English grammar
Mixed conditional: if + past perfect → would + verb (now)
Say how the present would be different if the past had been different.
From the scene …you'd be living in Madrid now
In short
When a different past would change now, use if + had + participle, then would + verb: she'd be a Madrileña now.
Your turn
Which one goes with past condition → present activity: would be + -ing?
Options: if I hadn't left Galicia, I wouldn't be with Javi now · if I hadn't emigrated, I'd be living here now · if she'd stayed in Madrid, she'd be a Madrileña now
Show answer
past condition → present activity: would be + -ing → if I hadn't emigrated, I'd be living here now
How it works
When a different past would change the present, keep the if-part of the third conditional (if she'd stayed) but put the result in would + verb, as in the second conditional.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Hang on... If Grandma (blank) stayed in Madrid, I'd be a Madrileño now!
Options: would · had · has
Show answer
Hang on... If Grandma had stayed in Madrid, I'd be a Madrileño now!
Un momento... Si la abuela se hubiera quedado en Madrid, ¡ahora yo sería madrileño!
Good to know
She'd be, I wouldn't be, I'd be living. Words like now or today show that the result is about the present.
past condition → present state if she'd stayed in Madrid, she'd be a Madrileña now
Elena
She says if she'd stayed in Madrid, she'd be a Madrileña now, through and through.
Que si se hubiera quedado en Madrid, ahora sería madrileña de toda la vida.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
She says (blank), through and through.
Options: if she'd stayed in Madrid, she'd be a Madrileña now · if I hadn't emigrated, I'd be living here now · if I hadn't left Galicia, I wouldn't be with Javi now
Show answer
Elena
She says if she'd stayed in Madrid, she'd be a Madrileña now, through and through.
Que si se hubiera quedado en Madrid, ahora sería madrileña de toda la vida.
past condition → present activity: would be + -ing if I hadn't emigrated, I'd be living here now
Your turn
What goes with if I hadn't emigrated, I'd be living here now?
Options: past condition → present activity: would be + -ing · past condition → present state · negative result now
Show answer
if I hadn't emigrated, I'd be living here now → past condition → present activity: would be + -ing
negative result now if I hadn't left Galicia, I wouldn't be with Javi now
Nuria
Funny, isn't it... If I hadn't left Galicia, I wouldn't be with Javi now.
Qué cosas... Si yo no me hubiera ido de Galicia, ahora no estaría con Javi.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Funny, isn't it... (blank).
Options: If she'd stayed in Madrid, she'd be a Madrileña now · If I hadn't emigrated, I'd be living here now · If I hadn't left Galicia, I wouldn't be with Javi now
Show answer
Nuria
Funny, isn't it... If I hadn't left Galicia, I wouldn't be with Javi now.
Qué cosas... Si yo no me hubiera ido de Galicia, ahora no estaría con Javi.
past condition → you wouldn't exist if she'd stayed, you wouldn't exist now
Javi
If she'd stayed, she'd be eating churros with you now.
Si se hubiera quedado, ahora estaría comiendo churros con usted.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), she'd be eating churros with you now.
Options: If I hadn't emigrated · If she'd stayed · If she'd stayed in Madrid
Show answer
Javi
If she'd stayed, she'd be eating churros with you now.
Si se hubiera quedado, ahora estaría comiendo churros con usted.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| past condition → present state | if she'd stayed in Madrid, she'd be a Madrileña now |
|---|---|
| past condition → present activity: would be + -ing | if I hadn't emigrated, I'd be living here now |
| negative result now | if I hadn't left Galicia, I wouldn't be with Javi now |
| past condition → you wouldn't exist | if she'd stayed, you wouldn't exist now |
More lines from the story
- JaviHang on... If Grandma had stayed in Madrid, I'd be a Madrileño now!Un momento... Si la abuela se hubiera quedado en Madrid, ¡ahora yo sería madrileño!
- JaviAn hour shut away in that room. What did you talk about?Una hora encerradas en el cuarto. ¿De qué hablaron?
- ElenaAnd you'd have even more jobs.Y tendrías todavía más trabajos.