When the two parts of a conditional sentence refer to different times, the resulting sentence is called a “mixed conditional” sentence. There are two types of mixed conditional sentence:
Present result of a past condition
Past result of present or continuing condition
Present result of a past condition
The Form
This type of mixed conditional sentence has:
the ‘if’ clause in the past perfect
and
the main clause in the present conditional.
If clause (condition)
Main clause (result)
If + past perfect (3rd conditional)
present conditional (2nd conditional)
If she had never met him
she’d be so much happier.
Conditional sentences usually don’t have their clauses in a fixed order. You may have to rearrange the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is identical.
Examples
If I had worked harder at school, I would have been a doctor now.
We wouldn’t be lost if we had gone straight ahead.
If you had caught that bus you would be dead now.
I would have be a doctor now if I had worked harder at school.
If we had gone straight ahead we wouldn’t be lost.
You would be dead now if you had caught that bus.
The Function
The second and the third conditionals are combined to talk about an unreal past condition and its probable (imaginary) result or effect on the present / future.
Examples
If I had won the lottery, I would be rich.
(but I didn’t win the lottery in the past and I’m not rich now)
If she had taken Chinese in high school, she
would have more job opportunities in China.
(But she didn’t take Chinese in high school and she doesn’t have many job opportunities in China.
If you had spent all your money, you wouldn’t buy this jacket.
(but you didn’t spend all your money and now you can buy this jacket)
P.S.: You can also use modal verbs (modals) in the main clause instead of would to express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the outcome.
Examples
If you had broken the glass, you might be in trouble.
I could be a millionaire now if I had invested wisely.
If they had liked the party, they might be on the dancefloor right now.
Past result of present or continuing condition
The Form
This type of mixed conditional sentence is about combining:
the ‘if’ clause in the simple past
and
the main clause in the perfect conditional.
If clause (condition)
Main clause (result)
If + simple past (2nd conditional)
perfect conditional (3rd conditional)
If she never met him
she’d have been so much happier.
Conditional sentences usually don’t have their clauses in a fixed order. You may have to rearrange the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is identical.
Examples
If the kid took better care of his teeth, He wouldn’t have gotten all these cavities.
We would have been lost if we didn’t go straight ahead.
We would have sacked him months ago if we didn’t trust him.
If we didn’t trust him we would have sacked him months ago.
If you caught that bus you would have been dead now.
I would have been a doctor now if I worked harder at school.
The Function
The third and the second conditionals (in this order) refer to an unreal present situation and its probable (but unreal) past result. In these mixed conditional sentences, the time in the if clause is now or always and the time in the main clause is before now.
For example:
“If I wasn’t afraid of snakes” is contrary to present reality. (In fact I’m afraid of snakes).
“I would have picked it up” is contrary to past reality. (I didn’t pick it up).
Examples
If it was my birthday, I’d have invited them to lunch.
She’d have accepted the invitation if she wasn’t married!
I’d have been able to translate the speech if my Chinese was better.
If the movie wasn’t so good, we’d have left the theater by now.