Mixed Tense Unreal Conditionals

By: Sean Savoie

For the last couple of weeks in the New York Community Times, we have been studying the real and unreal verb tenses. Most students were experiencing some confusion about the unreal conditionals, but they understand them much better now. In order to conclude our study of the unreal conditionals, I would like to present you with various verb tenses and sentences with which you can form unreal conditional sentences.

John had a serious ear infection, and so he went to see the doctor.

If John had not had a serious ear infection, he would not have gone to see the doctor.

Another way to express cause-and-effect is by using an adjective clause that modifies the entire main idea of the preceding sentence. Observe the sentence below:

Jill and her friends were late to the party, which made everybody angry.

In this sentence above, the expression "which made everybody angry" does not modify the word "party", but rather modifies Jill and her friends’ being late to the party. In other words, because Jill and her friends were late to the party, everybody was angry. Take a look at similar cause-and-effect sentences below and notice how a conditional sentence can follow that sentence as a way to practice conditionals.

My phone number is not in the white pages, which makes it difficult for people to find me.

If my phone number were in the white pages, it would be easier for people to find me.

He has a lot of extra body fat, which is why he does not feel so cold in the winter.

If he did not have a lot of extra body fat, he would feel colder in the winter.

She did not know which apartment you were in, which is why she went home without seeing you.

If she had known which apartment you were in, she would not have gone home without seeing you.

He did not get a high school diploma, which is making it difficult for him to find a job now.

If he had gotten a high school diploma, it would be easier for him to find a job now.

I took the wrong bus going into Manhattan, which made me late for my appointment.

If I had taken the right bus into Manhattan, I would have made my appointment on time.

Of course there are other ways of expressing cause-and-effect; one of the most common ways is simply using the word "because". Notice the mixed verb tenses in the sentences below:

Because we were not wearing black clothing and shoes, they did not let us into the nightclub.

If we had been wearing black clothing and shoes, they would have let us into the nightclub.

Because I did not have anything to eat, I am very hungry right now.

If I had had something to eat, I would not be very hungry right now.

Because the baseball team expected to win easily, they are losing right now in the seventh inning.

If the baseball team had not expected to win easily, they might not be losing right now in the seventh inning.

Because he never learned how to swim, he will not go to the pool party tomorrow.

If he had learned how to swim, he would probably go to the pool party tomorrow.

Because most families in America have at least one gun at home, the rate of home robberies is relatively low.

If most families in America did not have at least one gun at home, the rate of home robberies would be higher.

In summary, the second sentence in each pair of sentences above is all that is needed. Expressing an idea in the unreal conditional allows a speaker or writer to say very much. For example, if I say "If I had more money, I would buy a car." This sentence tells you that I do not have a lot of money, I probably do not have a car, I want to buy a car, and other feelings about my desire. This is why the unreal conditional is very useful and efficient in English. It is very important, however, to be very clear when using verb tenses; otherwise, the listener can become very confused.