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Third and Mixed Conditionals

In this lesson, students practice using the third conditional (unreal past conditional) and mixed conditional (past condition, present result). Have students read the article from TIME magazine. Use the article to elicit the structures for forming the third conditional and mixed conditional (past condition, present result). Then have students do the practice activity and conversation questions.

 

Reading

Facebook Turns 10: What if it Had Never Been Invented?

On the afternoon of Wednesday, February 4, 2004, Harvard sophomore Mark Zuckerberg launched a website he called The Facebook. It was designed to help people share information about themselves with their friends — at first, just people who happened to attend Harvard University. The idea proved quite popular, and the rest is history.  (continue reading the article on TIME’s website)

 

3rd Conditional

Used to express hypothetical or alternative PAST situations and their probable results. Condition clause – past perfect
Result clause – would have, might have, could have (plus a past participle)
If I hadn’t studied business, I might have become a doctor.
Additional Examples:
If Don had been at the meeting, he wouldn’t have missed the announcement.
They might not have come to the party even if we had invited them.

Mixed Conditional

(Past Condition, Present Result)

Used to express hypothetical or alternative past situations and their probable effects on the present. Condition clause – past perfect
Result clause – would, might  (plus the base form of the verb)
If I had gotten a master’s degree, I might have a better job right  now.
Additional Examples:
If Karen hadn’t taken time off to raise her kids, she might be the general manager now.
(Karen took time off to raise her kids and she isn’t the general manager now.)
Carl wouldn’t be in trouble if he had listened to his friends’ advice.
(Carl is in trouble and he didn’t listen to his friends’ advice.)

For more information on conditionals, please see this conditionals guide.

 

Practice 1

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the third conditional or mixed conditional.

1. If I hadn’t taken my current job, _____________________________________________.

2. _______________________________________ if I had studied something else in college.

3. If my current boss hadn’t hired me, _________________________________________.

4. ____________________________________ if I had learned English when I was a child.

5. If I had been my high school’s valedictorian, ______________________________________.

6. If my family had moved to the United States when I was very young, __________________________________.

7. ___________________________________ if I had inherited a large sum of money five years ago.

 

Practice 2

Fill in the following charts. When you’re finished, tell a partner about the information in the charts. Be sure to use the third conditional and mixed conditional (past condition, present result).

The best decision I’ve ever made (in my professional life)
What was the decision? What would have happened if you had made a different decision instead?

 

How would your life be different now if you had made a different decision?
The worst decision I’ve ever made (in my professional life)
What was the decision? What would have happened if you had made a different decision instead?

 

How would your life be different now if you had made a different decision?
The best decision I’ve ever made (in my personal life)
What was the decision? What would have happened if you had made a different decision instead?

 

How would your life be different now if you had made a different decision?
The worst decision I’ve ever made (in my personal life)
What was the decision? What would have happened if you had made a different decision instead?

 

How would your life be different now if you had made a different decision?

 

Conversation Questions

Work with a partner. Discuss the following:

1. Tell your partner about a valuable skill that you possess. How would your life be different if you had never learned this skill?

2. Tell your partner about the last presidential election in your country. What might have happened if someone else had won the election?

3. Tell your partner about a major historical event from your country’s history. What would have happened if this event had never happened? How might your country be different now if this event had never happened?

4. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? How would your life be different if you had never received this advice?

5. Do you like to travel? Have you ever taken a trip that changed your life? Tell your partner about it.  How would your life be different if you hadn’t taken this life-changing trip?

6. Your own question: ______________________________________________________?

7. Your own question: ______________________________________________________?