Mixed conditional

It is possible for the two parts of a conditional sentence to refer to different times, and the resulting
sentence is a "mixed conditional" sentence. There are two types of mixed conditional sentence.
Test your knowledge

Present result of a past condition

Form
In this type of mixed conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the past perfect, and the
tense in the main clause is the present conditional.

If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + past perfect present conditional

If this thing had happened that thing would happen.

Examples

 If I had worked harder at school, I would have a better job now.

 I would have a better job now if I had worked harder at school.
 If we had looked at the map we wouldn't be lost.
 We wouldn't be lost if we had looked at the map.
 If you had caught that plane you would be dead now.
 You would be dead now if you had caught that plane.

Function
This type of mixed conditional refers to an unreal past condition and its probable result in the
present. These sentences express a situation which is contrary to reality both in the past and in the
present. In these mixed conditional sentences, the time is the past in the "if" clause and in
the present in the main clause.

Examples

 If I had studied I would have my driving license. (but I didn't study and now I don't have
my license)
 I would be a millionaire now if I had taken that job. (but I didn't take the job and I'm not a
millionaire)
 If you had spent all your money, you wouldn't buy this jacket. (but you didn't spend all
your money and now you can buy this jacket)
In these mixed conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead
of would to express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the outcome.
Examples

 If you had crashed the car, you might be in trouble.

 I could be a millionaire now if I had invested in ABC Plumbing.
 If I had learned to ski, I might be on the slopes right now.

Past result of present or continuing condition

Form
In this second type of mixed conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the simple past, and
the tense in the main clause is the perfect conditional.

If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + simple past perfect conditional

If this thing happened that thing would have happened.

Examples

 If I wasn't afraid of spiders, I would have picked it up.

 I would have picked it up if I wasn't afraid of spiders.
 If we didn't trust him we would have sacked him months ago.
 We would have sacked him months ago if we didn't trust him.
 If I wasn't in the middle of another meeting, I would have been happy to help you.
 I would have been happy to help you if I wasn't in the middle of another meeting.

Function
These mixed conditional sentences refer to an unreal present situation and its probable (but unreal)
past result. In these mixed conditional sentences, the time in the if clause is now or always and
the time in the main clause is before now. For example, "If I wasn't afraid of spiders" is contrary
to present reality. I am afraid of spiders. "I would have picked it up" is contrary to past reality. I
didn't pick it up.

Examples

 If she wasn't afraid of flying she wouldn't have travelled by boat.

 I'd have been able to translate the letter if my Italian was better.
 If I was a good cook, I'd have invited them to lunch.
 If the elephant wasn't in love with the mouse, she'd have trodden on him by now.

MIXED CONDITIONALS
Verbs in green are in the present unreal conditional.
Verbs in red are in the past unreal conditional.
Verbs in purple are in the future unreal conditional.
Mixed Conditional Patterns

PAST PRESENT

Examples:

 If I had won the lottery, I would be rich.

But I didn't win the lottery in the past and I am not rich now.
 If I had taken French in high school, I would have more job
opportunities.
But I didn't take French in high school and I don't have many job
opportunities.
 If she had been born in the United States, she wouldn't need a
visa to work here.
But she wasn't born in the United States and she does need a
visa now to work here.

PAST FUTURE

Examples:

 If she had signed up for the ski trip last week, she would be
joining us tomorrow.
But she didn't sign up for the ski trip last week and she isn't going
to join us tomorrow.
 If Mark had gotten the job instead of Joe, he would be
moving to Shanghai.
But Mark didn't get the job and Mark is not going to move to
Shanghai.
 If Darren hadn't wasted his Christmas bonus gambling in Las
Vegas, he would go to Mexico with us next month.
But Darren wasted his Christmas bonus gambling in Las Vegas
and he won't go to Mexico with us next month.

PRESENT PAST

Examples:

 If I were rich, I would have bought that Ferrari we saw

yesterday.
 But I am not currently rich and that is why I didn't buy the Ferrari
yesterday.
 If Sam spoke Russian, he would have translated the letter for
you.
But Sam doesn't speak Russian and that is why he didn't
translate the letter.
 If I didn't have to work so much, I would have gone to the party
last night.
But I have to work a lot and that is why I didn't go to the party last
night.

PRESENT FUTURE

Examples:

 If I didn't have so much vacation time, I wouldn't go with you on

the cruise to Alaska next week.
But I do have a lot of vacation time and I will go on the trip next
week.
 If Cindy were more creative, the company would send her to
New York to work on the new advertising campaign.
But Cindy is not creative and the company won't send her to New
York to work on the new campaign.
 If Dan weren't so nice, he wouldn't be tutoring you in math
tonight.
But Dan is nice and he is going to tutor you tonight.

FUTURE PAST

Examples:

 If I weren't going on my business trip next week, I would have

accepted that new assignment at work.
But I am going to go on a business trip next week, and that is why
I didn't accept that new assignment at work.
 If my parents weren't coming this weekend, I would have
planned a nice trip just for the two of us to Napa Valley.
But my parents are going to come this weekend, and that is why I
didn't plan a trip for the two of us to Napa Valley.
 If Donna weren't making us a big dinner tonight, I would have
suggested that we go to that nice Italian restaurant.
But she is going to make us a big dinner tonight, and that is why I
didn't suggest that we go to that nice Italian restaurant.
 FUTURE PRESENT

Examples:

 If I were going to that concert tonight, I would be very excited.

But I am not going to go to that concert tonight and that is why I
am not excited.
 If Sandy were giving a speech tomorrow, she would be very
nervous.
But Sandy is not going to give a speech tomorrow and that is why
she in not nervous.
 If Seb didn't come with us to the desert, everyone would be very
disappointed.
But Seb will come with us to the desert and that is why everyone
is so happy.

1.a. She will take care of the children for us next weekend because her business trip was canceled.
1.b. But, she (take, not) would not be taking care of the children for us next weekend if her business trip
(be, not) had not been canceled.
2.a. Tom is not going to come to dinner tomorrow because you insulted him yesterday.
2.b. But, he (come) if you (insult) him.

3.a. Marie is unhappy because she gave up her career when she got married.
3.b. But, Marie (be) happy if she (give, not) up her career when she got married.

4.a. Dr. Mercer decided not to accept the research grant at Harvard because he is going to take six months
off to spend more time with his family.
4.b. But, Dr. Mercer (accept) the research grant at Harvard if he (take, not) six months off to spend more
time with his family.

5.a. Professor Schmitz talked so much about the Maasai tribe because she is an expert on African tribal
groups.
5.b. But, Professor Schmitz (talk, not) so much about the Maasai tribe if she (be, not) an expert on
African tribal groups.

6.a. I am unemployed because I had a disagreement with my boss and I was fired.
6.b. But, I (be, not) unemployed if I (have, not) a disagreement with my boss and I (be, not) fired.

7.a. Nicole speaks Chinese fluently because she lived in China for ten years.
7.b. But, Nicole (speak, not) Chinese fluently if she (live, not) in China for ten years.

8.a. I will not help you study for your test because you have spent the last two weeks partying and wasting
time.
8.b. But, I (help) you study for your test if you (spend, not) the last two weeks partying and wasting time.

9.a. Eleanor and Ben are not going skiing with us this year because Eleanor just had a baby.
9.b. But, Eleanor and Ben (go) skiing with us this year if Eleanor (have, not, just) a baby.

10.a. I am completely exhausted, so I will not go with you to the movies tonight.
10.b. But, if I (be, not) completely exhausted, I (go) with you to the movies tonight.

11.a. She is not worried about the conference tomorrow because she is not giving a speech.
11.b. But, she (be) worried about the conference tomorrow if she (give) a speech.

12.a. Frank is not going to the graduation ceremony because he broke his leg snowboarding last week.
12.b. But, Frank (go) to the graduation ceremony if he (break) his leg snowboarding last week.

13.a. They are not releasing the prisoner next month because there was so much public opposition to his
parole.
13.b. But, they (release) the prisoner next month if there (be) so much opposition to his parole.

14.a. The hotels filled up months in advance because the festival is going to include jazz artists from
around the globe.
14.b. But, the hotels (fill) up months in advance if the festival (include) jazz artists from around the globe.

15.a. We are not worried about the recent string of robberies in the neighborhood because the police
have started regularly patrolling the area.
15.b. But, we (be) worried about the recent string of robberies in the neighborhood if the police (start,
not) regularly patrolling the area.