English Lessons and Exercises
Mixed Conditionals

Conditionals - Mixed Type

How can we make mixed type Conditionals?

We can form mixed type conditional sentences by using only Type 2 and Type 3.  In fact, we have a condition and  a result, one of which is past unreal condition and the other one is present unreal condition.

Mixed Type is formed by combining these past and present time in one conditional sentence.

There are two types of mixed conditional sentences:

1. Present result of past condition:

The time to use  in the 'if' clause is the past perfect, and the time in the main clause is the present unreal conditional:

If Clause (Past Unreal Condition)	Main Clause (Present Result)
Situation:  I didn’t eat  breakfast, If I had eaten breakfast, Situation: I spent all my money If I hadn't spent all my money, Situation: I didn't work hard at school If I had worked harder at school Other Examples: If we had built a subway system 10 years ago, If I had passed my exam last year, If they had looked at the map ,	so I am hungry now. I wouldn’t be hungry now. so I am at home now.   I wouldn't be at home now. so I don't have a better job now. I would have a better job now. the traffic would not be so bad today. I would not have to follow this course now. they wouldn't be lost.
The room is cold now because you left the window open.                The room wouldn’t be cold now if you hadn’t left the window open.

2. Past result of present condition

The time to use  in the 'if' clause is the simple past, and the time in the main clause is the perfect conditional:

If Clause (Present - Continuing Condition)	Main Clause (Past Result)
Situation:  He is a lazy student, If he weren’t a lazy student, Situation:  I believe him If I didn't believe him,	so he couldn't do his homework. he could have done his homework. so I didn't punish him. I would have punished him.
Other Examples: He is a rude person, so he told me bad words.                If he weren’t a rude person, he wouldn’t have told me bad words. He didn't tell a lie because he's a reliable person.                 He would have told a lie if he weren't a reliable person.