Unreal Conditional sentences are sometimes 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.
EXERCISES AND RELATED TOPICS