
In the second sentence, it's important to understand that past verb forms do not always mean past time. If we say "If it didn't rain", that would refer to a permanent state of not raining, i.e., we imagine what would happen if there was no rain at any time, and it does not say anything about whether it is raining at the moment of speaking or not. So, we need the continuous form ("If it wasn't raining") to show that. In the first sentence, it is (presumably) raining at the moment the speaker says this sentence, and we understand rain as something temporary (i.e., not something that will last forever, or something that is always true). We need to know the context in which this sentence is said to know whether 'there' or 'it' is more suitable. 'There seems to be' is a common phrase to introduce the existence or presence of something. 'It' is a reference word, so it needs to refer to another thing mentioned in the conversation (e.g., a problem that the speaker described). In answer to your second question, both are grammatically possible.

Here, 'unreal' means these situations are improbable or impossible. 'Real' doesn't mean that the situation has already occurred, or is occurring.) If I say, for example, "When I finish work, I'll call you", I'm saying that I will do this with a high degree of certainty (i.e., a real future).Ī second conditional expresses an unreal present or future situation, and a third condition expresses an unreal past situation. (Here, 'real' means that the situation has a reasonable chance of occurring in the future, in the speaker's opinion. This is also a real situation - a real future. A first conditional expresses a realistic or probable future situation.

> If I knew it would be two hours in line, I would have stayed home.Īre these example ungrammatical and uncommon in English and they are only used in conversation (informal contexts)?Ī zero conditional expresses a general truth (real situation). > I would not have let him go if I knew it would be so dangerous. Some more examples I've found from the news: I suppose they'd known about the fact by the time they made the statement, and of course by now. While I think it should be "If we had known it'd be his last.". > If we knew it'd be (would be) his last (match), we'd have celebrated it more. The question is, why did they use a mixed sentences (if - type 2, main - type 3) here? The article was talking about Sergio Aguero's retirement from football because of his heart condition, to give you some context. "His 426th and last ever goal came in his first El Classico, classic Kun always stepping up in the biggest games, if we knew it'd be his last we'd have celebrated it more".

I saw an example of the mixed conditional clauses in an article: If it wasn't, I wouldn't have called you on your holiday.Īnd the structure is: If + past simple > would have + past participle.ĭo this exercise to test your grammar again. Here's a sentence imagining how a different situation in the present would mean that the past was different as well. So the structure is: If + past perfect > would + infinitive. If I hadn't got the job in Tokyo, I wouldn't be with my current partner. Here's a sentence imagining how a change in a past situation would have a result in the present. We can use mixed conditionals when we imagine a past change with a result in the present or a present change with a result in the past. In third conditional sentences, the structure is usually: If + past perfect > would have + past participle. We wouldn't have got lost if my phone hadn't run out of battery. If I had understood the instructions properly, I would have passed the exam. We imagine a change in a past situation and the different result of that change. The third conditional is used to imagine a different past. I would have gone to the party if I hadn't been ill.Ĭonditional sentences are often divided into different types.

If I hadn't been ill, I would have gone to the party. The order of the clauses does not change the meaning. The if clause tells you the condition ( If I hadn't been ill) and the main clause tells you the result ( I would have gone to the party).
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Grammar explanationĭo you know how to use third and mixed conditionals? Third conditionals and mixed conditionalsĬonditionals describe the result of a certain condition. If she was really my friend, she wouldn't have lied to me. If we'd moved to Scotland when I was a child, I would have a Scottish accent now. We would have walked to the top of the mountain if the weather hadn't been so bad.
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* Font Awesome 4.3.0 by - License - (Font: SIL OFL 1.Look at these examples to see how third and mixed conditionals are used.
