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
Hi Robertas,
In any conditional sentence we have two clauses: the condition clause (generally with 'if') and the result clause. The clauses must agree in two ways:
Your question is really about the second of these requirements. As you point out, the past perfect result appears to be earlier than the condition (expressed with would + verb). However, there is a logic here. The action of calling is fixed in time: it happened in the past, so the past perfect is needed. However, the condition is not fixed in time: it is something that is generally true. The issue is an important one in general terms, not just at one moment in time.
The construction is actually quite common when the condition refers to a person's character or opinion - something we see as generally true, even through they change over time. For example:
I hope that helps to clarify it for you.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Sorry for writing again but I used not to leave confusions in my life. I understand concept which you said about general terms, for example, in this sentence: "I wouldn't have agreed to leave my job and go abroad if I didn't love you so much!" you can't love just for 1 day.
However, this sentence in my original post and your given "If he wasn't so impatient, he wouldn't have shouted at you." are different because it doesn't say anything if it is general or speaking about situation in the past or even in the present because from "The LearnEnglish Team's" answers earlier I learnt tense structure doesn't indicate in what time something happened, happens, will happen. I mean, it a lot depends from more information in context.
Hello again Robertas,
In my original reply I said this: "The construction is actually quite common when the condition refers to a person's character or opinion - something we see as generally true, even through they change over time"
In the sentence "If he wasn't so impatient, he wouldn't have shouted at you" the speaker is describing the person's character: he is an impatient person. You could, of course, choose to describe the person's action at that moment rather than their general character and in this case you would use "hadn't been". Thus, we can contrast an if-clause with a general meaning with an if-clause about an action/behaviour at a particular moment in time:
Your original sentence can be similarly read in two ways:
These are subjective assessments, of course, which is why the speaker can use either form: how they see the situation and the context will determine the form that is used.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi there!
Recently, I found this interesting sentence in one grammar book:
" If Lopez wins gold at the next Olympics, he has said that he will retire from athletics".
I know that, if we use Present Perfect in the If clause, thus we emphasize the dependency of one (main) clause on another (if-clause). Also that we can use "will" in indirect speech when we report general developments or something, that it's happening right now, and report it in a little time after someone's speech.
But this sentence looks like we cannot join both of these rules under my interpretation.
Could you please explain to me, how we use the grammar part in this sentence, namely the Report Speech in the Conditional part of the sentence, and how each part impacts to the other?
Thank you
Hello Mary,
To my eyes, this sentence is a variation of a sentence I think you'll find it easier to make sense of:
In this case, we have an ordinary-looking first conditional embedded in reported speech.
Does that make sense?
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Great Thanks
It absolutely makes sense
Hi,
I don't understand.
Why we can use this example below if we can use second conditional in this same example below:
"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."
Please explain what is difference. Thank you in advance.
Regards,
Robertas
Hi Robertas,
The second conditional can't express the same meaning as this sentence, because its timeframe is different. I'll try to explain.
In this example, the condition is an unreal past condition, i.e., something different to what actually happened in the past (If I hadn't got the job in Tokyo - it means that I actually did get the job in the past, and I'm imagining how my life now would be different if I hadn't got it).
The second conditional is different because the condition is not about something that actually happened in the past. It's about something that may happen in the present or future. For example:
This means I'm imagining getting the job in the present or future (and that I consider it unlikely or even impossible). It does not mean that I got the job in the past.
Does that make sense?
Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team
Yes. Past simple tense in second conditional caused confusion when talking about present/future imaginary situation. I missed to check description of 2 conditional and mixed conditional. I guess this is another problem to which I need to adapt because it is some kind of exception for some reason as explained by Peter M. from The LearnEnglish Team.
Dear Team,
what is the difference between
1.If my granny were alive, she would love to see me graduate.
2.If my granny were alive, she would have loved to see me graduate.
and Is it correct as if I say
If I hadn't got up early, I wouldn't miss my meeting? (I want to emphasis the present result)