Mixed conditionals - English In A Minute

Hi! I'm Georgina from BBC Learning English.

In today's lesson, we're looking at mixed conditionals.

We usually use mixed conditionals

to talk about a past imaginary situation

that has a present imaginary result.

For example:

If I had eaten breakfast, I wouldn't be hungry now.

The first phrase

uses the same structure as the third conditional

– if + past perfect.

This is because it is a past imaginary situation.

It's not true. I didn't eat breakfast.

The second phrase

uses the same structure as the second conditional

– would + infinitive (no to).

This is because it is a present imaginary result.

It's not true. I am hungry because I didn't eat breakfast.

Don't forget to put the comma in after the 'if' clause.

Bye for now!