Conditionals — 2nd, 3rd & Mixed

Article excerpt · target grammar marked

Those early marches were small, sometimes dangerous, and never guaranteed a second edition. If organisers had given up after the first difficult years, the global movement might never have reached the scale it has today.

Grammar Reference · Conditionals — 2nd, 3rd & Mixed

Second conditional

Imaginary present or future. If more cities invested in Pride, attendance would rise sharply. Use past simple + would + infinitive.

Third conditional

Unreal past situation. If activists had not marched in 1970, the movement would not have grown. Use past perfect + would have + past participle.

Mixed conditional

Past cause, present result. If they had built stronger networks earlier, Pride would be even bigger today.

Common error

If they would march... ✗ → If they marched... ✓ Never use would in the if-clause.

01Exercise 1 — Form · Write the Correct Form

Conditionals — 2nd, 3rd & Mixed

1.If the 2025 Dublin parade cancelled, many participants would have been devastated.

2.If governments to public pressure today, more protections would exist.

3.The movement so far if early organisers had stopped after 1972.

4.If corporate sponsors had stayed out, the parades on a much smaller scale.

5.If international visibility greater now, more countries would update their laws.

6.If activists had not fought back in 1970, Pride events exist in 150 cities today.

02Exercise 2 — Transform

rewrite with the new structure

1.The movement grew because activists refused to give up. (third conditional)

2.Corporate sponsors are involved, so the events have large budgets. (second conditional)

3.They fought back in 1970, so Pride exists in 150 cities today. (mixed conditional)

4.Laws criminalise public gatherings, so organisers face real risk. (second conditional)

5.São Paulo kept expanding the event, so it became the world's largest. (third conditional)

6.International pressure was weak, so the laws were not repealed. (third conditional)

7.The early organisers got support, so Dublin has hosted Pride since 1983. (third conditional)

8.The debate continues because people disagree on what Pride means. (second conditional)

03Exercise 3 — About You

in your notebook

Personalise: complete five sentences about yourself using the target grammar.

Conditionals — 2nd, 3rd & Mixed01classplan.ai