Mixed Conditionals

Mixed conditionals are those unreal conditional sentences whose time in the if-clause is different than the time in the main-clause. Let's first have a look at unreal conditional sentences:

• If she were shorter, she would be more attractive.
• I am busy next week. If I had time, I would come to your party.
• If they hadn't trained hard, they wouldn't have won.

As you can see, they refer to the same time: the present, the future or the past. If we mix the sentences, we get mixed conditionals.

Past and Present

• If my father hadn't lost his keys, we wouldn't have to wait until he finds them.
  But my father lost his keys and therefore we have to wait until he finds them.
• If I had installed an antivirus, my computer would be so slow now.
  But I didn't install an antivirus and therefore my computer is so slow now.
• If our house had been broken into, we would be very sad.
  But our house wasn't broken into and we aren't sad.

Past and Future

• If our house had been broken into, we would call police.
  But our house wasn't broken into and we are not going to call police.
  
• If we had won the lottery last week, we would buy a new sofa today.
  But we didn't win the lottery and we are not going to buy a new sofa today.

Present and Past

• If I were smarter, I would have graduated from Stanford.
  But I am not smarter and therefore I didn't graduate from Stanford.
• If Mary weren't a snob, she wouldn't have had so many parties this year.
  But Mary is a snob and therefore she had so many parties this year.

Present and Future

• If you were more eloquent, you would become a politician.
  But I am not more eloquent and I won't become a politician.
• If you had more time, I would go to the cinema with you.
  But you don't have more time and I won't go to the cinema with you.

 Soon the rest of mixed conditionals.