English Language Learning - Class 27-2: Mixed Conditionals

“If I weren’t going to work today, I would go to the doctor.”

Sometimes unreal conditional sentences are mixed. Study the examples below to learn how to mix conditional verb forms.

Present Unreal Conditional	*Past Unreal Conditional*
1. If I were smarter, →	I *would have gotten* a job as an astronaut.
2. If she were a doctor, →	she **would have prescribed** you medicine.

Present Unreal Conditional	*Future Unreal Conditional*
1. If I spoke French, →	I *would move* to Paris.
2. If I could understand English, →	I *would move* to New York.

Future Unreal Conditional	*Past Unreal Conditional*
1. If I weren’t starting school in the fall, →	I *would have taken* that new job.
2. If we weren’t going to be parents in a couple of months, →	I *would have spent* all my extra money on luxury items.

Future Unreal Conditional	*Present Unreal Conditional*
1. If I weren’t working this Summer, →	I *would learn* how to play soccer.
2. If I were going to Brussels this fall, →	I *would be* excited.

Past Unreal Conditional	*Present Unreal Conditional*
1. If I had started math sooner, →	I *would be* an accountant.
2. If I had studied harder in school, →	I *would be* making more money.

Continued

Past Unreal Conditional	*Future Unreal Conditional*
1. If Tom had completed his homework, →	he *would be* going to the party.
2. If she had studied for the exam, →	she *would be* going to a better school this Fall.

Exercise 1: Underline the correct mixed conditional for each sentence.

1. If I (was / were / am) more athletic, I would be a marathon runner.

2. If I had (finish / finished / finishing) the book, I would be going to the book discussion tonight.

3. If I (aren’t / weren’t / am) running the marathon this Fall, I would have eaten more desserts at dinner.

4. If you were bilingual*, I would (send / sent / sended) you to the conference in New York City.

5. If I (was practiced / had practiced / am practiced) longer, I would be a lot better at playing my guitar.

6. If I weren’t leaving for Paris, I would have (buyed / bought / buy) that apartment.

7. If I weren’t driving to my parents’ house this weekend, I (would work / would worked / were work) on my project for school.

8. If I had (drink / drank / drunk) that spoiled milk, I would be very sick now.

9. If they weren’t talking so much, they (would have here / would have hear / would have heard) the directions.

10. If they had stopped at the stoplight, they would not be (ask / asked / asking) the police officer for forgiveness.

*The ability to speak two languages.

Advanced English