The past unreal conditional consists of an if-clause referring to an unreal past event or condition, and a would-clause describing the consequence. It describes an imagined past situation that was different from what actually happened, and what the consequence would have been if that situation occurred. Examples are provided of if-clauses describing unreal past events, and would-clauses stating what would have happened as a result.

1. Past Unreal Conditional
The past unreal conditional consists of two clauses, an if clause and a would
clause.
The if-clause refers to an unreal past event or condition:
• If I had arrived on time... (I didn't)
• If it hadn't rained yesterday... (it did)
The would clause describes the consequence:
• ...I wouldn't have missed the train.
• ...we would have gone to the beach.
• It wasn't warm yesterday. We didn't go to the beach.
• If it had been warm yesterday, we would have gone to the beach.
An unreal past condition may have a consequence in either the present or the
past.
• If you had listened to my advice, you wouldn't be in trouble now. (now)
• If it had rained an hour ago, we would have stayed inside.
• If it had rained an hour ago, the streets would be wet. (now)