MIXED CONDITIONALS
MIXED A
A type 3 conditional in the if-clause (if + past perfect) followed by a type 2 conditional (would +
infinitive) in the main clause.
We are contrasting an imagined or real event in the past with the present result of that.
→ If he had taken the medication as prescribed, he wouldn't still be lying sick in bed.
→ If she had taken reasonable precautions, she wouldn't be pregnant now.
→ If he hadn't run after the car thief and suffered a heart attack, he'd probably be alive today.
MIXED B
A type 2 conditional in the if-clause (if + past simple) followed by a type 3 conditional (would + have +
participle) in the main clause.
We are describing ongoing circumstances in relation to a previous past event.
→ If I were rich, I would have bought that Ferrari we saw yesterday.
→ If Sam spoke Russian, he would have translated the letter for you.
→ If I didn't have to work so much, I would have gone to the party last night.
Exercises
1- Tom is not going to come to dinner tomorrow because you insulted him yesterday.
If you ______________________________________________________ tomorrow.
2- Marie is unhappy because she gave up her career when she got married.
Marie would be ______________________________________________ got married.
3- I am unemployed because I had a disagreement with my boss and I was fired.
I would have _______________________________________________________ fired.
4- Nicole speaks Chinese fluently because she lived in China for ten years.
If Nicole had _______________________________________________________fluently.
5- Eleanor and Ben are not going skiing with us this year because Eleanor just had a baby.
If Eleanor and Ben had _______________________________________________ this year.
6- Frank is not going to the graduation ceremony because he broke his leg snowboarding last week.
If Frank had _____________________________________________________ceremony.
7- They are not releasing the prisoner next month because there was so much public opposition to
his parole.
If there had ______________________________________________________ next month.
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8- The hotels filled up months in advance because the festival is going to include jazz artists from
around the globe.
If the festival had _____________________________________________________ in advance.
9- We are not worried about the recent string of robberies in the neighborhood because the police
have started regularly patrolling the area.
We would be _____________________________________________________________ the
area.
10- James is always lazy so he failed a test last week.
If James _____________________________________________________________ last week.
11- If I had taken an aspirin, I wouldn't have a headache now.
I haven’t ______________________________________________________ now.
12- If I didn’t have this homework to do, I would have gone out with my friends.
I didn’t go _____________________________________________________ do.
13- If we had won the lottery last night, we'd be rich now.
We are _______________________________________________________ last night.
14- We are in the middle of nowhere because we have not bought a map!
If we _____________________________________________________________now!
15- I did not visit my friends in California because I am afraid of flying.
If I ___________________________________________________________ California.
16- I did not stop at the traffic lights during the test so no I don’t have my driving license.
I would ________________________________________________________ the test.
17- You can’t enjoy life because you still haven’t sold your business.
If you __________________________________________________________life.
18- Nobody remembered my birthday so I fell miserable and lonely now.
If ______________________________________________________________ now.
19- I don’t have your courage. I never married.
I would have ________________________________________________________ courage.
20- Without your help I would be flunked now.
If you _______________________________________________________________ now.
