CONDITIONALS

Type Use If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

ZERO  general truth Present simple Present simple

Conditional  scientific facts
If you heat ice, it melts.

Future
FIRST Imperative
conditional  real present Can/ may/might/must/should/ could + short
infinitive

I will go shopping.

SECOND  unreal present Past simple Present Conditional

conditional  advice (I I were you,….) Past continuous (sb+ would/ could/ might + vb)

If I won the lottery, I would buy a new house.

THIRD  unreal past Past perfect simple Past Conditional

conditional  regrets, criticism Past perfect continuous (sb + would/could/ might have+ vb III)

If I had known the truth, I would have helped you.

Conditionals are clauses introduced with if. The main types of conditionals are: Type 0, Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3.
Conditional clauses consist of two parts: the if-clause (hypothesis) and the main clause (result). When the if-clause comes before the main clause, the
two clauses are separated with a comma. When the main clause comes before the if-clause, then no comma is necessary.

Note: Type 1 and Type 2 Conditionals refer to the present or the future. The use of Type 2 Conditionals suggests that the situation is less
probable, impossible or imaginary. Compare the example:
e.g. a) If I meet Angelina Jolie, I’ll take her an interview. (comment made by a reporter who is going to Hollywood).
b) If I met Angelina Jolie, I would ask for her autograph. (comment made by a teenage fan).

 We use if to show that something might happen. We use when to show that something will definitely happen.
e.g. a) If I have time, I’ll help you with your project. (I might have time.)
b) When I have time, I’ll help you with your project. (It is certain that I will have time.)

 We can form conditionals by using words/ expressions such as:

 unless + affirmative verb (Type 1)  otherwise (=if not)
 providing/ provided that  but for (Type 3)
 so/as long as  and
 on condition (that)  or (else)
 suppose/ supposing  even if
 what if  in case of/ in the event of, etc.

 We do not normally use will, would or should in an –if clause. However, we can use will or would after if to make a polite request or
express insistence or uncertainty (usually with expressions such as I wonder, I don’t know, I doubt, etc.) In this case, if means whether.
We can also use should after if to talk about something which is possible, but not very likely to happen.
e.g a) If you will lend me some money, I will be able to pay my bills. (Will you please lend… -polite request)
b) If you will keep speaking so loud, I’ll turn the TV off. (If you insist on speaking … -insistence)
c) I wonder if she’ll visit me next week. (I wonder whether … -uncertainty)
d) If Steve should call, invite him to the party. (I don’t really expect Steve to call)
 We can use were instead of was for all persons in the if-clause of Type 2 conditionals.
e.g. If Adrian was/ were younger, he could be a tennis player.
 We use I f I were you,…. when we want to give advice.
e.g. If I were you, I would go to the dentist.
 We can omit if and use inversion in Type 1, 2 and 3 Conditionals. This structure is more common in formal English.
e.g. Should you see him, tell him about the party. (Type 1)
Were she more respectful, she would have more friends. (Type 2)
Had they won the big prize, they would have travelled abroad. (Type 3)
WISHES

 We use the verb wish and the expression if only to express a wish. If only is more emphatic than I wish.

wish/ if only + past simple/ past continuous

This structure is used when we want to say that we would like something to be different in the present. (regret about a present situation)
e.g. I wish/ If only I had more free time.

wish/ if only +past perfect

This structure is used to express regret that something happened or did not happen in the past. (regret about a past situation)
e.g. I wish/ If only I had won the lottery.

wish/ if only + would

This structure is used: a) for a polite imperative
e.g. I wish/ If only you would help me with my homework.

b) to express our desire for a change in a situation or someone’s behaviour

e.g. I wish/ If only he wouldn’t talk so much.

 After the subject pronouns I and we, we use could instead of would.
e.g. I wish I could spend more time with my family.

Note: We can use were instead of was after wish or if only.

e.g. I wish he were/ was more polite.
HAD BETTER/ WOULD RATHER

 had better + bare infinitive (= should/ ought)

This structure is used to give advice or to say what the best thing to do in a particular situation is.
e.g. You had/ ‘d better travel by plane. It is faster.
I’d better not tell another lie.

Had better is more emphatic than should/ ought to, but it is not as emphatic as must.
e.g. You must go to the police. (strong advice)
You had better go to the police. (less emphatic than must)
You should/ ought to go to the police. (less emphatic than had better)

 would rather (=would prefer to) expresses preference.

 When the subject of would rather is also the subject of the following verb, we use the following constructions:
a) would rather + present bare infinitive (present/future)
e.g. I’d rather do my homework in the evening.
b) would rather + perfect bare infinitive (past)
e.g. I’d rather not have overslept yesterday morning.
c) would rather + bare infinitive + than (+ bare infinitive)
e.g. I’d rather go to the cinema than (go) to the theatre.

 When the subject of would rather is different from the subject of the following verb, we use the following constructions:
First, Second,
& Third Conditional

This analysis of conditional verb forms was written by Rob De Decker, who teaches English at a Flemish grammar school (equivalent to an
American high school) in Schellebelle, Belgium. It is used here with his permission.
Conditional Clause and Main Clause
If I have enough money, I will go to Japan.
conditional clause         main clause
I will go to Japan, if I have enough money
main clause         conditional clause
First, Second, and Third Conditional
1. First conditional: If I have enough money, I will go to Japan.
2. Second conditional: If I had enough money, I would go to Japan.
3. Third conditional: If I had had enough money, I would have gone to Japan.
 
Conditional clause Main clause
1. If + Present Tense will + inf / present tense / imperative
If you help me with the dishes (if + pres),
I will help you with your homework. (will + inf)
If the sum of the digits of a number is divisible by three,
the number is divisible by three (Pres. tense)
If you see Mr Fox tonight, tell him I am ill. (imperative).
2. If + Past Tense would + inf
3. If + Past Perfect Tense would have + past participle
We do not normally use will or would in the conditional clause,
only in the main clause.
Uses of the Conditional
First conditional
Nature: Open condition, what is said in the condition is possible.
Time: This condition refers either to present or to future time.
e.g. If he is late, we will have to go without him.
If my mother knows about this, we are in serious trouble.

Second conditional
Nature: unreal (impossible) or improbable situations.
Time: present; the TENSE is past, but we are talking about the present, now.
e.g. If I knew her name, I would tell you.
If I were you, I would tell my father.
Compare: If I become president, I will change the social security system. (Said by a presidential candidate)
If I became president, I would change the social security system. (Said by a schoolboy: improbable)
If we win this match, we are qualified for the semifinals.
If I won a million pounds, I would stop teaching. (improbable)

Third conditional
Nature: unreal
Time: Past (so we are talking about a situation that was not so in the past.)
e.g. If you had warned me, I would not have told your father about that party.(But you didn't, and I have).
Remember!
1. The conditional construction does not normally use will or would in if-clauses. EXCEPTION: If will or would express willingness, as in requests, they
can be used in if-clauses.
e.g. If you will come this way, the manager will see you now.
I would be grateful if you would give me a little help.
(= ± please, come this way; please, give me...)
2. For the second conditional, were replaces was:
If I were a rich man...
3. After if, we can either use "some(-one, -where...)" or "any(-one, -where...).
If I have some spare time next weekend....or :
If I have any spare time...
4. Instead of if not, we can use unless.
e.g. I'll be back tomorrow unless there is a plane strike.
He'll accept the job unless the salary is too low.
5.There is a "mixed type" as well, for the present results of an unreal condition in the past:
If + Past Perfect - would + inf.
If you had warned me [then], I would not be in prison [now].

Conditionals are sentences with two clauses – an ‘if clause and a main clause – that are closely related. Conditional sentences are often divided into
different types.
 
Zero conditional
We use the zero conditional to talk about things that are always true.
If you heat water, it boils.
When the sun goes down, it gets dark.
It lights up if you push that button.
The present simple is used in both clauses.
First conditional
We use the first conditional when we talk about real and possible situations.
I’ll go shopping on the way home if I have time.
If it’s a nice day tomorrow, we’ll go to the beach.
If Arsenal win, they’ll be top of the league.
In first conditional sentences, the structure is usually if + present simple and will + infinitive. It’s not important which clause comes first.
Second conditional
The second conditional is used to talk about ‘unreal’ or impossible things.
If I won a lot of money, I’d buy a big house in the country.
Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world?
If you didn’t smoke so much, you’d feel a lot better.
The structure is usually if + past simple and would + infinitive. It’s not important which clause comes first.

Look at the difference between the first and second conditionals.

In January: If it snows tomorrow, I’ll go skiing. It might snow tomorrow.
In August: If it snowed tomorrow, I’d go skiing. It almost certainly won’t snow tomorrow.
NOTE: Although many conditional sentences use if + will/would, conditional sentences can also use other words instead of ‘if’ – e.g. ‘when’ ‘as soon as’
‘in case’ Other modal verbs can be used instead of ‘will/would’ – e.g. ‘can/could’, ‘may’ ‘might’.