Conditional 3 and Mixed

Look at this sample situation:

A conversation between two friends after a disappointing evening:

Anna: We had a terrible meal last night.

Ben: Why did you choose that restaurant?

Anna: Well, if you don’t like spicy food, you shouldn’t have agreed to go to a Mexican restaurant!

Ben: True. And if we had booked a table earlier, we would have found a better place.

Anna: Yeah, and if we had eaten somewhere else, we wouldn’t be so hungry now.

You can see from these examples that:

The third conditional talks about a past situation that didn’t happen and imagines a different past result:

but we didn't book earlier!

A mixed conditional combines a past condition with a present result:

but we didn't eat somewhere else so we are hungry now!

Another mixed conditional connects a present fact to a past action (usually expressing criticism):

means you don’t like spicy food so going to a Mexican restaurant was a bad idea.

Meaning

These forms describe imaginary situations or are used to criticise past decisions by linking different times:

Third Conditional expresses regret, criticism or relief about something that didn’t happen in the past.

but they didn’t leave earlier, so they missed it.

Mixed Conditional 1 (types 3 & 2) shows how a different past would change the present reality.

but I didn’t save money so I’m broke now.

Mixed Conditional 2 (types 2 & 3) describes how a present state influenced a past result.

but you aren’t tall so you couldn’t reach the shelf yesterday.

Mixed Conditional 3 (types 1 & 3) criticises a past decision based on a present fact.

means you don’t like horror films so watching one was a bad choice.

These mixtures allow you to connect different time frames and show cause/ effect across past and present.

Structure

Third Conditional

If + past perfect + would + have + past participle

Negative:

Question:

Mixed Conditional 1 (types 3 & 2)

If + past perfect + would + base verb (+ ing)

but she didn’t take it so she isn’t living there now.

Mixed Conditional 2 (types 2 & 3)

If + (unreal) past simple + would + have + past participle

but I’m not careful so I made a mistake in the past.

Mixed Conditional 3 (types 1 & 3)

If + present simple + shouldn’t / wouldn’t / couldn’t + have + past participle

is a current fact and a criticism of a past decision.

Possible variations in structure

Could/Might (instead of Would) + have to express possibility in the past in the result clause:

Inversion (formal/emphatic): If can sometimes be omitted and had comes before the subject (inversion):

is the same as If I had known...

Note: Inversion is not common in the FCE exam and it's more likely to appear in the CAE (C1) exam instead.

In the FCE exam

Reading and Use of English

You may have to use conditionals or mixed conditionals in part 4, key word transformations.

You don’t like crowded places. Going to the concert was a mistake.

HAVE 

If you don't like crowded places, you _____________________________ the concert.

Answer: should not have gone to

I wouldn't have succeeded but for my parents' encouragement and support.

HAD 

I wouldn't have succeeded if my parents _____________________________ me.

Answer: had not encouraged and supported

Writing

In a review, you might write:

In an essay, you could express alternative imaginary results like this:

Speaking

Conditionals are excellent for:

Speculating about alternatives (Part 3)

Expressing hypothetical opinions

Discussing consequences of social issues