Grammar · C1
Mixed conditionals
A mixed conditional puts the condition in one time and the result in another. If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now takes a past condition and a present result. If she were more organised, she would have finished on time takes a present condition and a past result. The two halves simply keep their own tenses.
The textbook third conditional keeps both halves in the past: if I had left earlier, I would have caught the train. Real English very often mixes the times instead, because causes and consequences do not respect tense boundaries.
Past condition, present result: if I had taken that job, I would be living in Berlin now. The if-clause uses the past perfect and the main clause uses would plus the bare infinitive.
Present condition, past result: if he were not so proud, he would have asked for help. The if-clause uses the past simple or were, and the main clause uses would have plus the past participle.
The test is simple. Ask when the condition belongs, then ask when the result belongs, and give each half the form its own time requires.
Now use it
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Item 1 of 11
If I harder at school, I would have a much better job now.