Mixed conditionals are those unreal conditional sentences whose time in the if-clause is

different than the time in the main-clause. Let's first have a look at unreal conditional
sentences:
If she were shorter, she would be more attractive.
I am busy next week. If I had time, I would come to your party.
If they hadn't trained hard, they wouldn't have won.
As you can see, they refer to the same time: the present, the future or the past. If we mix
the sentences, we get mixed conditionals.

Past and Present

If my father hadn't lost his keys, we wouldn't have to wait until he finds them.

But my father lost his keys and therefore we have to wait until he finds them.
If I had installed an anti-virus, my computer wouldn't be so slow now.

But I didn't install an anti-virus and therefore my computer is so slow now.

If our house had been broken into, we would be very sad.
But our house wasn't broken into and we aren't sad.

Past and Future

If our house had been broken into, we would call the police.

But our house wasn't broken into and we are not going to call police.
If we had won the lottery last week, we would buy a new sofa today.
But we didn't win the lottery and we are not going to buy a new sofa today.

Present and Past

If I were smarter, I would have graduated from Stanford.

But I am not smarter and therefore I didn't graduate from Stanford.
If Mary weren't a snob, she wouldn't have had so many parties this year.
But Mary is a snob and therefore she had so many parties this year.

Present and Future

If you were more eloquent, you would become a politician.

But I am not more eloquent and I won't become a politician.
If you had more time, I would go to the cinema with you.
But you don't have more time and I won't go to the cinema with you.
Soon the rest of mixed conditionals.

How conditional sentences are mixed

Unreal conditionals (type II + III) sometimes can be mixed, that is, the time of
the if clause is different from the one of the main clause.

1. Past Present

If I had taken an aspirin, I wouldn't have a headache now.

2. Past Future

If I had known that you are going to come by tomorrow, I would be in then.
3. Present Past

If she had enough money, she could have done this trip to Hawaii.
4. Present Future

If I were you, I would be spending my vacation in Seattle.

5. Future Past

If I weren't flying to Detroit, I would have planned a trip to Vancouver.

6. Future Present

If I were taking this exam next week, I would be high-strung.

En una oracin condicional, existe la posibilidad de que las dos proposiciones

que la componen se refieran a periodos o momentos distintos. El resultado es
una oracin de tipo condicional mixto ("mixed conditional"). Hay dos clases de
oraciones condicionales mixtas.

RESULTADO ACTUAL DE UNA CONDICIN SITUADA EN EL PASADO

FORMACIN

En este tipo de oracin condicional mixta, el tiempo verbal de la proposicin

"if" es el "past perfect" y el verbo de la clusula principal va en "present
conditional".

Proposicin "if" (condicin)

If + past perfect

Proposicin principal (resultado)

present conditional

If this thing had happened

that thing would happen.

Como ocurre con todas las oraciones condicionales, el orden de las

proposiciones no es fijo. Es posible que sea necesario modificar los pronombres
y la puntuacin al cambiar el orden de las clusulas pero el significado de la
oracin es el mismo.

EJEMPLOS

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.
We wouldn't be lost if we had looked at the map.
If you had caught that plane you would be dead now.
You would be dead now if you had caught that plane.
FUNCIONES

Esta clase de oraciones condicionales mixtas se refieren a una condicin irreal

situada en el pasado y a su probable resultado en el presente. Expresan una
situacin que es contraria a la realidad tanto en el pasado como en el
momento actual. En estas oraciones condicionales mixtas, el marco temporal
hace referencia al pasado en la proposicin "if" y al presente en la clusula
principal.

EJEMPLOS

If I had studied I would have my driving license. (pero no estudi y ahora no

tengo el carn)

I would be a millionaire now if I had taken that job. (pero no acept el empleo y
no soy millonario)
If you had spent all your money, you wouldn't buy this jacket. (pero no te
gastaste todo el dinero y ahora puedes comprar esta chaqueta)
En este tipo de oraciones condicionales mixtas, es posible asimismo emplear
los modales en la proposicin principal en lugar de usar "would", para expresar
el grado de certeza, permiso o una recomendacin sobre el resultado.

EJEMPLOS

If you had crashed the car, you might be in trouble.

I could be a millionaire now if I had invested in ABC Plumbing.
If I had learned to ski, I might be on the slopes right now.
RESULTADO EN EL PASADO DE UNA CONDICIN ACTUAL O EN PROGRESO
FORMACIN

En este segundo tipo de oracin condicional mixta, el tiempo verbal de la

proposicin "if" es el "simple past" y el de la clusula principal es el "perfect
conditional".

Proposicin "if" (condicin)

If + simple past

Proposicin principal (resultado)

perfect conditional

If this thing happened

that thing would have happened.

Como ocurre con todas las oraciones condicionales, el orden de las

proposiciones no es fijo. Es posible que sea necesario modificar los pronombres
y la puntuacin al revertir el orden de las clusulas pero el significado seguir
siendo el mismo.

EJEMPLOS

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.
We would have sacked him months ago if we didn't trust him.
If I wasn't in the middle of another meeting, I would have been happy to help
you.
I would have been happy to help you if I wasn't in the middle of another
meeting.
FUNCIONES

Esta clase de oraciones condicionales mixtas se refieren a una situacin irreal

en el presente y a su resultado probable (aunque irreal) en el pasado. El marco
temporal en la proposicin "if" es ahora o siempre, mientras que en la principal
hace referencia al pasado. Por ejemplo, "If I wasn't afraid of spiders" (si no
tuviera miedo a las araas) expresa una idea que es contraria a la realidad
actual, ya que tengo miedo a las araas. "I would have picked it up" (la hubiera
recogido) es contrario a la realidad situada en el pasado, ya que no la recog.

EJEMPLOS

If she wasn't afraid of flying she wouldn't have travelled by boat.

I'd have been able to translate the letter if my Italian was better.
If I was a good cook, I'd have invited them to lunch.
If the elephant wasn't in love with the mouse, she'd have trodden on him by
now.

Those of you who have been following the Conditional Tutorial should now be
familiar with present, past and future conditional verb forms. Sometimes Unreal
Conditional sentences are 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

PAST
PRESENT
Examples:

If I had won the lottery, I would be rich.

But I didn't win the lottery in the past and I am not rich now.
If I had taken French in high school, I would have more job opportunities.
But I didn't take French in high school and I don't have many job opportunities.
If she had been born in the United States, she wouldn't need a visa to work
here.
But she wasn't born in the United States and she does need a visa now to work
here.
PAST
FUTURE
Examples:

If she had signed up for the ski trip last week, she would be joining us
tomorrow.
But she didn't sign up for the ski trip last week and she isn't going to join us
tomorrow.

If Mark had gotten the job instead of Joe, he would be moving to Shanghai.
But Mark didn't get the job and Mark is not going to move to Shanghai.
If Darren hadn't wasted his Christmas bonus gambling in Las Vegas, he would
go to Mexico with us next month.
But Darren wasted his Christmas bonus gambling in Las Vegas and he won't go
to Mexico with us next month.
PRESENT
PAST
Examples:

If I were rich, I would have bought that Ferrari we saw yesterday.

But I am not currently rich and that is why I didn't buy the Ferrari yesterday.
If Sam spoke Russian, he would have translated the letter for you.
But Sam doesn't speak Russian and that is why he didn't translate the letter.
If I didn't have to work so much, I would have gone to the party last night.
But I have to work a lot and that is why I didn't go to the party last night.
PRESENT
FUTURE
Examples:

If I didn't have so much vacation time, I wouldn't go with you on the cruise to
Alaska next week.
But I do have a lot of vacation time and I will go on the trip next week.
If Cindy were more creative, the company would send her to New York to work
on the new advertising campaign.
But Cindy is not creative and the company won't send her to New York to work
on the new campaign.
If Dan weren't so nice, he wouldn't be tutoring you in math tonight.

But Dan is nice and he is going to tutor you tonight.

FUTURE
PAST
Examples:

If I weren't going on my business trip next week, I would have accepted that
new assignment at work.
But I am going to go on a business trip next week, and that is why I didn't
accept 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.
But my parents are going to come this weekend, and that is why I didn't plan a
trip 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.
But she is going to make us a big dinner tonight, and that is why I didn't
suggest that we go to that nice Italian restaurant.
FUTURE
PRESENT
Examples:

If I were going to that concert tonight, I would be very excited.

But I am not going to go to that concert tonight and that is why I am not
excited.
If Sandy were giving a speech tomorrow, she would be very nervous.
But Sandy is not going to give a speech tomorrow and that is why she in not
nervous.
If Seb didn't come with us to the desert, everyone would be very disappointed.
But Seb will come with us to the desert and that is why everyone is so happy.