Mixed Conditionals and Hypotheticals

Passage: A Crossroads in Life

David had always been a planner. If there was one thing he believed in, it was the importance of making careful decisions. For as long as he could remember, he had a vision of the life he wanted to live. Growing up, his family often told him, “If you study hard, you’ll achieve great things,” and David took that to heart. If he made a plan, he knew it would lead him closer to his goals.

After finishing high school, David faced a difficult choice. He had been accepted to a prestigious university in another country, but attending meant leaving his family and friends behind. On the other hand, he had a chance to stay home, where he could help with the family business. David thought carefully, but he was unsure. If he chose to stay, he would be able to support his family, which was important to him. However, if he went abroad, he knew he would gain experiences he couldn’t have at home.

Ultimately, he decided to stay and help his family. If he had gone abroad, he might have gained a different set of skills, and he occasionally wondered how his life would have turned out if he had taken that path. Still, he was proud of his choice and believed it was the right one at the time.

Years later, he was offered a chance to manage the family business. David thought, If I work hard now, the business will grow and thrive. And it did—under his leadership, the business became successful. But even with his achievements, he sometimes found himself thinking, If I were living abroad, my life would be so different.

Reflecting on the journey, David realized that every decision had its consequences. If I hadn’t stayed, I wouldn’t have been here for my family when they needed me. He acknowledged that he could only speculate about how his life would have been if he had taken different paths. But he also knew one thing for certain: If you make the best of each choice, life will reward you in its own way.

Sample Questions for Practice

1. Zero Conditional:
   • What belief does David hold that reflects a zero conditional statement in his life?
     • Answer: David believes, “If you study hard, you’ll achieve great things,” which reflects a zero conditional, showing his belief in studying leading to success as a general truth.
2. First Conditional:
   • What was David’s plan for the family business after he took over?
     • Answer: David thought, “If I work hard now, the business will grow and thrive,” showing a first conditional about a realistic future outcome based on his hard work.
3. Second Conditional:
   • What did David sometimes wonder about his life?
     • Answer: David occasionally thought, “If I were living abroad, my life would be so different,” which reflects a second conditional, imagining an alternative present reality.
4. Third Conditional:
   • How does David feel about his decision to stay and help his family?
     • Answer: David sometimes thought, “If I had gone abroad, I might have gained a different set of skills,” which reflects a third conditional, imagining an alternative past and its effects on his skill set.
5. Mixed Conditional:
   • How does David feel about his role in the family during difficult times?
     • Answer: David reflected, “If I hadn’t stayed, I wouldn’t have been here for my family when they needed me,” which is a mixed conditional, as it links his choice in the past with his presence during challenging times.