Mixed conditional

Mixed conditional

1. Structure

   • There are different structures of mixed conditionals, but we will focus on the two most common, which are a combination of the second and third conditional.
     • If + sujeto + past perfect, sujeto + would + verbo en infinitivo
       • If + sujeto + past simple, sujeto + would + have + verbo en participio

2. Uses

   • We have two different structures, therefore the use of the same anger depending on what we want to express
   • When we want to express that a situation that took place in the past has a result in the present
   • When we want to express a probable result in the past about a situation that is not real in the present

3. Examples

   • If I had worked harder at school, I would have a better job now.
   • I would have a better job now if I had worked harder at school.
   • If we had looked at the map we wouldn't be lost.
   • If I wasn't afraid of spiders, I would have picked it up.
   • I would have picked it up if I wasn't afraid of spiders.
   • If we didn't trust him we would have sacked him months ago.

4. Concept

   • In a conditional sentence, there is the possibility that the two propositions that compose it refer to different periods or moments. The result is a sentence of type mixed conditional ("mixed conditional"). There are two kinds of mixed conditional sentences.

5. Types

   • Present result of a past condition
     • This type of mixed conditional refers to an unreal past condition and its probable result in the present. These sentences express a situation which is contrary to reality both in the past and in the present. In these mixed conditional sentences, the time is the past in the "if" clause and in the present in the main clause.
   • Past result of present or continuing condition
     • These mixed conditional sentences 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 spiders" is contrary to present reality. I am afraid of spiders. "I would have picked it up" is contrary to past reality. I didn't pick it up.