Conditional Forms

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First Conditional

Conditional clause

 If + Present Tense

Main clause

will + inf. /imperative

Time: refers either to present or to future time.Meaning: what is said in the sentence is possible

e.g.If I have enough money, I will go to Japan

If you see Amy, tell her to call me.

Hawra: I am so tired. I need to leave now.Zainab: you have to take Dr. Humady’s permission first.Hawra: He is not here. If he were here, I would ask him

- In which tense is the conditional clause?- When does hawra need to leave?So, the form is …. ? But the time is…?

Second Conditional

Conditional clauseIf + Past Tense

Main clausewould + inf.

Time: present; the TENSE is past, but we are talking about the present, now.Meaning: Unreal, impossible to happen

e.g.If I had enough money, I would go

to Japan.If I were you, I would tell my

father.

Third Conditional

Conditional clause

If + Past Perfect Tense

Main clause

would have + past participle

Time: PastMeaning: Unreal, it is used to imagine different past than the one that happened.

e.g.If you had spoken to me, I would have

changed the plan.

Note that after I / he/ she /it we often use the subjunctive form 'were' and not 'was'.

e.g. If she were happy in her job, she wouldn't be looking for another one.

Note the form 'If I were you' is often used to give advice.

e.g. If I were you, I'd look for a new place to live.

Every rule has exceptions

Note that the 'If clause' can contain the past simple or the past continuous.

e.g. If I was still working in Brittan, I would travel by train.

Note that the main clause can contain 'would' 'could' or 'might.

e.g. If I spoke to him directly, I might be able to persuade him.

If we met up for lunch, we could go to that new restaurant.

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Sources