Frequently the time in the "if clause" and the time in the "result clause" are different: One clause may be in the present and the other in the past. Notice that past and present time are mixed in the sentences in the following examples.
(a) True: I did not eat breakfast several hours ago, so I am hungry now.
(b) Conditional: If I had eaten (past) breakfast several hours ago, I would not be (present) hungry now.
(c) True: He is not a good student. He did not study for the test yesterday.
(d) Conditional: If he were (present) a good student, he would have studied (past) for the test.
Cheers!
Naeem
Source(s):
Understanding and Using English Grammar by Betty Schrampfer Azar
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