Grammar » B2 Grammar lessons and exercises » Mixed conditionals – If I were you, I wouldn’t have done it » Page 2
Exercises Explanation Downloads
  • Mixed conditionals – If I were you, I wouldn’t have done it

    Exercise 2

    Choose the correct options to complete following mixed conditional sentences.

    Page 1 of 2

    1 He says he's your friend, but he didn't help you. If he were your friend, he _____ you.
    a.
    b.
    c.
    d.
    2 I feel fine because I took the medicine. If I _____ the medicine, I would still be in pain.
    a.
    b.
    c.
    d.
    3 I'm not patient, and I didn't wait for them. If I were more patient, I _____ for them.
    a.
    b.
    c.
    d.
    4 I didn't know that you were there because I'm not a psychic. I _____ that you were there if I were a psychic.
    a.
    b.
    c.
    d.
    5 I am where I am today because you helped me. I _____ where I am today if you hadn't helped me.
    a.
    b.
    c.
    d.

     

  • 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

    Mixed conditionals diagram

    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.

  • We are working on this!

    We're developing a NEW LEARNING PLATFORM with a subscription plan that includes additional features at an affordable price. One of those features will be PDF downloads.

    Learn more!