Grammar-Quizzes › Connectors › Connective Prepositions › Conditional › Mixed Conditional Tenses
REAL SITUATION |
---|
When a cause-effect situation occurs in different time frames, it can be stated as a fact. past ⇒ present. |
You did not feed the dog, so the dog is hungry now. |
You fed the dog, so the dog isn't hungry now. (She is content.) |
The dog couldn't go outside, so the dog peed on the floor. |
The dog went outside, so the dog didn't pee on the floor. |
The dog didn't go outside, so the dog is peeing on the floor now. |
HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION |
---|
The same situation can be stated hypothetically with an implied meaning of regret or praise. |
If you had fed the dog, she wouldn't be hungry now. (regret) |
If you hadn't fed the dog, she would be hungry now. Thank you! (praise) |
If the dog had gone outside, she wouldn't have peed on the floor. (regret) |
If the dog hadn't gone outside, she would have peed on the floor. (praise) |
If the dog had gone outside, she wouldn't be peeing on the floor now. (regret) |
pee (informal) –urinate
EXISTING TRUTH |
---|
The present or past tense can be used when adding a clause that expresses something that is still true. (Keeping all tenses in the past time frame is more formal.) |
If I had known (that) your dog is aggressive, I wouldn't have offered to feed it. (noun clause – existing truth – The dog was aggressive then and still is now.) |
If we had gone to the cafe (that) is outdoors, we would have gotten wet in the rain. (modifying clause – existing truth – The cafe was and still is outdoors.) |
If I had known the size (that) you wear, I would have bought you a coat. (modifying clause – existing truth then and now) |
If I had known (that) your brother is / was so competitive, I wouldn't have offered to race him. (noun clause – existing truth then and now) |
PAST / EARLIER TRUTH |
---|
The past or past perfect is used when adding a clause with a statement that is in a temporary-past or earlier-past time frame. |
If I had known (that) your dog was ill, I would have offered to help it. (noun clause – past truth – The dog was ill at that time.) |
If we had gone to the concert (that) was outdoors, we would have gotten wet in the rain. (modifying clause – past truth – The concert was there, but is not now.) |
If I had known the size (that) you wore, I would have bought you a coat. (modifying clause – past truth – You used to wear that size, but do not now.) |
If I had known (that) your brother had been an Olympic runner, I wouldn't have offered to race him. (noun clause – earlier past truth – He was an Olympic runner.) |