Mixed Conditionals
Sometimes Unreal Conditional sentences are mixed.
This means that the time in the if-clause is not the same as
the time in the result. Study the examples below to learn how to mix conditional
verb forms like a native speaker.
Verbs in green are in the Present Unreal Conditional.
Verbs in red are in the Past Unreal Conditional.
Verbs in purple are in the Future Unreal Conditional.
Mixed Conditional Patterns
Examples:
- If I had won
the lottery, I would be
rich.
- If I had taken
French in high school, I would have
more job opportunities.
- If she had been born
in the United States, she wouldn't
need a visa to work here.
Examples:
- If she had signed
up for the ski trip last week, she
would be joining us tomorrow.
- If Mark had gotten
the job instead of Joe, he would
be moving to Shanghai.
- If Darren hadn't wasted
his Christmas bonus gambling in Las Vegas, he
would go to Mexico with us next month.
Examples:
- 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.
Examples:
- If I didn't have
so much vacation time, I wouldn't
go with you on the cruise to Alaska next week.
- If Cindy were
more creative, the company would
send her to New York to work on the new advertising campaign.
- If Dan weren't
so nice, he wouldn't be tutoring
you in math tonight.
Examples:
- If I weren't going
on my business trip next week, I
would have accepted that new assignment at work.
- If my parents weren't coming
this weekend, I would have planned
a nice trip just for the two of us to Napa Valley.
- If Donna weren't making
us a big dinner tonight, I would
have suggested that we go to that nice Italian restaurant.
Examples:
- If I were going
to that concert tonight, I would
be very excited.
- If Sandy were giving
a speech tomorrow, she would be
very nervous.
- If Seb didn't come
with us to the desert, everyone
would be very disappointed.