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
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
Comments
Hello. I'm really confused about how to use "unless" in 2nd and 3rd conditionals. Is the following sentence correct? Why? Please explain in simple language.
- Unless he had helped me, I wouldn't have been able to finish the work.
Thank you.
Hello Ahmed Imam,
We don't use unless with statements that we know to be true. For example:
In your example, the speaker knows that help was given and so unless cannot be used. The sentence needs to use 'if...not': If he hadn't helped me...
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello. Is it OK to use "in case" in second conditionals? For example, Is the following sentence correct?
- I got some books with me when I went travelling in case I got board.
Thank you.
Hello Ahmed Imam,
It's fine to use in case with past forms. Your sentence is not a so-called second conditional, however, but rather a sentence about a real past event. In your example in case has the meaning 'because it was possible that':
You can use in case with future hypothetical meaning:
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
For conditional 3, can I not use 'if'? For example:
Had I understood the instructions properly, I would have passed the exam.
Hello gsg238,
Yes, that's correct -- well done!
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
‘If I could change the way I live my life today, I wouldn’t change a single thing’ song by Lisa Stanfiled...
is this a second conditional given that the If clause uses a modal verb? Shouldn’t it be if I changed ..., I wouldn’t ...? Maybe just because it a song?
What about ‘If I could, I surely would’ (also a song by Simon & Garfunkel’s)?
Hello Graziadb1966,
It's perfectly fine to use certain modal verbs in the if-clause of conditional sentences. In your example 'could change' has the meaning 'were able to change' and so it expresses a different meaning to just 'changed'.
Here are a few other examples of modal verbs used in if-clauses:
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello,
I am confused between conditionals.
Did you mean that :if something started in the past and its effect extend to the present we will use if+past perfect ----would+infinitive
but if something started and end in the past and i wish to change it in the past we will use if +past simple--------would have=past participle
please help and advise.
Hello Iman ELBorolos,
The difference is not really about something continuing or not - I think this is a confusing way to try to describe it. Rather, it's about whether the result is in the past or the present. For example:
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
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