Mixed Conditionals

Complete these sentences with your own ideas of a future or

present result:

Use: Mixed conditional sentences combine two different 1. If I had won the race, …
2. If I had worked harder, …
conditional patterns.
3. If I had gone to China, …
4. If I had been born in a different country, …
 Mixed first conditional sentences 5. If I hadn’t slept late, …

First conditional sentences can use a variety of modal verbs. Now, complete with a past result:
If + present simple, can / may / might / will / should + verb
(infinitive) 1. If I lived in Australia, …
2. If I was more organized, …
If you give me some money, I can buy some milk.
3. If I was funnier, …
If I finish my homework, may I go out with my friends? 4. If I could play the violin, …
If you switch the photocopier off and on again, it should work. 5. If I wasn’t a good writer, …

First conditional sentences can also use going to, as well as will.
If + present simple , going to + verb (infinitive)
If you don’t get ready soon, we’re going to be late!
The present continuous and going to can also appear in the If clause
If you’re going to the shop, can you buy me some cola?
If you’re going to pay him, make sure you get a receipt.
EXERCISE 1
1. Choose the sentence with the meaning below.
 James is always lazy. He failed a test last week.
a. If you weren’t so lazy, you would have passed that test.
b. If you hadn’t been so lazy, you would pass that test.
c. If you weren’t so lazy, you would pass that test.
2. If he ___ you an invoice, you should pay him.

a. ‘s sent
The present perfect may also appear in the If clause. b. would send
If you’ve finished your work, you can go home. c. had sent

3. Which sentence is correctly mixed ?

a. If you remembered to bring a map, we wouldn’t be lost

 Mixed third / second conditional now.
b. If you’d remembered to bring a map, we wouldn’t be lost
now.
This combination describes an imagined event in the past and the
c. If you’d remembered to bring a map, we wouldn’t have
present result. been lost now.

If + past perfect , would + verb (infinitive) 4. Choose the sentence with the meaning below.
 Paul drove too fast. Now he’s in trouble with the police.
If he'd taken the medicine, he wouldn't still be sick.
He wouldn’t still be sick if he’d taken the medicine. a. If Paul hadn’t drive too fast, he wouldn’t have been in
trouble with the police.
b. If Paul didn’t drive too fast, he wouldn’t be in trouble with
the police.
c. If Paul hadn’t driven too fast, he wouldn’t be in trouble
 Mixed second / third conditional with the police.

5. Complete the mixed conditional in this sentence.

This combination describes a situation which is never true, and the
If you _________ the photocopier off and off again, it sometimes
past consequence of this situation. works.
If + past simple , would have + verb (infinitive)
a. turned
If you were better at speaking in public, the presentation would have b. will turn
c. turn
been more successful.
The presentation would have been more successful if you were better
at speaking in public.
6. Complete the sentence. 8. Choose the sentence with the meaning below.
If ____ late, can you turn everything off before you go?  You didn’t fix the roof. Now it’s leaking.

a. you’ve worked a. If you fixed the roof, it wouldn’t have leaked.

b. you’re working b. If you’d fixed the roof, it wouldn’t be leaking.
c. you’ll work c. If you’d fixed the roof, it wouldn’t have been leaking.

7. Choose the sentence with the meaning below. 9. You can't find your purse. You think someone has taken it. What
 I don’t have a degree, so I didn’t get the job. do you say?
If someone ____ my purse, I’ll be furious!
a. If I had a degree, I would have got that job.
b. If I have a degree, I would have got that job. a. took
c. If I’d had a degree, I would get that job. b. has taken
c. takes

10. Which word CANNOT go in the space?

If you order the book today, it ___ arrive tomorrow.

a. may
b. should
c. would

Use the next examples to create your own mixed conditionals.

1. Past → Present
If I had taken an aspirin, I wouldn't have a headache now.
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2. Past → Future
If I had known that you are going to come by tomorrow, I would be in then.
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3. Present → Past
If she had enough money, she could have done this trip to Hawaii.
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4. Present → Future
If I were you, I would be spending my vacation in Seattle.
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5. Future → Past
If I weren't flying to Detroit at noon, I would have planned a trip to Vancouver.
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6. Future → Present
If I were taking this exam next week, I would be high-strung.
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