Present & Future Real Conditionals
1st Conditional
Basic Grammar Rules
Future Real Conditional FORM From EnglishPage.com
[ If / When ... Simple Present ..., ... Simple Future ...]
[... Simple Future ... if / when ... Simple Present ...]
Notice that there is no future in the if- or when-clause.
USEThe 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. Although this form is called "real", you are usually imagining or guessing about the future. It is called "real" because it is still possible that the action might occur in the future. Carefully study the following examples and compare them to the Future Unreal Conditional examples further down the page.
Examples:
Another Explanation
There is another category which is called the "Zero Conditional". We use it when we are 100% certain something so that means there is 0% condition.
[ If / When ... Simple Present ..., ... Simple Future ...]
[... Simple Future ... if / when ... Simple Present ...]
Notice that there is no future in the if- or when-clause.
USEThe 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. Although this form is called "real", you are usually imagining or guessing about the future. It is called "real" because it is still possible that the action might occur in the future. Carefully study 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 a bottle of wine or 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.
Another Explanation
There is another category which is called the "Zero Conditional". We use it when we are 100% certain something so that means there is 0% condition.
Video REview
Practice
- Conditional Exercise 7 tests your knowledge of Future Real Conditional
- Quiz 1
- Quiz 2
- Listen to the BBC's Grammar Challenge about the"Zero" Conditional first.
- Then take the challenge and do the quizzes on this grammar point.
- Click here if you need to read the grammar explanation.
PRESENT UNREAL CONDITIONALS or 2nd ConditionAL
Basic Grammar Rules
Present Unreal Conditional FORM From EnglishPage.com
[If ... Simple Past ..., ... would + verb ...]
[... would + verb ... if ... Simple Past ...]
USE The Present Unreal Conditional is used to talk about what you would generally do in imaginary situations.
Examples:
EXCEPTION If I were ...In the Present Unreal Conditional, the form "was" is not considered grammatically correct. In written English or in testing situations, you should always use "were." However, in everyday conversation, "was" is often used.
Examples:
IMPORTANT Only use "If"Only the word "if" is used with the Present Unreal Conditional because you are discussing imaginary situations. "When" cannot be used.Examples:
EXCEPTION Conditional with Modal VerbsThere are some special conditional forms for modal verbs in English:
would + can = could
would + shall = should
would + may = might
The words "can," "shall" and "may" cannot be used with "would." Instead, they must be used in these special forms.
Examples:
The words "could," should," "might" and "ought to" include conditional, so you cannot combine them with "would."
Examples:
[If ... Simple Past ..., ... would + verb ...]
[... would + verb ... if ... Simple Past ...]
USE The Present Unreal Conditional is used to talk about what you would generally do in imaginary situations.
Examples:
- If I owned a car, I would drive to work. But I don't own a car.
- She would travel around the world if she had more money. But she doesn't have much money.
- I would read more if I didn't watch so much TV.
- Mary would move to Japan if she spoke Japanese.
- If they worked harder, they would earn more money.
- A: What would you do if you won the lottery?
B: I would buy a house. - A: Where would you live if you moved to the U.S.?
B: I would live in Seattle.
EXCEPTION If I were ...In the Present Unreal Conditional, the form "was" is not considered grammatically correct. In written English or in testing situations, you should always use "were." However, in everyday conversation, "was" is often used.
Examples:
- If he were French, he would live in Paris.
- If she were rich, she would buy a yacht.
- I would play basketball if I were taller.
- I would buy that computer if it were cheaper.
- I would buy that computer if it was cheaper. Not Correct (But often said in conversation.)
IMPORTANT Only use "If"Only the word "if" is used with the Present Unreal Conditional because you are discussing imaginary situations. "When" cannot be used.Examples:
- I would buy that computer when it were cheaper. Not Correct
- I would buy that computer if it were cheaper. Correct
EXCEPTION Conditional with Modal VerbsThere are some special conditional forms for modal verbs in English:
would + can = could
would + shall = should
would + may = might
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, I would can learn Arabic. Not Correct
- If I went to Egypt, I could learn Arabic. Correct OR (*If I went to Egypt, I would be able to learn Arabic.)
- If she had time, she would may go to the party. Not Correct
- If she had time, she might go to the party. Correct
The words "could," should," "might" and "ought to" include conditional, so you cannot combine them with "would."
Examples:
- If I had more time, I would could exercise after work. Not Correct
- If I had more time, I could exercise after work. Correct (or would be able to)
- If he invited you, you really would should go. Not Correct
- If he invited you, you really should go. Correct
Video REview
Examples of 2nd Conditional in Pop Songs.
Practice
- Conditional Exercise 2 Present Unreal Conditional
- Conditional Exercise 3 Present Real Conditional vs. Present Unreal Conditional
- Quiz 1
- Quiz 2
- Quiz 3
- Listen to the BBC's Grammar Challenge about the 2nd Conditional.
- Then take the challenge and do the quizzes on this grammar point.
- Click here if you need to read the grammar explanation
Past unreal conditionals Or 3rd Conditionals
Basic Grammar Rules
Past Unreal Conditional FORM From EnglishPage.com
[If ... Past Perfect ..., ... would have + past participle ... ]
[... would have + past participle ... if ... Past Perfect ...]
USE The Past Unreal Conditional is used to talk about imaginary situations in the past. You can describe what you would have done differently or how something could have happened differently if circumstances had been different.
Examples:
IMPORTANT Only use "If"Only the word "if" is used with the Past Unreal Conditional because you are discussing imaginary situations. "When" cannot be used.
Examples:
EXCEPTION Conditional with Modal VerbsThere are some special conditional forms for modal verbs in English:
would have + can = could have
would have + shall = should have
would have + may = might have
The words "can," "shall" and "may" cannot be used with "would have." Instead, they must be used in these special forms.
Examples:
The words "could," should," "might" and "ought to" include Conditional, so you cannot combine them with "would have."
Examples:
Another Explanation
To express regrets about past events, we use the subject, followed by wish/wishes, followed by the past perfect (subject + had/hadn't + past participle).
[If ... Past Perfect ..., ... would have + past participle ... ]
[... would have + past participle ... if ... Past Perfect ...]
USE The Past Unreal Conditional is used to talk about imaginary situations in the past. You can describe what you would have done differently or how something could have happened differently if circumstances had been different.
Examples:
- If I had owned a car, I would have driven to work. But I didn't own one, so I took the bus.
- She would have traveled around the world if she had had more money. But she didn't have much money, so she never traveled.
- I would have read more as a child if I hadn't watched so much TV. Unfortunately, I did watch a lot of TV, so I never read for entertainment.
- Mary would have gotten the job and moved to Japan if she had studied Japanese in school instead of French.
- If Jack had worked harder, he would have earned more money. Unfortunately, he was lazy and he didn't earn much.
- A: What would you have done if you had won the lottery last week?
B: I would have bought a house. - A: What city would you have chosen if you had decided to move to the United States?
B: I would have chosen Seattle.
IMPORTANT Only use "If"Only the word "if" is used with the Past Unreal Conditional because you are discussing imaginary situations. "When" cannot be used.
Examples:
- I would have bought that computer when it had been cheaper. Not Correct
- I would have bought that computer if it had been cheaper. Correct
EXCEPTION Conditional with Modal VerbsThere are some special conditional forms for modal verbs in English:
would have + can = could have
would have + shall = should have
would have + may = might have
The words "can," "shall" and "may" cannot be used with "would have." Instead, they must be used in these special forms.
Examples:
- If I had gone to Egypt, I could have learned Arabic.
- If she had had time, she might have gone to the party.
The words "could," should," "might" and "ought to" include Conditional, so you cannot combine them with "would have."
Examples:
- If I had had more time, I could have exercised after work.
- If he had invited you, you might have gone.
Another Explanation
To express regrets about past events, we use the subject, followed by wish/wishes, followed by the past perfect (subject + had/hadn't + past participle).
VidEo Review
Examples of 3rd Conditional in Pop Songs.
|
Sage - Adam F.
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor Why Didn't You Believe - The Hollies Love to Love You - The Corrs The Outside - Taylor Swift Everything Familiar Has Disappeared - Empire! Empire! It Could Have Been You - Journey Should've Said No - Taylor Swift Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda - Brian McKnight |
Practice
- Conditional Exercise 4 Past Unreal Conditional
- Conditional Exercise 6 Present Unreal Conditional vs. Past Unreal Conditional
- Quiz 1
- Quiz 2
- Grammar Challenge Past Perfect Pronunciation
- Grammar Challenge Should Have
- Listen to the BBC's Grammar Challenge Wish + Past Perfect
- Then take the challenge and do the quizzes on this grammar point.
- Click here if you need to read the grammar explanation.
More PRactice
Mixed Conditionals Exercise
All Conditional Forms Test
Which Conditional Should I Use?
Wish & Regrets Blog
All Conditional Forms Test
Which Conditional Should I Use?
Wish & Regrets Blog
Writing
1. Watch this children's book. Then, write your own version.
2. Discuss some of these questions with a friend. Then, write about his/her answers.
3. Write about a regret you have or write about an imaginary person's regret. What could have, would have, or should have been done?
4. Wishes and Regrets in the Past, Present and Future
2. Discuss some of these questions with a friend. Then, write about his/her answers.
3. Write about a regret you have or write about an imaginary person's regret. What could have, would have, or should have been done?
4. Wishes and Regrets in the Past, Present and Future