Mixed conditionals

When we talk about mixed conditionals, we are referring to conditional sentences that combine two different types of conditional patterns. These combinations are not all that frequent, but the most common combination is when we have a type 3 conditional in the if-clause if ! past perfect" followed by a type # conditional would ! infinitive" in the main clause. mixed third $ second conditional With this combination we are contrasting an imagined or real event in the past with the present result of that. %onsider these examples& 'f he(d taken the medication as prescribed, he wouldn(t still be lying sick in bed. 'f she(d taken reasonable precautions, she wouldn(t be pregnant now. 'f he hadn(t run after the car thief and suffered a heart attack, he(d probably be alive today. )ote that we can also convey the same idea of past event and present result by using type 3 conditional if ! past perfect, would(ve ! past participle" in both clauses 'f he(d taken the medication as the doctor ordered, he would(ve recovered by now. 'f she(d taken reasonable precautions, she wouldn(t have got herself pregnant. 'f he hadn(t run after the car thief and suffered a heart attack, he wouldn(t have collapsed and died. )ote that we use this type of conditional when we regret past action or inaction. mixed second $ third conditional The other possibility, though ' think this is less common, is when we have a type # conditional in the if-clause if ! past simple" followed by a type 3 conditional would(ve ! past participle" in the main clause. With this combination, we are describing ongoing circumstances in relation to a previous past event. %onsider these examples& 'f you weren(t such a poor dancer, you would(ve got a *ob in the chorus line in that musical.

'f you weren(t so blind to his faults, you would(ve realised that he was out to swindle you. +e(s old enough to come home by himself, but can you *ust see him across the busy road, first conditional if ! present simple, will ! infinitive& 'f ' wait for -ane, '(ll be late for school This is the pattern that we most frequently associate with the first conditional, referring to future possibility or probability. .ut note that other patterns are also possible& we can have a modal verb, typically can, may or should, in the if-clause or main clause, as well as going to future or present continuous future. /resent perfect is also possible in the if-clause. %onsider these examples& 'f you can(t understand the instructions, you(ll never be able to assemble the wardrobe. 'f ' give you ten pounds, could you get me some wine at the supermarket, 'f you(ve finished the work ' gave you, you may go home now. 'f the weather(s good on 0unday, we(re going to have a picnic in +yde /ark. 'f you(re going to write him a cheque, make sure there(s enough money in your account to cover it. 'f you(re coming clubbing with us tonight, you(d better get ready now. 'n this final example, note that had better is not a past tense. 't refers to the immediate future and we use it to give strong advice as the preferred alternative to must, ought to or should. if you should1 $ if you happen to1 )ote that we use should in the if-clause in the first conditional if we want to suggest that something is very unlikely. We can use happen to in a similar way or even combine them& 'f you should $ happen to change your mind about coming to the beach tomorrow, give me a ring. ' don(t expect him to, but if he should happen to show up, whatever you do, don(t let him in2 3'456 %7)6'T'7)89 05)T5)%50

't is possible for the two parts of a conditional sentence to refer to different times, and the resulting sentence is a :mixed conditional: sentence. There are two types of mixed conditional sentence& 8. /resent result of past condition& ;. <orm The tense in the (if( clause is the past perfect, and the tense in the main clause is the present conditional& ('<( %98=05 38') %98=05 'f ! past perfect 'f ' had worked harder at school 'f we had looked at the map /resent conditional ' would have a better *ob now. we wouldn(t be lost.

#. <unction 'n these sentences, the time is past in the (if( clause, and present in the main clause. They refer to an unreal past condition and its probable result in the present. They express a situation which is contrary to reality both in the past and in the present& ('f ' had worked harder at school( is contrary to past fact - ' didn(t work hard at school, and (' would have a better *ob now( is contrary to present fact - ' haven(t got a good *ob. 'f we had looked at the map we didn(t", we wouldn(t be lost we are lost". 5xamples ' would be a millionaire now if ' had taken that *ob. 'f you(d caught that plane you(d be dead now. 'f you hadn(t spent all your money on %6s, you wouldn(t be broke. .. /ast result of present or continuing condition. ;. <orm The tense in the 'f-clause is the simple past, and the tense in the main clause is the perfect conditional& ('<( %98=05 38') %98=05 'f ! simple past 'f ' wasn(t afraid of spiders 'f we didn(t trust him

/erfect conditional ' would have picked it up. we would have sacked him months ago.

#. <unction 'n these sentences the time in the 'f-clause is now or always, and the time in the main clause is before now. They refer to an unreal present situation and its probable but unreal" past result& ('f ' wasn(t afraid of spiders( is contrary to present reality - ' am afraid of spiders, and (' would have picked it up( is contrary to past reality - ' didn(t pick it up. ('f we didn(t trust him( is contrary to present reality - we do trust him, and (we would have sacked him( is contrary to past reality - we haven(t sacked him. 5xamples a. 'f she wasn(t afraid of flying she wouldn(t have travelled by boat. b. '(d have been able to translate the letter if my 'talian was better. c. 'f ' was a good cook, '(d have invited them to lunch. d. 'f the elephant wasn(t in love with the mouse, she(d have trodden on him by now.