have happened.

Como ocurre con todas las oraciones condicionales, el orden de las proposiciones no es fijo. Es posible que sea preciso modificar los pronombres y la puntuación al revertir el orden de las cláusulas pero el significado de la oración seguirá siendo el mismo.

Ejemplos
  • If it had rained, you would have gotten wet.
  • You would have gotten wet if it had rained.
  • You would have passed your exam if you had worked harder.
  • If you had worked harder, you would have passed your exam.
  • I would have believed you if you hadn't lied to me before.
  • If you hadn't lied to me before, I would have believed you.

Funciones

El "type 3 conditional" se refiere a una condición imposible, situada temporalmente en el pasado, y a su resultado probable en el pasado. Estas oraciones son ciertamente hipotéticas e irreales porque, en este momento, es demasiado tarde para que la condición o su resultado se produzcan. El condicional tipo 3 casi siempre implica cierto arrepentimiento o que lamentamos algo. La realidad es lo opuesto o lo contrario de lo que se expresa en la oración. En las oraciones condicionales de tipo 3 el marco temporal es el pasado y la situación es hipotética.

Ejemplos
  • If I had worked harder I would have passed the exam. (But I didn't work hard, and I didn't pass the exam.)
  • If I had known you were coming I would have baked a cake. (But I didn't know and I didn't bake a cake.)
  • I would have been happy if you had called me on my birthday. (But you didn't call me and I am not happy.)

En las oraciones condicionales de tipo 3 también pueden emplearse los modales en la cláusula principal, en lugar de "would", para expresar el grado de certeza, permiso o una recomendación sobre el resultado.

Ejemplos
  • If I had worked harder I might have passed the exam.
  • You could have been on time if you had caught the bus.
  • If he called you, you could go.
  • If you bought my school supplies for me, I might be able to go to the park.
Contracciones

Tanto "would" como "had" pueden contraerse de la misma forma, -'d, algo que puede generar confusión si no dominamos las oraciones condicionales de tipo 3. Recuerda estas 2 reglas:
1. "would" nunca aparece en la proposición "if", por tanto, si "-'d" aparece en la proposición "if", será la contracción de "had".
2. "had" nunca se pone antes de "have", por tanto, si "-'d" aparece tras un pronombre y va seguido de "have", será la contracción de "would".

Ejemplos
  • If I'd known you were in hospital, I'd have visited you.
  • If I had known you were in hospital, I would have visited you.
  • I'd have bought you a present if I'd known it was your birthday.
  • I would have bought you a present if I had known it was your birthday.
  • If you'd given me your e-mail, I'd have written to you.
  • If you had given me your e-mail, I would have written to you.

El "perfect conditional"

El "perfect conditional" de cualquier verbo está compuesto por tres elementos:
would + have + past participle
"Have", seguido del "past participle" de un verbo, se emplea también en otras construcciones. Se denomina "perfect infinitive".

Sujeto + would + have + past participle
He would have gone
They would have stayed
To go: perfect conditional
Afirmativa Negativa Interrogativa Interrogativa negativa
I would have gone I wouldn't have gone Would I have gone? Wouldn't I have gone?
You would have gone You wouldn't have gone Would you have gone? Wouldn't you have gone?
He would have gone He wouldn't have gone Would he have gone? Wouldn't he have gone?
She would have gone She wouldn't have gone Would she have gone? Wouldn't she have gone?
We would have gone We wouldn't have gone Would we have gone? Wouldn't we have gone?
They would have gone They wouldn't have gone Would they have gone? Wouldn't they have gone?
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