III CONDITIONAL (PAST UNREAL SITUATION)

IMAGINARY SITUATIONS IN THE PAST

This includes actions that did not happen in the past.  

Examples:   If I had gone to university, I would have studied medicine.

• If You had gone to the party, you would have met him.

DESCRIBES WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY

Example:  If I had been you, I would not have bought those shoes.

• If I had thought about it, I wouldn't have eaten so much.

QUESTIONS

Here are some examples of questions with the 3rd conditional:

• What would you have done if you had been me?

• Would you have finished if you had had more time?

• Would you have bought something cheaper?

• Should we have paid more attention in class?

ADVICE IN THE PAST

• These sentences usually don't have an "if" clause, and can often be more direct.

Examples:  You should have saved your money.

• You should not have gone with him.