Mixed conditionals

Today, dear pupils, at our lesson we are going to study conditionals in mixed conditional patterns. So, the topic of our lesson is mixed conditionals.

You remember that conditionals can be real and unreal. And they have two types in each category.

As soon as we have studied with you two types of unreal conditionals (they are second conditional and third conditional) we can easily remember their formulas, can’t we? Let’s do it very quickly.

Well, the second conditional has the following components in the structure. Let’s distribute them.

In the “if” part we have the subject and the predicate in the Past Simple tense. In the main part after the subject we use the Future Simple in the past tense (that is “would” plus the infinitive of a verb without the particle “to”). Or we can rearrange the clauses. Firstly, the main and then the “if” part.

As for the third conditional, the task is the same, let’s do it.

In the “if” part we have the subject and the predicate in the Past Perfect tense. It is had plus verb with the ending -ed if the verb is regular or the past participle if the verb is irregular. In the main part after the subject we use the Future Perfect in the past tense (that is “would” plus have and the past participle of the main verb). If the verb is regular we add the ending –ed, if the verb is irregular we take the past participle.

That was perfectly done, now you are ready for mixed types. Look, these are the formulas of the second and the third conditionals and, if they are mixed, we get two new combinations.

Let’s analyze the first variant.

In this structure we have the second type of conditional in the if-part (if + past simple) and the third conditional (would + have +past participle) in the main part.

This combination of mixed conditional sentences refers to an unreal present situation and its probable (but unreal) past result.

As an illustration,

If you knew me better, you would not have said rude words.

In these mixed conditional sentences, the time in the “if” part is now or always, and the time in the main part is before now.

The other combination of mixed type is as follows.

We have the third conditional in the if-part (if + past perfect) and the second conditional (would + infinitive) in the main part.

For example,

If you had worked harder last month, you would not be so busy this month.

The time in the "if" part is the past and in the main part is the present.

This mixed type refers to an unreal past condition and its probable result in the present.

And now it’s time to do some practical tasks. Ready? Let’s start.

In exercise 1 You are to answer the questions about the given situations.

If Mike had not studied hard at school, he would not be so rich and famous.

So, the question is: 1. Does Mike study in the present, or did he do it in the past? – Right you are. In the past. Question 2: Is he rich and famous now? – Yes, he is.

Ok, next situation is as follows:

Alice would not be so lonely, if she had not left her husband.

Answer, please: Is Alice on her own now, or was she in the past ? That is right, now.

And one more question: Is she leaving her husband now, or did she do it in the past? – You are absolutely correct, in the past.

In our next exercise you have to be very attentive. The task is to analyze the picture and open the brackets with the right verb forms in the given conditional sentences.

We are beginning.

The first episode is about Ann. It is unlikely Ann had a good time in Berlin. She does not speak German. Her teacher tries to explain why… can you help him?

What are your guesses? You are super!

If she spoke German, she would have had a good time in Berlin.

Our next episode is about the biker who says: “I bought a new Harley Davidson last week. I don’t have much money now.” What are your ideas? That is correct:

If I had not bought a new Harley Davidson last week, I would have much money now.

The last is about poor Daniel. He is sad. He was fired from his job last month.

Do you think that his mood could have been a different one? Naturally, you have got the idea.

Daniel would not be sad, if he had not been fired from his job last month.

You have completed exercise two perfectly.

Our final activity is the following one. You are to transform the sentences beginning with if to describe the following situations.

Let’s do it.

The first situation is about a doctor and his patient. The problem is that the patient’s arms are in a cast. He fell down from his bike yesterday. What was the man’s explanation for this case?

Surely, “If I had not fallen from my bike, my arms would not be in a cast now.”

Have a look at this charming lady. She speaks Italian perfectly. She lived in Rome in her childhood. Did it help her to master the language?

Yes, definitely. If she had not lived in Italy in her childhood, she would not speak Italian.

And this picture describes the situation when a girl’s boyfriend has a marvelous yacht. He won the lottery last year. How did it become possible? What are your thoughts?

Certainly, if her boyfriend had not won the lottery last year, he would not have a marvelous yacht.

So, finally our happy Jessica drives a Ferrari. She married a millionaire. But can the situation be a different one? What can it be like? Nice answer! Agree with you. Of course, if Jessica had not married a millionaire, she would not drive a Ferrari.

That is all for today dear pupils! Nice lesson! Thank you!