Mixed conditionals
Use a mixed conditional when the condition and the result are at different times: a past cause with a present result, or a present fact with a past result.
How it works
- Past condition, present result: if + past perfect, would + base verb: If I had taken the job, I would live in Singapore now.
- Present condition, past result: if + past simple, would have + past participle: If I spoke Korean, I would have understood the film.
- Time words make the mix clear: now, today, yesterday, last year.
- Could and might can replace would: If she had saved more, she might be able to buy a flat now.
- Contracted 'd can be had or would: If I'd listened, I'd know the answer.
Switch the conditional
Answer the questions and watch the sentence change.
If it had rained last night, the grass would be wet now.
Mixed conditional: If + had + past participle, would + verb
An imagined past with a result now.
Examples
If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now.
If she hadn't moved to Đà Lạt, she wouldn't know so much about coffee.
If I weren't so shy, I would have spoken to her at the party.
If you had taken the medicine, you might feel better today.
If he were more organised, he wouldn't have missed the deadline.
Common mistakes
Wrong: If I had saved more money, I would have
hada car now.Right: If I had saved more money, I would have a car now.
Wrong: If I
didn't missthe bus, I wouldn't be late now.Right: If I hadn't missed the bus, I wouldn't be late now.
Wrong: If I
amtaller, I would have joined the basketball team.Right: If I were taller, I would have joined the basketball team.
Practice
1 of 15Fill the gap.
Level: EGP Clauses (conditional): mixing a past if-clause with a present result (and the reverse) starts at B2 and becomes more frequent at C1; judged B2 here because it builds directly on the third conditional. Written for Gloss.