8. 1 LANGUAGE BANK: past and mixed conditionals

If Leon had known about the problem, he would have helped. If you hadn't overslept, we wouldn't have been late.

hypothetical past conditional (third conditional) If Leon had known about the problem, he would have helped. If you hadn't overslept, we wouldn't have been late.

If I hadn't been sitting there, we wouldn't have met.

hypothetical past conditional (third conditional): If I hadn't been sitting there, we wouldn't have met.

Why didn't you tell me you wanted some grapes? I could have bought you some.

hypothetical past conditional (third conditional) Why didn't you tell me you wanted some grapes? I could have bought you some.

I'm surprised Paul didn't tell her what he thought. I would have said something.

hypothetical past conditional (third conditional) I'm surprised Paul didn't tell her what he thought. I would have said something.

Would you have done it? Yes, if I'd noticed in time.

hypothetical past conditional (third conditional) Would you have done it? Yes, if I'd noticed in time.

If she hadn't missed her plane, she'd be in Mexico now. If I'd been successful in the exam, I might have a better job now.

mixed conditional: If she hadn't missed her plane, she'd be in Mexico now. If I'd been successful in the exam, I might have a better job now.

You would have known about the meeting if you'd checked your emails. You wouldn't need a visa to work in Australia if you'd been born there.

It is possible to change the order of the clauses.

In the conditional clause use: the past perfect

to talk about the hypothetical past.

In the result clause use: modal+have+past participle

to talk about the past.

In the result clause use: modal+infinitive

to talk about the present.

If the builders had begun the job two weeks ago,

If the builders had begun the job two weeks ago, they might have finished it by now.

If Chun had started the race better,

If Chun had started the race better, she could have won the gold medal.

We wouldn't be lost,

We wouldn't be lost, if you hadn't given me the wrong directions.

If Marco hadn't ignored my advice,

If Marco hadn't ignored my advice, he wouldn't be in this mess now.

I would have noticed the hole in the ground

I would have noticed the hole in the ground if I hadn't been thinking about something else.

Beth didn't study. She didn't pass the exam.

If Beth had studied, she could have passed the exam.

You didn't invite me to the party. That's why I didn't come.

If you had invited me to the party, I would have come.

Ludmila lost all her money on the stock market. That's why she's not rich now.

If Ludmila hadn't lost all her money on the stock market, she would be rich now.

Greg wasn't travelling fast. That's probably why he didn't hit the motorcyclist.

If Greg hab been travelling fast, he might have hit the motorcyclist.

They stopped the fire. That's probably why it didn't destroy most of the building.

If they hadn't stopped the fire, it could have destroyed most of the building.

The plant died because you didn't water it.

The plant would not have died, if you had watered it.

Mei-li was able to afford a new car because she had just won some money.

Mei-li couldn't have afforded a new car, if she hadn't just won some money.

We were working together in Tokyo and now we're married.

If we hadn't been working in Tokyo, we wouldn't be married now.