Mixed conditionals

Mixed conditionals

Mixed conditionals are a combination of two types of conditional patterns, usually the second and third conditionals. We can have a third conditional in the if-clause and a second conditional in the main clause, or a second conditional in the if-clause and a third conditional in the main clause.

Grammar chart

Second and third conditionals

In a second conditional, we use past in the if clause and would/might/could + infinitive in the main clause. It is used to talk about hypothetical situations happening in the present or future.

• If I were rich, I‘d buy that house. 

In a third conditional, we use past perfect in the if clause and would/might/could + have + past participle in the main clause. It is used to talk about hypothetical situations happening in the past.

• If you had studied more, you would have passed the exam. 

A mixed conditional is a combination of second and third conditionals.

Mixed third/second conditional

We use this combination to talk about a hypothetical condition happening in the past (third conditional) with a present result (second conditional). We use past perfect in the if clause and would/could/might + infinitive in the main clause.

• If I had been elected, I would be the president now. 
• If I had won the lottery, I would be rich.
• I might have a better job now if I hadn’t dropped out of school.

Mixed second/third conditional

We use this combination to talk about a hypothetical condition happening in the present (second conditional) with a past result (third conditional). We use past in the if clause and would/could/might + have + past participle in the main clause.

• If I were a man, they would have given me the job.  
• If I didn’t have so much work, I would have gone to the party last night.
• I would have understood them if I spoke German.

Note that in this type of combination, the present condition also existed in the past when the result in the main clause took place. Let’s take a look, for example, at the first sentence:

• If I were a man, they would have given me the job. 

If I were a man now would mean that I would also have been a man in the past, when I was not given the job. As I’m not a man now (which implies that I wasn’t a man when I applied for the job either), I didn’t get the job.