BBC LEARNING ENGLISH

Take an English class on mixed

conditionals with Tom

Language quiz
Now let’s practise what you learned in the lesson!

Complete the gaps to make a mixed conditional sentence.

Here’s an example to help you:

(Question) If I had been born in Spain, I __________ (be) Spanish!

(Answer) If I had been born in Spain, I would be Spanish!

Questions

1. If I __________ (eat) so much, I would not need to go on a diet!

2. If you had practised more regularly, you __________ (be able) to do it!

3. If he had passed the test, he__________ (need) to retake the course!

4. If it __________ (be) a sunny day, I would have bought us an ice cream this
morning.

5. If I earned more money, I __________ (buy) a better car.

6. If I __________ (charge) my phone, I would be able call you.

Well done! Now you can check your answers at the bottom of the next page.

Take an English Class ©British Broadcasting Corporation 2022

bbclearningenglish.com Page 1 of 2
Speaking practice
Now practise writing and speaking with a friend.

1.
Write four ‘if’ clauses which could begin a mixed conditional sentence. Do not
write complete sentences.

Example
If I earned more money…
If it had rained this morning…
If we had studied Spanish…

2. Change papers with your partner. Write result clauses to complete their
sentences.

Example
If I earned more money… / I could have gone on an expensive holiday last year!

3. When both partners have finished writing, read the completed sentences aloud.
Who has the most interesting sentences? Why?

4. Together, read through all eight sentences. Check the structure of the
sentences to make sure that they are in mixed conditional form.

5. Who has the least amount of errors in their work? Why?

Answers to exercise on page 1

1 If I hadn’t eaten so much, I would not need to go on a diet!
2 If you had practised more regularly, you would be able to do it!
3 If he had passed the test, he wouldn’t need to retake the course!
4 If it were a sunny day, I would have bought us an ice cream this morning.
5 If I earned more money, I would have bought a better car.
6 If I had charged my phone, I would be able call you.

Take an English Class ©British Broadcasting Corporation 2022

bbclearningenglish.com Page 2 of 2
 Mixed Conditionals
Write mixed conditional clauses to the given situations.

E.g. Tim overslept in the train. He isn’t with us now.

If Tim hadn’t overslept in the train, he’d be with us now.

1. Mary doesn’t know how to play badminton. We didn’t invite her to play with us.
.....................................................................................................................................
2. We don’t have access to company’s network. We couldn’t enter the data yesterday.
.....................................................................................................................................
3. I spent too much on holiday, I’m broke now.
.....................................................................................................................................
4. I have so much to do today. I couldn’t dare to spend the whole night at the party yesterday.
.....................................................................................................................................
5. I’m ready for my exam now after a two weeks’ study.
.....................................................................................................................................
6. The repairman didn’t repair my laptop yesterday so I can’t use it now.
.....................................................................................................................................
7. I think you should have bought the other dress.
.....................................................................................................................................
8. It’s really hot today so I refused Mike to go to the cinema.
.....................................................................................................................................
9. We cancelled our holiday and now we aren’t having fun in the beach.
.....................................................................................................................................
10. She can’t speak Russian fluently so the meeting didn’t take place.
.....................................................................................................................................

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 Mixed Conditionals
Questions 1-5
Supply the correct forms of the verbs in brackets to make one of the two (a or b) mixed conditionals.

a) If he __knew_ (know) the book was out if print, he __would not have tried___ (not try) to
find it in all the shops. (If + simple past & perfect conditional)
b) If my mother __had had____ (have) her blood pressure checked, she __would not be__
(not be) in hospital now. (If + past perfect & present [continuous] conditional)

1. If Tom __________________ (not sell) his car he _______________ (give) you a lift.
2. We ____________________ (not wait) for you if we _________________ (know) where to go.
3. I ____________________ (not walk) in the rain now if I ___________________ (take) the
umbrella.
4. If she ___________________ (stay) in China a few months longer, she ____________________
(speak) Chinese fluently.
5. If I _________________ (have) the money, I _______________________ (go) to Cuba.

Questions 6- 10
Underline the verb forms of these mixed conditionals and identify the type of mixed conditional.

I wouldn’t feel so cold if I had put on my coat. (b)

6. If he had gone into the green grocery business when he left school, he would be comfortably
off now. ( )
7. If Erica weren’t a reliable journalist, she wouldn’t have been promoted to desk editor. ( )
8. If they had hung that picture lower, people would be able to see it. ( )
9. If we had bought the tickets in advance, we would be at the movies now. ( )
10. If I didn’t have to finish the report, I would have gone to the party last night. ( )

www.grammarwiz.com
Questions 11- 15
Rewrite the sentences to make the mixed-type conditionals.

I don’t have a degree. That’s why I didn’t get the job.

If I had a degree, I would have got the job.

11. My sister didn’t book the seats. She is worried now.

_____________________________________________________________________

12. You stayed up late last night. That’s why you feel so tired now.

_____________________________________________________________________

13. Mary doesn’t speak German. That’s why she couldn’t translate the manuscript.

_____________________________________________________________________

14. I didn’t take the management course at college. That’s why I don’t have so many job
opportunities.

_____________________________________________________________________

15. You’re so gullible! How could you believe the lies he told you

_____________________________________________________________________

www.grammarwiz.com
 Answer Key

Questions 1-5
1. If Tom __hadn’t sold__ his car he __would give__ you a lift.
2. We _wouldn’t have waited_ for you if we __knew___ where to go.
3. I _wouldn’t be walking in the rain now if I __had taken_ the umbrella.
4. If she _had stayed_ in China a few months longer, she _would speak / would be able to speak_
Chinese fluently.
5. If I __had__ the money, I _would have gone_ to Cuba.

Questions 6- 10
6. If he had gone into the green grocery business when he left school, he would be comfortably off
now. (b)
7. If Erica weren’t a reliable journalist, she wouldn’t have been promoted to desk editor. (a)
8. If they had hung that picture lower, people would be able to see it. (b)
9. If we had bought the tickets in advance, we would be at the movies now. (b)
10. If I didn’t have to finish the report, I would have gone to the party last night. (a)

Questions 11- 15
11. If my sister had booked the seats earlier, she would not be worried now.
12. You wouldn’t feel so tired now if you hadn’t stayed up late last night.
13. If Mary spoke German, she would / could have translated the manuscript.
14. If I had taken the management course at college, I would have many job opportunities now.
15. If you weren’t so gullible, you wouldn’t believe the lies he told you.

www.grammarwiz.com
Mixed conditionals worksheet
Exercise 4. Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets. ___________

I didn't invite them for dinner. But I .............................................................. if I was a good

cook. (not hesitate)

If we had bought a good map, we ......................................... in the middle of nowhere now.

(not be)

If I wasn't afraid of flying, I ........................................................... you in California a long

time ago. (visit)

I'd have my driving licence if I ............................................ at the traffic lights. (stop)

If you had sold your business, you ........................................... life now. (can enjoy)

If I were you, I ................................................. the job after the pay drop. (quit)

I'd be a happy man if I ........................................ Marion when we were young. (marry)

If we didn't trust them, we ............................................................... them to stay with us last

summer. (not ask)

He'd study at university if he ....................................... the entrance exam. But he didn't. (pass)

Tina's French is quite weak. She would have helped you in Paris if her French .........................
better. (be)

www.e-grammar.org/if-clauses/
Answer key
Exercise 4

I didn't invite them for dinner. But I wouldn't have hesitated if I was a good cook.

If we had bought a good map, we wouldn't be in the middle of nowhere now.

If I wasn't afraid of flying, I would have visited you in California a long time ago.

I'd have my driving licence if I had stopped at the traffic lights.

If you had sold your business, you could enjoy life now.

If I were you, I would have quitted the job after the pay drop.

I'd be a happy man if I had married Marion when we were young.

If we didn't trust them, we wouldn't have asked them to stay with us last summer.

He'd study at university if he had passed the entrance exam. But he didn't.

Tina's French is quite weak. She would have helped you in Paris if her French was better.

www.e-grammar.org/if-clauses/