What is Mixed Conditional | Rules and Examples
In some cases, we need to use mixed conditionals including two conditions in same sentence for explaining the correct meaning. It refers to actions which may or may not happened in past according to the speaker. In this section, we are going to discuss about how mixed conditionals work in a sentence to confirm the exact meaning. With the using rules we will get a clear picture about using mixed conditionals by combining two conditions together. Students are advised to follow the correct structure for each sense to apply mixed conditionals. With each formation rules there are perfect examples given for better understanding of students.
Mixed conditional usually means using two conditional rules together which are second conditional and third conditional. These two conditionals take place in complex sentence for explaining the sense. The two types of mixed conditionals are:
Second conditional/ third conditional, third conditional/ second conditional.
Rules of Mixed Conditional
We will explain each type of mixed conditional one by one by explaining the correct occasion of using these rules. The rules are mentioned below:
i) Second conditional/ third conditional:
In this mixed conditional functions the general structure that is followed will be:
If clause+ simple past, main clause+ future perfect (would/ wouldn’t+ have+ verb 3rd form)
This second/third mixed conditional is used in a complex sentence to express an action which happened in past for some present conditions. In place of would any other modals can be used in main clause for referring degree of permission, certainty and recommendation as an outcome.
Ex.
If you were better in the speech, the audience would have praised more.
If you were present in the party, we would have informed you about that incident.
ii) Third conditional/ second conditional:
In this type of mixed conditional the general structure for all sentences will be like if clause+ past perfect tense, main clause+ would/would not+ verb bare form.
This third/second conditional is usually used in a sentence to express the fact that if something would different in the past then the present result for that would be different.
Ex.
If you had listened to me, you would be in better place now.
If she had checked the map, she would not be lost in the jungle.
Students must remember the different facts about each mixed conditional type to use them correctly in expressing views and opinions. Keeping the structure correct in each type of mixed conditional is required to formulate this correctly. Besides that sense of using mixed conditional should also be correct during its application in normal spoken and written texts which will make the way easier to understand mixed conditional at better level.
FAQs:
1.) What are the two types of mixed conditional?
Answer. The two types of mixed conditional that are commonly used in complex sentences are second/third conditional and third/ second conditional.
2.) What are the structures for all mixed conditionals?
Answer. The common structures to be followed in mixed conditionals of complex sentences are:
Second/third conditional: if clause+ simple past, main clause+ future perfect
Third/second conditional: if clause+ past perfect, main clause+ would/would not+ verb.