Grammar question no. 21 - mixed conditionals

Question

Hey again,I'm wondering how to use mixed cnditionals properly. I usually use the 3rd conditional when I want to refer to a past action or event. For example:If you hadn't gone to that party, you wouldn't have failed the exam on the next day.But... what about this sentence?If you didn't go to that party, you wouldn't fail the exam.orIf you didn't go to that party, you wouldn't have failed the exam.I'm confused.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Perfect StrangerIf you didn't go to that party, you wouldn't fail the exam.

No.

Perfect StrangerIf you didn't go to that party, you wouldn't have failed the exam.

No.

You might hear these combinations on the street, but don't use them on an English exam!

CalifJim · Answer

Perfect StrangerIf you didn't go to that party, you wouldn't fail the exam.

Grammatical, but not past. Unusual.

Perfect StrangerIf you didn't go to that party, you wouldn't have failed the exam.

Impossible. The first part looks toward a future possibility, but the rest of the sentence implies the past event of having failed the exam because of this future possibility!
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Many mixed conditionals have an if-clause about the past and a main clause about the present. These are often about some mistake or lost opportunity in the past that has led to an unfortunate situation in the present.

If I had studied Spanish seriously when I was in school, I wouldn't be having so many problems communicating in Mexico today.
If Larry had invested in Acme Pins and Needles in 1990, he would be rich now.
If only Margaret hadn't refused that treatment for her disease, she would be healthy and happy now.
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Mixed conditionals that reverse this order are about a condition in the present or future that leads to a situation in the past, so those are more difficult to construct.

If you had a million dollars (now), you would have spent it (in the past). ????? Meaningless.
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Many of this latter class are just misstated third conditionals.

If you went to Africa, you would have seen lions might be used incorrectly for If you had gone to Africa, you would have seen lions or possibly for If you went to Africa, you saw lions, the latter of which is neither a second nor a third conditional, but a backshift of the general statement If you go to Africa, you see lions.

CJ

Perfect Stranger · Answer

First of all thank you all (esp. CJ) for enlightening answers.

1. Now... what's the purpose of backshifting such a statement?

CalifJimIf you went to Africa, you would have seen lions might be used incorrectly for If you had gone to Africa, you would have seen lions or possibly for If you went to Africa, you saw lions, the latter of which is neither a second nor a third conditional, but a backshift of the general statement If you go to Africa, you see lions.

2. Would you please comment upon this sentence?

If I hadn't been so stubborn and (or had?) listened to my parents, I wouldn't have been having so many problems now.

I don't know if it's correct. I guess it's not.
Should I use had listened or just listened?
Should I change the second part of the sentence and use I wouldn't have so many problems now ?
Should I use a continuous tense instead? i.e. I woudn't be having so many problems now ?

CalifJim · Answer

Perfect Stranger1. Now... what's the purpose of backshifting such a statement?

It does seem a little strange without context, but there are some situations in which we state such thoughts in the past. In the following conversation about Jane, Jane has already been to Africa to see lions.

— Jane visited several countries in Africa last year.
— Did she see any lions?
— I don't know, but that was one of her reasons for going. She wanted to do a safari and see some lions.
— Well, in that case, I suppose if she went to Africa to see lions, she saw lions. She always does what she sets out to do.

Perfect StrangerIf I hadn't been so stubborn and (or had?) listened to my parents, I wouldn't have been having so many problems now.

If I hadn't been so stubborn and (had) listened to my parents, I wouldn't [be having / have] so many problems now.

had is optional; it will be assumed to be present by analogy with the previous hadn't been even if you don't say or write it.

Both be having and have are acceptable in the second part. be having suggests more strongly your current struggles with these problems.

I would use had listened and be having if it were my choice.

CJ

Grammar question no. 21 - mixed conditionals

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