Students of English typically learn how to form zero, first, second and third conditionals. But in reality, English speakers sometimes mix the parts to form what we call ‘mixed conditionals’.

We do this when the two parts of the sentence refer to different times. For example, one part may refer to something that did (or didn’t) happen in the past, and one to something that is happening (or not happening) now.

Just to remind you, these are the ‘normal’ conditionals.

Zero conditional

• When ice gets warm, it melts.

First conditional

• If the sun shines, we’ll go to the beach.

Second conditional

• If I had more time, I’d learn to play the piano.

Third conditional

• If you had asked me, I would have helped you.

For more information on these ‘standard’ conditionals see the page: Conditionals: the basics.

Now, let’s look at some mixed conditionals.

The most common mixed conditional is third/second. The if part of the sentence uses the third conditional form and refers to something unreal in the past. The other part uses the second conditional form and refers to something unreal in the present:

• If you’d taken his advice, we wouldn’t be in this situation. (You didn’t take the advice, so we are in this situation.)
• We’d be living in Hong Kong now if Dad had got that job. (Dad didn’t get the job, so we’re not living in Hong Kong.)

The other important mixed conditional to know is second/third. The if part uses the second conditional form and refers to something unreal in the present. The other part uses the third conditional form and refers to something unreal in the past:

• If she was a calmer person, she would have been able to deal with the problem. (She isn’t calm, so she wasn’t able to deal with it.)
• I’d have eaten at the restaurant more often if it wasn’t so expensive. (It is expensive, so I didn’t eat there very often.)

For more general advice on learning grammar, see our post How to learn grammar for B1/PET and B2/FCE