Mixed Conditional - Who Need Reality

This lecture looks at mixed conditionals.

We look at when to use them.

The format of them may give some examples we use the mix conditionals and one of two ways for either past unreal conditions and their effects in the present or for unreal present conditions and their effects in the past and in both cases the past and present situation are the opposite of what really happened to the two main formats.

If plus past perfect then present conditional or if this had happened this would happen or if plus simple past then perfect conditional if this happened.

This would have happened and as with all conditionals the order is not fixed so you can switch the F and the main clause around but please pay attention to pronouns and punctuation so some examples of the first type the unreal past and its effects in the present if I had learned to ski I could be on the slopes now for the meaning here is I didn’t learn to ski so I can’t be on the slopes now.

Second example if I had won the lottery I would be rich.

This means that I didn’t win the lottery so I’m not rich the last of these examples.

If I had learned a foreign language I would have better job prospects.

Well this means that I didn’t learn a foreign language and that’s why my job prospects are not very good.

And the second type is for the the unreal present and its effects in the past if I spoke German.

I could have translated that letter for you while the meaning here is I don’t speak German and that’s why I couldn’t translate the letter for you second example if I wasn’t busy I’d be happy to help unfortunately I am busy so I can’t help you.

Sorry the last example.

If I could speak a foreign language I would have had better job prospects but the meaning here is what I see.

I can’t speak a foreign language and that’s why my job prospects weren’t very good.

And that concludes this lecture on mixed conditionals.