Conditionals: third and mixed

Conditionals: third and mixed

Do you know how to use third conditionals and mixed conditionals? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

Look at these examples to see how third and mixed conditionals are used.

We would have walked to the top of the mountain if the weather hadn't been so bad.
If we'd moved to Scotland when I was a child, I would have a Scottish accent now.
If she was really my friend, she wouldn't have lied to me.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Grammar test 1

Conditionals 2: Grammar test 1

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

Do you know how to use third and mixed conditionals?

Third conditionals and mixed conditionals

Conditionals describe the result of a certain condition. The if clause tells you the condition (If I hadn't been ill) and the main clause tells you the result (I would have gone to the party). The order of the clauses does not change the meaning.

If I hadn't been ill, I would have gone to the party.
I would have gone to the party if I hadn't been ill.

Conditional sentences are often divided into different types.

Third conditional

The third conditional is used to imagine a different past. We imagine a change in a past situation and the different result of that change.

If I had understood the instructions properly, I would have passed the exam.
We wouldn't have got lost if my phone hadn't run out of battery.

In third conditional sentences, the structure is usually: If + past perfect >> would have + past participle.

Mixed conditionals

We can use mixed conditionals when we imagine a past change with a result in the present or a present change with a result in the past.

1. Past/Present 

Here's a sentence imagining how a change in a past situation would have a result in the present.

If I hadn't got the job in Tokyo, I wouldn't be with my current partner.

So the structure is: If + past perfect >> would + infinitive.

2. Present/Past

Here's a sentence imagining how a different situation in the present would mean that the past was different as well.

It's really important. If it wasn't, I wouldn't have called you on your holiday.

And the structure is: If + past simple >> would have + past participle.

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Grammar test 2

Conditionals 2: Grammar test 2

Average: 4.1 (97 votes)
Peter Sir This is a new revelation from you; you say that past tense in if clause could mean real past - contrary to what we have been reading till now that past tense in if clause always means unreal or unlikely present or future, and so we have been judging some sentenses wrong on the basis of present condition and past result. How do we judge if the past tense in if clause is for real past or unlikely/unreal present or future. Will you help clear the doubt.
Profile picture for user Kirk Moore

Submitted by Kirk Moore on Tue, 17/09/2019 - 18:33

In reply to by dipakrgandhi

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Hello dipakrgandhi

It's great to see that you are reading through our comments so carefully. I'm sorry that this is confusing and can see how it must be, but if there's a description somewhere that says that the past simple after 'if' always describes an unreal present or future, then it is wrong.

In this case, the phrase 'last week' makes it clear that the past is being talked about. Sometimes it won't be clear from one sentence alone; you might need to look in the previous or following sentences or even paragraphs to accurately discover the contextual information that will allow you to understand a statement.

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

 

Profile picture for user Ahmed Imam

Submitted by Ahmed Imam on Sat, 16/03/2019 - 18:59

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"She would have been fine provided that she’d worn sun cream." Is this sentence correct or we should replace "provided that" with "if"? Thank you.
Hello Ahmed Islam Normally, 'provided that' is not used in hypothetical or imaginary sentences. In this case, 'would have been' and 'had worn' clearly refer to a past imaginary situation, so it doesn't really work here. I would recommend you use 'if'. Otherwise, the sentence is perfect. All the best Kirk The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Achmad Shocheb on Tue, 12/03/2019 - 09:24

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'If she had not lent me an umbrella I wouldn't go to the school' Is my sentence right? And could you explain why we don't need to put a comma after the fisrt clause? I think, we did it at previous conditionals.

Hello Achmad Shocheb

Yes, that is grammatically correct. It means she lent you an umbrella and that you are going to school, but that you would not if you didn't have the umbrella.

If you wanted to speak about how you went to school (in the past), then you'd have to change it to: 'If she had not lent me an umbrella, I wouldn't have gone to school'. But I assume that is not the meaning that you want to express here.

You're right, there should be a comma after the word 'umbrella'. In a couple of the example sentences above, the comma was missing, but I have fixed this. Thanks for pointing it out!

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Profile picture for user Ahmed Imam

Submitted by Ahmed Imam on Wed, 06/02/2019 - 18:38

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Could you please help me? - Unless they (had saved - have saved - saved) enough money, they won’t be able to go on holiday next summer. Really I am confused. Thank you.

Hello Ahmed Imam

I'm afraid none of these options is ideal. What would make most sense to me would be 'save'.

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Momonoki on Wed, 30/01/2019 - 18:52

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Dear Peter, Thank you for the answer. Perhaps my way of asking the question wasn't right. I intended to ask that there are any other situations or explanation of using Third conditional other than something that didn't happen as this email was sent by a British speaker. With your example made me understand how to use Third conditional. Momonoki

Submitted by Momonoki on Sat, 26/01/2019 - 16:41

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Dear Kirk and Peter, I am wondering these sentences below using WOULD HAVE BEEN are correct or not. 'However, from the 9th February for two weeks is not convenient for us as we are away. I know this would have been your half term break but is unfortunate perhaps you can suggest some alternative dates later on. ' I would write 'I know this is your half term break' instead of using WOULD HAVE BEEN, because the half term won't change whether he could make it or not on that day. Or is there any other meaning?