When the two halves are not in the same time
In a plain conditional both halves sit in the same time frame: entirely in the present or entirely in the past. Real conversation often differs: I turned the offer down back then – that is why I don't live in Lyon today. The condition lies in the past, the result in the present. That is the hypothèse mixte. No new forms are needed, and English builds it the same way.
Direction 1 - past condition, present result
This is the more common direction. Something happened or did not happen back then, and that is why the present is different today. The si-clause is in the plus-que-parfait, the main clause in the conditionnel présent. A time word such as aujourd'hui, maintenant or encore often makes this visible, but it is not required.
Si j'avais accepté ce poste, je vivrais à Lyon aujourd'hui.
If I had taken that job, I would be living in Lyon today.
Si tu n'avais pas oublié les clés, on serait déjà à l'intérieur.
If you hadn't forgotten the keys, we would already be inside.
Si j'avais appris le chinois enfant, je le parlerais couramment.
If I had learned Chinese as a child, I would speak it fluently.
Direction 2 - present state, past result
The other direction is rarer. A state that holds today (and held back then too) would have changed something back then. The si-clause is in the imparfait, the main clause in the conditionnel passé. The si-clause typically contains a state rather than a single action: si j'étais plus patient, si j'avais une voiture, si je savais nager.
Si j'étais plus patient, je n'aurais pas répondu comme ça hier.
If I were more patient, I wouldn't have answered like that yesterday.
Si elle parlait allemand, elle aurait obtenu le poste.
If she spoke German, she would have got the job.
Si j'avais une voiture, je serais venu te chercher.
If I had a car, I would have come to pick you up.
All four combinations
si-clause and main clause at a glance
| Type | si-clause | Main clause | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 2 – all present | imparfait | conditionnel présent | Si j'avais le temps, je viendrais. |
| mixed – then → now | plus-que-parfait | conditionnel présent | Si j'avais accepté, je vivrais à Lyon. |
| mixed – now → then | imparfait | conditionnel passé | Si j'avais une voiture, je serais venu. |
| Type 3 – all past | plus-que-parfait | conditionnel passé | Si j'avais accepté, j'aurais déménagé. |
Each half picks its own time frame.
Conditions without si
A whole si-clause can often be replaced by a noun or a single word. sans + noun stands for a negative si-clause (Sans toi, je n'y serais jamais arrivé = Si tu ne m'avais pas aidé …), avec + noun for a positive one, sinon for otherwise. The time frame shows only in the main clause.
Sans ton aide, je n'aurais jamais fini à temps.
Without your help, I would never have finished in time.
Avec un peu plus de chance, nous aurions gagné.
With a bit more luck, we would have won.
Heureusement qu'il m'a prévenu, sinon je serais venu pour rien.
Luckily he warned me, otherwise I would have come for nothing.
