Casa ESL · B2 Upper Intermediate · Unit 1 of 20 · Step 1
Mixed Conditionals
Name
Date
Vocabulary
globalisation
nounThe process by which businesses, cultures, and economies become integrated on a worldwide scale.
"Globalisation has transformed supply chains across every continent."
tariff
nounA tax imposed on imported goods to protect domestic industries.
"The government imposed a 25% tariff on steel imports."
outsource
verbTo obtain goods or services from an external supplier rather than producing them internally.
"Many tech companies outsource their customer support to other countries."
commodity
nounA raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold.
"Oil remains the world's most traded commodity."
bilateral
adjectiveInvolving or affecting two parties, especially two countries.
"The bilateral trade agreement benefited both economies."
disparity
nounA great difference or inequality between things.
"Income disparity between nations continues to widen."
subsidise
verbTo support financially, especially with government funds to keep prices low.
"Several governments subsidise agricultural exports to remain competitive."
liberalisation
nounThe removal or loosening of restrictions on trade, business, or economic activity.
"Trade liberalisation in the 1990s opened up emerging markets."
Grammar Focus
Mixed conditionals
Mixed conditionals combine elements of the second and third conditionals to express hypothetical situations where the time in the if-clause differs from the time in the main clause. Type 1 (past condition → present result): If + past perfect, would + infinitive — e.g. 'If I had studied economics, I would be an analyst now.' Type 2 (present condition → past result): If + past simple, would have + past participle — e.g. 'If she weren't so cautious, she would have invested earlier.'
If I had grown up in a bilingual household, I would speak two languages fluently now.
If they had signed the trade deal last year, the economy would be recovering now.
If he weren't so risk-averse, he would have started his own business years ago.
If we didn't depend on imports, the tariff increase wouldn't have affected us so badly.
Exercises
Exercise 1
Complete each mixed conditional sentence with the correct verb form.
1. If she (study) international trade, she (work) at the WTO now.
2. If they (not / be) so protectionist, they (sign) the agreement last year.
3. If I (invest) in that market earlier, I (be) wealthy today.
4. If the country (not / rely) on a single commodity, the crash (not / hit) them so hard.
5. If we (negotiate) better terms in 2019, our exports (be) more competitive now.
Exercise 2
Select the correct completion for each mixed conditional.
1. If I had taken that job abroad, I ___ in Singapore right now.
2. If she weren't so experienced, she ___ the contract last month.
3. If they had diversified their economy, they ___ so dependent on oil today.
Reading
The Two Faces of Globalisation
Globalisation has reshaped the modern world in ways that previous generations could scarcely have imagined. On one hand, the liberalisation of trade has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. Countries that embraced open markets — such as South Korea and Vietnam — experienced rapid industrialisation and rising living standards. On the other hand, the benefits have not been distributed equally. Workers in developed nations have seen manufacturing jobs outsourced to countries with lower labour costs, leading to economic anxiety and political backlash. Critics argue that globalisation primarily benefits multinational corporations at the expense of local communities. If policymakers had implemented stronger safety nets alongside trade liberalisation, the transition might have been less painful. The challenge now is to find a model that preserves the efficiencies of global trade while addressing the disparities it has created. Whether nations can strike that balance remains one of the defining questions of the twenty-first century.
1. According to the passage, which countries are cited as examples of successful trade liberalisation?
2. What does the author suggest policymakers should have done differently?
Speaking
Discuss these questions with a partner or your teacher.
Writing
Write 5–8 sentences about how globalisation has affected your country or region. Use at least two mixed conditional sentences to speculate about alternative outcomes.
Example: Globalisation has had a profound impact on my country's economy. If the government had invested more in education during the 1990s, we would be better positioned to compete in the global knowledge economy today. Many local industries have struggled to survive against cheaper imports. If we weren't so dependent on foreign technology, domestic innovation would have flourished more in the past decade. Nevertheless, globalisation has also created new opportunities in the service sector.
Answer Key — For Teacher Use
Exercise 1
1. had studied / would be working · 2. weren't / would have signed · 3. had invested / would be · 4. didn't rely / wouldn't have hit · 5. had negotiated / would be
Exercise 2
1. would be living · 2. wouldn't have won · 3. wouldn't be
Reading Comprehension
1. South Korea and Vietnam are cited as countries that experienced rapid industrialisation and rising living standards after embracing open markets. · 2. The author suggests that policymakers should have implemented stronger safety nets alongside trade liberalisation to make the transition less painful.