Mixing different types of conditional clauses into an if-clause

Question

Hi all. I am learning conditional clauses. Could you please help me to verfy whether the following sentences as well as my interpretations about them are correct?

1) If I knew him, I would have said hello. -- I did not know him at that time when we met, so I did not say hello to him, and I still do not know him now.

2) If I had known him, I would have said hello. -- I did not know him at that time when we met, so I did not say hello to him, but I know him now.

Situation: someone is claiming that I revealed my affection towards a girl five years ago, but I did not do it.
3) If I had said that, I would admit it. -- I did not do that. If I had said that, I would tell you now that I have done it as I do not have to lie for that.

4) If I had known that this lesson is talking about things that are out of syllabus, I would not be here now.

Actually, this is the first time for me to use conditional clauses by mixing different types together in one sentence. I learnt that there are three types as follows:

1. If I work hard, I will get a good grade. (possible and likely for the condition to be fulfilled and thus likely as well for the matter in the main clause to happen)

2. If I worked hard, I would get a good grade. (possible but unlikely for the condition to be fulfilled and thus unlikely as well for the matter in the main clause to happen)

3. If I had worked hard, I would have got a good grade. (impossible for the condition to be fulfilled because the opportunity has passed and thus the matter in the main clause cannot happen)

Yet my teacher did not teach us how to mix different types together in a sentence, so I am learning it on my own...

Is it only possible to mix the second type and third type together?

Please enlighten me. Thank you.

Everlastinghope · Accepted Answer

Endeavour1) If I knew him, I would have said hello. -- I did not know him at that time when we met, so I did not say hello to him, and I still do not know him now.correct

I don't know him,this is why I didn't say hello.

Endeavour2) If I had known him, I would have said hello. -- I did not know him at that time when we met, so I did not say hello to him, but I know him now.correct

I didn't know him;I didn't say hello.

EndeavourSituation: someone is claiming that I revealed my affection towards a girl five years ago, but I did not do it.3) If I had said that, I would admit it. -- I did not do that. If I had said that, I would tell you now that I have done it as I do not have to lie for that.correct

Endeavour4) If I had known that this lesson is talking about things that are out of syllabus, I would not be here now.

I didn't know that this lesson......;I am here now.

Endeavour1. If I work hard, I will get a good grade. (possible and likely for the condition to be fulfilled and thus likely as well for the matter in the main clause to happen)

Both actions are likely to happen.

Endeavour2. If I worked hard, I would get a good grade. (possible but unlikely for the condition to be fulfilled and thus unlikely as well for the matter in the main clause to happen)

Here,the second conditional is about "unreal" events,and" imaginary" present or future situations.

Endeavour3. If I had worked hard, I would have got a good grade. (impossible for the condition to be fulfilled because the opportunity has passed and thus the matter in the main clause cannot happen)

Indeed,third conditional is when we want to talk about things that didn't happen on the past and we imagine what would have happened if things had been different.

EndeavourIs it only possible to mix the second type and third type together?

Yes,there are : Second + third mixed conditionals and third .
Example: Second+third mixed conditionals:

If I knew her name,I would have told you.( I didn't and I still don't know her name;I didn't tell you).

Example: Third+second conditionals: present situation that isn't possible because the condition wasn't fulfilled or didn't occur.

If you had moved your chair a bit to the right,we would all sit down now. ( you didn't move your chair;we are all standing).

Endeavour · Answer

I have come to another question. If the situation is that I regret that I did not tell a girl that I loved her in the past (and I still love her at the presence), which of the following is correct?

1. If perhaps I had told her that I loved her, then she would be my girlfriend now.
2. If perhaps I had told her that I love her, then she would be my girlfriend now.

Or are they both correct but just with different emphases? For instance, the first example puts emphasis on the fact that I had affection towards that girl in the past regardless of whether the affection still exists the presence, and the second example emphasizes that I loved her in the past and still love her now.

Thanks a lot!

Everlastinghope · Answer

Well,I really hesitate about whether the correct sentence is the first or the second,but I'd rather opt for the second one because you still ahve affection towards her.Here is my argument:
1. If perhaps I had told her that I loved her, then she would be my girlfriend now.
I didn't tell her that I loved her;she isn't my girlfriend now.

2. If perhaps I had told her that I love her, then she would be my girlfriend now.
I didn't tell her that I love her; she isn't my girlfriend now.

But I still hesitate.
Hope someone will answer you.

Terryxpress · Answer

Let's go through your sentences carefully.
1) If I knew him, I would SAY hello. -- We are at a party. I don't know him, so I don't say hello to him.
2) If I had known him, I would have said hello. -- I did not know him at that time when we met, so I did not say hello to him. (It can be presumed, you still don't 'know' him. It would have to be stated that you have got to know each other since then.)

Situation: someone is claiming that I revealed my affection ~~towards~~ for a girl five years ago, but I did not do it.
3) If I had said that, I would admit it. -- I did not do that. If I had said that, I would tell you now that I ~~have done it~~ did. I have no reason/no need to lie about it. ~~as I do not have to lie for that a~~

4) If I had known that this lesson is ~~talking~~ about things that are ~~out of~~ not in the syllabus, I would not be here now.

I'll do some more later.

Mixing different types of conditional clauses into an if-clause

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions