Second, Third and Mixed Conditionals — English Grammar Exercises
If I were you, if I'd known, if I hadn't missed the bus I'd be at work now, I wish I were — unreal present and past.
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One step back = one step away from reality
To talk about something unreal, move the verb one step back: present → past simple, past → past perfect.
| structure | example |
|---|---|
| second: if + past, would + verb | If I had a car, I'd drive you. |
| third: if + had done, would have done | If we'd left earlier, we'd have caught the train. |
| mixed: past → now | If I hadn't missed the bus, I'd be at work now. |
| mixed: now → past | If I weren't so shy, I'd have spoken to her. |
would never goes in the if half: ❌ If I would have known → ✅ If I had known.
Mixed conditionals
Ask two questions: when is the condition? and when is the result? Words like now, still, by now point to a present result: If she'd taken the job, she would be living in France now.
Compare: If I'd slept better, I wouldn't have been tired at the meeting (past) — …I wouldn't be so tired now (now).
I wish / If only
- About now → past simple: I wish I were taller.
- Regret about the past → past perfect: If only I'd listened!
- Someone's annoying behaviour → would: I wish you would stop interrupting.
❌ I wish I would be taller. → ✅ I wish I were taller. Use wish + would for other people, not yourself.
It's time
It's time + subject + past simple = it should happen now: It's time the kids went to bed. Without a subject: It's time to go.
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I don't have a car, but if I ___ one, I'd drive you to the station.
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had
I don't have a car — this is an unreal present situation → second conditional: 'if' + past simple ('had'). 'Would' never goes in the 'if' part.
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We left home late yesterday. If we ___ earlier, we would have caught the train.
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had left
Yesterday is finished and we can't change it → third conditional: 'if' + past perfect ('had left'). 'Would have' belongs only in the other half of the sentence.
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I wish I ___ taller — I can never reach the top shelf in the kitchen.
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were
A wish about the present → 'wish' + past form: 'I wish I were taller' (I'm not tall now). After 'wish' the verb moves one step back, so 'am' is wrong.
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If I won the lottery, I ___ a house by the sea.
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would buy
Winning the lottery is very unlikely → second conditional: 'if' + past simple ('won'), 'would' + verb ('would buy'). 'Will' is for real, likely situations.
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I didn't know it was your birthday. If I'd known, I ___ you a present.
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would have bought
The birthday is in the past and I didn't buy anything → third conditional result: 'would have' + past participle ('would have bought').
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I feel awful. I wish I ___ that second dessert last night.
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hadn't had
A regret about the past ('last night') → 'wish' + past perfect: 'I wish I hadn't had'. 'Didn't have' would be a wish about the present.
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If I ___ you, I'd apologise to her as soon as possible.
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were
'If I were you' is how we give advice — I'm not you, so it's unreal → past form 'were'. You'll also hear 'if I was you' in conversation.
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It's ten o'clock already — it's time the kids ___ to bed.
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went
'It's time' + subject + past simple ('went') talks about now: they should be in bed, but they aren't yet. The past form doesn't mean the past here.
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If I hadn't missed the bus this morning, I ___ at work now.
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would be
The condition is in the past (this morning), but the result is about 'now' → mixed conditional: 'would' + verb ('would be'). 'Would have been' would put the result in the past too.
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Luckily you reminded me. If you hadn't, I ___ to call my mum on her birthday.
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would have forgotten
You did remind me, so I called her — the result is an imagined past → 'would have forgotten'. 'Had forgotten' is the form for the 'if' part, not the result.
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If my job ___ so stressful, I wouldn't need a holiday every two months.
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weren't
My job IS stressful, so imagining it isn't is unreal → second conditional: 'if' + past form ('weren't'). Present 'isn't' would make it a real possibility.
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My neighbour plays loud music every night. I wish he ___ it down.
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would turn
You're annoyed by someone else's behaviour and want him to change it → 'wish' + 'would' ('would turn'). 'Had turned' would be a regret about one moment in the past.
Conditionals at B2: Talking About What Isn't True
At B1 conditionals are about real possibilities: If it rains tomorrow, we won't go. At B2 the focus moves to situations that are not true — an imagined present, a past that can no longer change, and the wishes and regrets that go with them. All of these structures follow one rule: to make something unreal, move the verb one step back in time. The present becomes past simple (If I had a car, I wish I were taller), and the past becomes past perfect (If I'd known, I wish I hadn't said that). Once that rule is clear, the second conditional, the third conditional, mixed conditionals, I wish, if only and it's time stop being six separate patterns and become one. The typical B2 error is not choosing the wrong conditional but breaking the rule inside it: putting would into the if clause, or using a past form for a result that is about now.
Second and Third Conditional
The second conditional is if + past simple, would + verb, for an unreal present or unlikely future: If I won the lottery, I'd buy a house by the sea. The third conditional is if + past perfect, would have + past participle, for a past that went differently: If we'd left earlier, we would have caught the train. Could and might replace would when the meaning is ability or possibility. Context, not grammar, decides between them: If I knew how to fix it, I'd do it (I don't know now) and If I'd known you were vegetarian, I wouldn't have cooked chicken (the dinner is over).
Mixed Conditionals
When the condition and the result belong to different times, each half keeps its own form. A past condition with a present result: If our flight hadn't been cancelled, we'd be in Rome now. A permanent condition with a past result: If Ella weren't so shy, she would have spoken to him last Saturday. Time markers such as now, still and by now are the signal that the result is present.
I Wish, If Only and It's Time
I wish and if only take the past simple for the present (I wish I knew), the past perfect for regrets (If only I'd listened) and would for someone else's annoying behaviour (I wish you would stop). It's time + subject + past simple means something should happen now: It's time you looked for a new job.
Common Mistakes with B2 Conditionals
- ✗ If I would have more time, I'd learn Spanish. → ✓ If I had more time, I'd learn Spanish.
- ✗ If I would have known, I'd have come. → ✓ If I had known, I'd have come.
- ✗ If I hadn't missed the bus, I would have been at work now. → ✓ If I hadn't missed the bus, I would be at work now.
- ✗ I wish I didn't say that yesterday. → ✓ I wish I hadn't said that yesterday.
- ✗ I wish I would be taller. → ✓ I wish I were taller.
- ✗ It's time we to leave. → ✓ It's time we left.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the second and the third conditional?
Time. The second conditional imagines an unreal present or unlikely future: 'If I had a car, I'd drive you' (I don't have one). The third conditional imagines a different past: 'If I had had a car, I would have driven you' (I didn't, and it's too late). Second: if + past simple, would + verb. Third: if + past perfect, would have + past participle.
What is a mixed conditional?
A sentence where the condition and the result are at different times. Past condition, present result: 'If I hadn't missed the bus, I'd be at work now.' Present condition, past result: 'If I weren't so shy, I'd have spoken to her.' Decide the time of each half separately and use its own form.
Is it 'if I were' or 'if I was'?
Both are used. 'If I were' is the standard form in writing and in the fixed phrase 'If I were you'. 'If I was' is common in everyday conversation. In unreal conditionals and after 'wish', 'were' is the safer choice: 'I wish I were taller.'
What is the difference between 'I wish I had' and 'I wish I would'?
'I wish I had more time' is about the present — I don't have it. 'I wish I had told her' (past perfect) is a regret about the past. 'Wish + would' complains about someone else's behaviour: 'I wish you would stop.' It isn't used about yourself: say 'I wish I were braver', not 'I wish I would be braver'.
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