Look at these examples to see how third and mixed conditionals are used.
We would have walked to the top of the mountain if the weather hadn't been so bad.
If we'd moved to Scotland when I was a child, I would have a Scottish accent now.
If she was really my friend, she wouldn't have lied to me.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
- Grammar test 1
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
Do you know how to use third and mixed conditionals?
Third conditionals and mixed conditionals
Conditionals describe the result of a certain condition. The if clause tells you the condition (If I hadn't been ill) and the main clause tells you the result (I would have gone to the party). The order of the clauses does not change the meaning.
If I hadn't been ill, I would have gone to the party.
I would have gone to the party if I hadn't been ill.
Conditional sentences are often divided into different types.
Third conditional
The third conditional is used to imagine a different past. We imagine a change in a past situation and the different result of that change.
If I had understood the instructions properly, I would have passed the exam.
We wouldn't have got lost if my phone hadn't run out of battery.
In third conditional sentences, the structure is usually: If + past perfect >> would have + past participle.
Mixed conditionals
We can use mixed conditionals when we imagine a past change with a result in the present or a present change with a result in the past.
1. Past/Present
Here's a sentence imagining how a change in a past situation would have a result in the present.
If I hadn't got the job in Tokyo, I wouldn't be with my current partner.
So the structure is: If + past perfect >> would + infinitive.
2. Present/Past
Here's a sentence imagining how a different situation in the present would mean that the past was different as well.
It's really important. If it wasn't, I wouldn't have called you on your holiday.
And the structure is: If + past simple >> would have + past participle.
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
- Grammar test 2
Hello,
Source: Mat Armstrong, Title: REBUILDING A PORSCHE 911 GT3RS FROM SCRATCH, Time: 37:40
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N8cI5Op3Uc
YouTuber Mat Armstrong is repearing his Porsche GT3 RS:
- If we had took the valves out and cleaned the top of the valves into the cylinder head, which is called lapping, then we’d risk that the valves would sit closer inside the cylinder head, which would mean that they poke out more at the top, and because of that, the shim between the rocker arm and the valve would’ve had to have been a little bit smaller, which would mean we’d have to order a lot of these shims.
Why does he need this monstrosity of a construction?
Thank you
Hello Tony_M,
The form is grammatically possible but I agree it's not great stylistically. I would use a different sentence construction, but the author does not seem particularly careful with his/her language, as the 'had took' error shows in the first sentence.
These kinds of constructions are not unusual, to be honest, when someone is speaking extemporaneously, so I think cutting the speaker some slack is called for.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Can I use (in case) in the 3rd conditional?
Ex. In case she hadn't had money, she would have bought the book.
Hello Rosa_Adele,
No, we don't use 'in case' in the third conditional. We use it to speak about present or future situations.
You might find this Cambridge Dictionary page useful.
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Hello,
I had problems with third conditional in the past, but this explanation and exercises helped me to understand it and practice a little.
So, thanks for the content.
Here are some sentences:
Hello Denise Dias,
I'm not sure your first example is good. Think about the sequence of the actions here: did the second action (would have found) come after the first (hadn't seen)?
You could say something like this: If I hadn't seen this content in the morning, I would have had many problems with the homework in the afternoon.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello,
Although I understand conditionals very well, I am still confusing the time frame. Could you explain these sentences? Why I am wrong?
We wouldn't have been late if you hadn't taken such a long time getting ready.
If you hadn't seen the car, it would hit us back there.
They would have seen the fireworks if they were here 15 minutes earlier.
Thank you for your marvellous work!
Hello Aung Qui,
All of these sentences describe unreal situations in the past with past results.
This sentence is correct. It takes a past situation (you took a long time getting ready) and its past result (we were late) and describes how things might have been different. You could also make the sentence about a present result (we are late now) of the same situation (you took a long time getting ready):
The mistake here is in the result clause. The sentence describes the past, not the present, so would have + verb3 is needed:
Here the error is in the if-clause. Again, the sentence describes the past so had + verb3 is needed:
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello Sir,
If I had known you were coming, I would be cleaning the house for your stay.
Can I use this for past hypothetical with a present consequence.
Thanks a lot.
Hello again,
Yes, you can use a present result with a past condition exactly in this way. Your example is good! It's important to be consistent in terms of real vs unreal:
unreal past with an unreal present result:
real past with a real present result
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team