6-22. 3-й тип условных предложений (counterfactual conditionals)

 
1. Базовая форма таких предложений – предпрошедшее в if–предложении и would + совершенная форма инфинитива (или другими словами – форма совершенного будущего в прошедшем) – в главной его части.

If it had rained, we would have stayed at home
If you had asked me, I would have told you.
(не 'If you would have asked me…' ) (не 'If you asked me ...' ) (не '…I had told you'.)
If I had been taller I would have joined the police force.
If I had had any sense, I would have kept quiet about it.
If we had gone by car, we would have saved time.

2. Этот тип предложений употребляется, когда речь идет о уже совершившихся в прошлом событиях (а значит, и условие и следствие уже физически невыполнимы).

If I had worked harder at school, I'd have got a better job
If I hadn't been wearing a raincoat, I would have got wet (выражается возможная нежелательная ситуация).
If I had won the pools, life would have been much easier (выражается воображаемая желаемая ситуация в прошлом).
If I had lived in the Stone Age, I would have been a hunter (выражается совершенно невозможная ситуация).
Perhaps if he had realized that, he would have run away while there was still time.
If she had not been ill, she would probably have won that race.
If you had worked harder, you would have passed your exam.
I'd have been in bad trouble if Jane hadn't helped me.
If you had parked your car there (but you didn't), they would have towed it away.
If he had heard of your marriage he would have been surprised.
I should never have got here in time (I should not be here now) if you had not given me a lift in your car.
If you had been at the meeting I should have seen you.

3. В формальном стиле оператор может ставиться в начало предложения:

Had you informed us earlier, we would have taken the necessary steps.
Had the management acted sooner, the strike wouldn't have happened.
Had we not been delayed, the accident would never have happened (в этом случае 'Had . . . not' нельзя сокращать до Hadn't).
Had it not been for the unusually bad weather the rescue party would have been able to save the stranded climber (не Hadn't).

4. 'If I had been you/in your position'

Такие обороты употребляются, чтобы выразить, что мы бы сделали на месте другого человека:

If I had been you/in your position, I'd have accepted their offer (= You should have accepted their offer).
If I had been Jane, I'd have walked out on him years ago.

5. 'If it hadn't been for'

Таким образом объясняется, почему что-либо не произошло в прошлом:

It hadn't been for the rain, we would have had a good harvest.

6. Говоря о прошлом, можно использовать оборот ‘if it had not been for’:

If it hadn't been for Dad, I wouldn't have gone to college (или 'If it wasn't/weren't for...')
If it hadn't been for your help, I don't know what I'd have done.

But for так же может употребляться со значением 'if it were not for' или 'if it had not been for':

But for your help, I don't know what I'd have done.