B2 · 6 min · Gramática
Tercer condicional
Imagina un resultado distinto para algo que ya pasó.
La regla
If + had + participio plantea un pasado que no ocurrió; would have + participio da su consecuencia imaginada: If I had left earlier, I would have arrived on time. Nunca pongas would en la parte del if. Con might have o could have la consecuencia es solo posible: «quizá habría», «habría podido».
Ejemplos
If I had left earlier, I would have arrived on time.Si hubiera salido antes, habría llegado a tiempo.If + had left; la consecuencia va con would have arrived.
I would have called you if I had known.Te habría llamado si lo hubiera sabido.El if puede ir al final; entonces no lleva coma.
If we hadn’t missed the bus, we might have got better seats.Si no hubiéramos perdido el autobús, quizá habríamos conseguido mejores asientos.Might have: una consecuencia posible, no segura.
Error típico
✗ If I would have left earlier, I would have arrived on time.
✓ If I had left earlier, I would have arrived on time.
En la parte del if va had + participio, no would have.
💡 En la parte del if, nunca would: If I had known…, no If I would have known.
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