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
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Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team
Dear team,
I'm confused about "Third conditional" and "Mixed conditional". Can I understand that "Third conditional" is unreal, like imagine a past that would never occurred and lead to a expected result.
E.g, If I had studied Mathematics well, I would have scored high.
While "Mixed conditional" is the event already occurred, but I would like to describe the situation of the event hadn't occurred? For example, I had broke my leg yesterday, when I'm skiing.
E.g, If I hadn't ski, I wouldn't have broken my leg.
And what is the difference between past tense and past participle?
(I knew my grammer is terrible, but I had try my best to convey my ideas, please correct my mistakes)
Thanks a lot.
Hello Via,
Yes, that's correct. The 'third conditional' describes an imaginary/counter-factual past condition and its imaginary/countrer-factual result.
'Mixed conditional' is a term given to conditional sentences which have more than one time reference. In other words, instead of being about a past conditon and a past result, you may have a past conditon and a present result. For example:
In the first sentence, the form is [if + past perfect > would have + past participle].
In the second sentence, the form is [if + past perfect > would + base form]
Remember that the terms 'first conditional', 'second conditional' etc. are really just useful labels. In reality, there are only two rules for conditonal forms:
This means there are many possible patterns, of which 'first', 'second' etc. are only common examples.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Dear team,
Could you correct my sentences?
If I had prepared a job interview carefully,
I'd have the job now.(Past/Present)
If I studied more, I'd have got high marks in each subject. (Present/Past)
Also, Sir, I've learned that there have other 4 types of mixed conditions.
In this Lesson, they were only 2 types.
So, maybe others are less common or advanced.
Should I have to study others?
Ty
Hello Ty,
Well done -- the verb forms in your two sentences are correct!
Most of our grammar pages explain what we consider to be the most important aspects of that grammar, but, as you've noticed here, there is often much more. A comprehensive English grammar would take many hundreds, if not thousands, of pages.
Without knowing you better, I'm afraid it's difficult for me to make a useful recommendation. Sorry!
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello. Is it correct using "unless" in the following sentence? If not, why?
- It is illegal to drive a car unless you are 18.
Thank you.
Hello Ahmed Imam,
The sentence is fine grammatically but it would mean that you can drive only when you are 18. In other words, you cannot drive at 19, 20, 21 (etc).
I think what you mean to say is ...unless you are at least 18... or ...until you are 18...
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
In the past/present example of mixed conditionals, can I use the past subjunctive form, e.g, If I not got the job in Tokyo, I wouldn't be with my current partner? Many thanks.
Hello Q138BEN,
No, I'm afraid that's not correct. In the same way, 'If I didn't get the job in Tokyo, I wouldn't be with my current partner' is also incorrect. 'hadn't got' expresses a different past, which seems to be required for what you are trying to say here.
Hope this helps.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
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