Mixed Conditionals happen when the time of the "if" part and the time of the result are different. We "mix" conditionals because the cause is from one time (past or present), and the result is from another.
In Portuguese, we often use the same tense for both parts (Se eu tivesse estudado, eu seria médico), but in English, we separate past causes and present results clearly.
💡There are two main types of Mixed Conditionals:
We talk about something that didn't happen in the past and its result now.
Structure:
👉 If + past perfect → would + base verb
Meaning: A past action affects a present situation.
Example:
💬 Se eu tivesse estudado medicina, eu seria médico agora.
We talk about a situation that isn't true now and how it would have affected the past.
Structure:
👉 If + past simple → would have + past participle
Meaning: A present situation affects a past result.
Example:
💬 Se eu fosse mais alto, eu teria entrado para o time de basquete.
👉 Never use "would" in the if-clause.
👉 Don't mix a present condition (studied) with a past result (passed) incorrectly.
👉 Be careful with time: use the past perfect for past unreal situations.
| Type | If-Clause | Result | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Conditional | If + past simple | would + base verb | If I studied, I would pass. | Unreal present/future |
| 3rd Conditional | If + had + past participle | would have + past participle | If I had studied, I would have passed. | Unreal past |
| Mixed (Past → Present) | If + had + past participle | would + base verb | If I had studied, I would be rich. | Past affects now |
| Mixed (Present → Past) | If + past simple | would have + past participle | If I were taller, I would have joined the team. | Present affects past |
👉 Ask yourself:
That will tell you which part to mix.
(B2 Level Explanation)
Conditionals are sentences with "if" that show a cause and effect — one thing depends on another.
👉 If this happens, that happens / will happen / would happen / would have happened.
They express facts, real possibilities, imaginary situations, or regrets about the past.
🕰️ Time: Always true / facts / general rules
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| If + present, present | If you heat water, it boils. |
✅ Use it for facts, habits, and things that are always true.
💬 More examples:
⚠️ Don't use will in the "if" clause.
🕰️ Time: Real and possible future
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| If + present, will + verb | If it rains, I will stay home. |
✅ Use it for real, possible future situations.
💬 More examples:
⚠️ Don't use will after "if."
🕰️ Time: Hypothetical / unreal present or future
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| If + past, would + verb | If I won the lottery, I would travel the world. |
✅ Use it for imaginary or unlikely situations — not real now.
💬 More examples:
⚠️ Important: Use were for all subjects.
✅ If I were you (not was).
🕰️ Time: Unreal past (regret or reflection)
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| If + had + past participle, would have + past participle | If I had studied, I would have passed. |
✅ Use it to talk about a past situation that didn't happen and imagine a different result.
💬 More examples:
⚠️ Common mistakes:
| ❌ Wrong | ✅ Correct |
|---|---|
| If I would have studied, I would have passed. | If I had studied, I would have passed. |
| If I studied, I would have passed. | If I had studied, I would have passed. |
| If I had went, I would have seen you. | If I had gone, I would have seen you. |
| Type | Time | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | Always true | If + present, present | If you heat water, it boils. |
| First | Real future | If + present, will + verb | If it rains, I'll stay home. |
| Second | Unreal / imaginary present or future | If + past, would + verb | If I won the lottery, I'd travel. |
| Third | Unreal past / regret | If + had + past participle, would have + past participle | If I had studied, I'd have passed. |
💡 The further back you move in tense, the less real the situation becomes.
| ❌ Wrong | ✅ Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| If it will rain, I will stay home. | If it rains, I will stay home. | Never use "will" in the if-clause. |
| If I would study, I would pass. | If I studied, I would pass. | Don't use "would" after "if." |
| If I had went, I would have seen you. | If I had gone, I would have seen you. | Use past participle. |
| If I study, I would pass. | If I studied, I would pass. | Don't mix tenses. |
| If I had studied, I will pass. | If I had studied, I would have passed. | Both verbs must refer to the past. |
| Situation | Example |
|---|---|
| General truth | If you mix red and blue, you get purple. |
| Real future | If it rains tomorrow, we'll stay in. |
| Imaginary now | If I had more time, I'd travel more. |
| Past regret | If I had woken up earlier, I wouldn't have been late. |
| Conditional | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Zero | Facts / routines | If you eat too much, you get sick. |
| First | Real future possibilities | If it rains, we'll stay home. |
| Second | Hypothetical present / future | If I were rich, I'd buy a beach house. |
| Third | Unreal past (regret) | If I had seen her, I'd have said hello. |