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 The LearnEnglish Team,
I would be really grateful if you could help me understand why first conditional has been used here:
If your friends do not arrive by five, we will leave without them.
Why does this situation need to be in first conditional? I think this should be in zero conditional.
Hello BobMux,
The form if + present (then) + present is used for general statements rather than particular situations. In your example, you are talking about a particular situation, so if + present (then) + will is the correct choice.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello The LearnEnglish Team!
I would like to know which conditional is the following sentence:
If athletes today did not take their training so seriously, they would not have broken so many recordsi in recent years.
Hello BobMux,
That's the second type of mixed conditional explained on the page above.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Thanks a lot Mr Kirk,
Could you help me understand it better again?
In the main clause, does this words " they would not have broken so many records in recent years" mean that they have broken many records for some years in reality, actually?
Hello BobMux,
Yes, that's correct. The idea is that athletes take their training very seriously, and this has enabled them to break many records in recent years. If they hadn't been taking their training so seriously (in the recent past and now in the present), then we they wouldn't have broken records (in the recent) nor would they be breaking them nowadays.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
If I hadn't stayed at late yesterday ,I would be in class now. Am I right?
Hello Stellaaa,
That's almost correct. We only use 'at' if we say where we were, so you can say this, for example:
If you don't say where you were, then you don't need 'at':
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Thank you so much for giving me the cahnce to be able to comment on this website.It is very kind of you.
Thanks to you for joining, Maychin :) We hope you enjoy your learning here.
Best wishes,
Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team
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