Third conditional: habla de un pasado que no ocurrió y de su consecuencia imaginada. Se usa para lamentos, reproches y reflexiones sobre lo que pudo ser.
1 · Uso
¿Cuándo se usa?
Imaginar otro pasado
If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.
Si hubiera estudiado más, habría aprobado el examen.
Lamentos
If I had known about the sale, I would have bought it.
Si hubiera sabido de la oferta, lo habría comprado.
Reproches
If you had left earlier, you wouldn't have missed the flight.
Si hubieras salido antes, no habrías perdido el vuelo.
Alivio
If she hadn't called me, I would have forgotten the meeting.
Si no me hubiera llamado, habría olvidado la reunión.
2 · Forma
Estructura
En el resultado también puedes usar could have o might have + participio.
Afirmativa
If we had booked earlier, we would have got a better price.
Negativa
If it hadn't rained, we wouldn't have cancelled the trip.
Interrogativa
Would you have come if I had invited you?
3 · Registros
Los tres registros
La misma idea cambia de forma según a quién le hablas. Fíjate en cómo se transforma una sola frase.
Informal
CercanoIf + sujeto + 'd + participio, sujeto + would've / 'd have + participio
If I'd known, I would've told you.
Si lo hubiera sabido, te lo habría dicho.
If you'd called me, I'd have picked you up.
Si me hubieras llamado, te habría buscado.
Rápido y conversacional. Muchas contracciones: 'd para had y would've para would have.
En la conversación cotidiana, sobre todo para lamentos y reproches.
'd puede ser had o would; en la cláusula con if siempre es had. Por escrito nunca pongas would of: es un error que nace de cómo suena would've.
Formal
ProfesionalHad + sujeto + participio, sujeto + would have + participio
Had you chosen to accept it, we would have begun on Monday.
De haberla aceptado usted, habríamos comenzado el lunes.
Had we received the documents on time, the request would have been approved.
De haber recibido los documentos a tiempo, la solicitud habría sido aprobada.
Profesional y objetivo. La inversión con had suaviza el reproche y lo presenta como un hecho.
En informes, correos de trabajo, cartas de reclamo y análisis de resultados.
Supra formal (literario)
Muy elevadoWere + sujeto + to have + participio, sujeto + would have + participio · Had it not been for + sustantivo
Were you to have chosen to accept it, we would have begun at once.
De haber tenido usted a bien aceptarla, habríamos comenzado de inmediato.
Had it not been for your courage, all would have been lost.
De no haber sido por su valor, todo se habría perdido.
Muy elevado y literario. Were… to have es poco común y casi exclusivo de la escritura.
Para reconocerlo en literatura, discursos históricos y textos jurídicos antiguos.
Were you to have chosen es correcto pero muy marcado. En el registro formal moderno, Had you chosen es la opción natural.
If you'd accepted it, we'd have started Monday.
Si la hubieras aceptado, habríamos empezado el lunes.
Had you chosen to accept it, we would have begun on Monday.
De haberla aceptado, habríamos comenzado el lunes.
Were you to have chosen to accept it, we would have begun at once.
De haber tenido usted a bien aceptarla, habríamos comenzado de inmediato.
4 · Variantes
Otras formas de poner la condición
could have / might have
If we had left earlier, we might have caught the train.
Si hubiéramos salido antes, quizás habríamos alcanzado el tren.
I wish / If only + pasado perfecto
I wish I had studied medicine.
Ojalá hubiera estudiado medicina.
but for / had it not been for
But for your help, I would have failed.
De no ser por tu ayuda, habría fracasado.
Condicional mixto (adelanto)
If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now.
Si hubiera estudiado medicina, ahora sería médico: pasado irreal con resultado en el presente.
5 · Reglas
Reglas y notas
Regla 1
If + had + participio. Nunca va would have en la cláusula con if.
Regla 2
Equivale al pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo del español: hubiera estudiado, hubiese sabido.
Regla 3
En la inversión se elimina if y had va delante: Had I known… La negativa es Had I not known, nunca Hadn't I known.
6 · Cuidado
Errores comunes
If I would have known, I would have told you.
If I had known, I would have told you.
If I had knew, I would have come.
If I had known, I would have come.
If you had called me, I would helped you.
If you had called me, I would have helped you.
I would of come.
I would have come.
Hadn't I known, I would have stayed.
Had I not known, I would have stayed.
Were you to had chosen it…
Were you to have chosen it…
7 · Práctica
Practica
Completa con la forma correcta del Tercer condicional y pulsa Revisar. Algunos ejercicios piden un registro específico.
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