Ibn Tofaïl University English as a Foreign Language

Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences Semester 3

Department of French Language & Literature

Future Conditionals
A/ Future “Real” Conditional

The Future Real Conditional describes what you think you will do in a specific situation
in the future. It is different from other Real Conditional forms because, unlike the present
or the past, you do not know what will happen in the future.

With future real conditional you are usually imagining or predicting the future although this
form is called “real”. It is in fact called "real" because it is still possible that the action might
occur in the future.

Let us take a look at the following examples and compare them to the Future Unreal
Conditional examples further down the page.

Examples:

 If I go to my friend's house for dinner tonight, I will take some cakes and cookies or
just some flowers.
I AM STILL NOT SURE IF I WILL GO TO HIS HOUSE OR NOT.
 When I have a day off from work, I am going to go to the beach.
I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL I HAVE A DAY OFF.
 If the weather is nice, she is going to walk to work.
IT DEPENDS ON THE WEATHER.
 Jerry will help me with my homework when he has time.
I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL HE HAS TIME.
 I am going to read if there is nothing on TV.
IT DEPENDS ON THE TV SCHEDULE.

 A: What are you going to do if it rains?

B: I am going to stay at home.
IF IT …………………, I ……………………………………….

The Form

[ If / When ... Simple Present ... , ... Future Tense ... ]

[ ... Future Tense ... if / when ... Simple Present ... ]

N.B.: that there is no future in the if- or when-clause (i.e. the simple future is not used)

N.B.: In the Future Real Conditional:

 "if" suggests that you do not know if something will happen or not.
 "When" suggests that something will definitely happen at some point; we are
simply waiting for it to occur.
 Notice also that the Simple Future is not used in if-clauses or when-clauses.
 Ibn Tofaïl University English as a Foreign Language
Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences Semester 3
Department of French Language & Literature

Examples:

 When you call me, I will give you the address.

YOU ARE GOING TO CALL ME LATER, AND AT THAT TIME, I WILL GIVE YOU THE ADDRESS.
 If you call me, I will give you the address.
IF YOU WANT THE ADDRESS, YOU CAN CALL ME.

B/ Future “Unreal” Conditional

1st Use  The Future “Unreal” Conditional is used to talk about imaginary situations in the
future. It is only used when a speaker needs to emphasize that something is impossible.

However, it is not as common as the abovementioned “Future Real Conditional”

because English speakers often leave open the possibility that anything MIGHT happen in
the future.

Examples:

 If I had a day off from work next week, I would go to the beach.
I DON'T HAVE A DAY OFF FROM WORK.
 I am busy next week. If I had time, I would come to your party.
I CAN'T COME.
 Jerry would help me with my homework tomorrow if he didn't have to work.
HE DOES HAVE TO WORK TOMORROW.

FORM 1 (Most Common Form)

[ “If” ... Simple Past ... , ... would + verb ...]

[...would + verb ... “if” ... Simple Past ...]

N.B.: Notice that this form looks the same as Present Unreal Conditional: for example
“If I owned a car (now, actually), I would drive to work. But I don't own a car.” “I would read
more if I didn't watch so much TV (today).”

***

2nd Use  This form 2 of the Future “Unreal” Conditional is also used to talk about
imaginary situations in the future.

N.B.: Native speakers often prefer this form over Form 1 to emphasize that the
conditional form is in the future rather than the present. Also notice in the examples
below that this form can be used in the if-clause, the result, or both parts of the sentence.

Examples:

 If I were going to Fiji next week, I would be taking my scuba diving gear with
me. In “if-clause” and “result.”
I AM NOT GOING TO GO TO FIJI AND I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE MY SCUBA GEAR WITH ME.
 Ibn Tofaïl University English as a Foreign Language
Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences Semester 3
Department of French Language & Literature

 If I were not visiting my grandmother tomorrow, I would help you study. In “if-
clause”
I AM GOING TO VISIT MY GRANDMOTHER TOMORROW.
 I am busy next week. If I had time, I would be coming to your party. In “result”
I AM NOT GOING TO COME TO YOUR PARTY.

FORM 2 (to emphasize the future)

[“If” ... were + present participle ... , ... would be + present participle (+ing) ...]
[...would be + present participle (+ing) ... “if” ... were + present participle ...]

***

3rd Use  This Form 3 of the Future Unreal Conditional is a variation of Form 2 which is
also used to talk about imaginary situations in the future.

N.B.: Notice that this form is only different from Form 2 in the if-clause. Native speakers use
Form 3 to emphasize that the conditional form is a plan or prediction in the same way
"be going to" is used to indicate a plan or prediction.

Examples:

 If I were going to go to Fiji next week, I would be taking my scuba diving gear with
me.
I AM NOT GOING TO GO TO FIJI AND I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE MY SCUBA GEAR WITH ME.
 If I were not going to visit my grandmother tomorrow, I would help you study.
I AM GOING TO VISIT MY GRANDMOTHER TOMORROW.

FORM 3

[“If” ... were going to + verb ... , ... would be + present participle (+ing) ...]
[...would be + present participle (+ing) ... “if” ... were going to + verb ...]

N.B.: IMPORTANT Only use "If": Only the word "if" is used with the Future Unreal
Conditional because you are discussing imaginary situations. "When" cannot be used.

Examples:

 I would buy that computer tomorrow when it were cheaper. Not Correct
 I would buy that computer tomorrow if it were cheaper. Correct
 Ibn Tofaïl University English as a Foreign Language
Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences Semester 3
Department of French Language & Literature

Other uses  EXCEPTION Conditional with Modal Verbs: there are some special
conditional forms for modal verbs in English:

would + can = could

would + shall = should

would + may = might

But, the words "can," "shall" and "may" cannot be used with "would." Instead, they must be
used in these special forms.

Examples:

 If I went to Egypt next year, I would can learn Arabic. Unfortunately, that's not
possible. Not Correct
 If I went to Egypt next year, I could learn Arabic. Unfortunately, that's not
possible. Correct

The words "could," should," "might" and "ought to" include conditional, so you cannot
combine them with "would" too.

Examples:

 If I didn't have to work tonight, I would could go to the fitness center. Not Correct
 If I didn't have to work tonight, I could go to the fitness center. Correct

C/ “Future Real Conditional” vs. “Future Unreal Conditional”:

To help you more understand the difference between the Future Real Conditional and the
Future Unreal Conditional, compare the examples below:

Examples:

 If you help me move tomorrow, I will buy you dinner. Future Real Conditional
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP ME.
 If you helped me move tomorrow, I would buy you dinner. Future Unreal Conditional
YOU CAN'T HELP ME, OR YOU DON'T WANT TO HELP ME.

D/ EXERCISE: complete the text below with the appropriate conditional form.

1. Researchers are visiting Loch Ness next week to see if they can find signs of the Loch Ness Monster. I seriously
doubt they will find anything. If they did actually manage to find something, I am sure they

(become) world famous.

2. I am going to go to California next week on business. If I have enough time, I (visit) my friends in
Los Angeles.
 Ibn Tofaïl University English as a Foreign Language
Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences Semester 3
Department of French Language & Literature

3. Sally has always been interested in pre-Columbian cultures. When she (go) to Mexico, she

(visit) Chichen Itza, the most famous Mayan site in the Yucatan.

4. We are driving from Las Vegas to Death Valley next week by way of Pahrump, a town located on the edge of the

infamous Area 51. Area 51 is well known for its UFO sightings. If I (see) any aliens, I will be sure to
take a picture for you. Just kidding!

5. I am afraid I won't be able to come to your wedding next week because my company is sending me to New York

to attend a trade show. I (miss, never) your wedding if I (have) a choice in the
matter.

6. I (interpret) for you at the conference tomorrow if I (be) not already scheduled to

work at the UN. I have a friend who (do) it for you if she (be) not busy. Why don't I give
her a call to see what her schedule is like.

7. The mountain climbing team (attempt) to conquer Mount Everest next month if the weather

conditions (be) suitable. I (join) them in the ascent if I (can) .

Unfortunately, I broke my leg last month while training in Alaska.

8. If Sarah (go) to university, she (be) the first person in her family to get an advanced

education. She has applied to many schools, but she really wants to go to MIT. If she (get) accepted

to the university, she (move) to Boston to study astrophysics.

9. If mankind (do) not do something about the destruction of the rain forest, global warming

(cause) dramatic changes in weather conditions all over the world.

10. Even if they managed to convince him to run for president in the next election, he (be,

never) elected. His ideas are too dramatic and unconventional to be accepted by the mainstream.