• CONDITIONALS

Type 0 conditionals are used to express a general truth or a scientific fact. In this type of
conditional, we can use when instead of if.

If-clause Main Clause

If/When + present simple present simple

In/When you mix white and black paint, you get grey.

Type 1 conditionals are used to express a real or very probable situation in the present
or future.

If-clause Main Clause

future simple, imperative,
If + present simple can, must, may, etc+ bare inf
If I finish this job before Friday, I will/might/etc go to a spa
at the weekend.

• When the hypothesis comes before the main clause, we separate them with a
commma. When the main clause comes before the if-clause, then we do not use
a comma to separate them.
• With Type 1 conditionals we can use unless+affirmative verb (=if+negative
verb). Ex: I will not be in a position to come unless someone buys my ticket.
(=if someone does not buy my ticket).

Type 2 conditionals (unreal present) are used to express imaginary situations which are
contrary to facts in the present and, therefore, are unlikely to happen in the present or
future. We can use either were or was for all persons in the if-clause. We can also use
the structure If I were you…. To give advice.

If-clause Main Clause

If + past simple would/could/might +
/past continuous bare infinitive
If she knew the answer, she would tell me.
If I was travelling around Europe, I would travel by train.
If I had a better agent, I would get better acting offers.

• Type3 conditionals (unreal past) are used to express imaginary situations which
are contrary to facts in the past. They are also used to express regrets or
criticism.

If-clause Main Clause

If + past perfect/past would/could/might +
Perfect continuous perfect bare infinitive
 If he had told me about his problems, I would have helped him.
If I hadn´t been working yesterday, I would have gone shopping.

• MIXED CONDITIONALS

We can form mixed conditionals, if the context permits it, by combining an if-clause
from one type with a main clause from another.

If-clause Main Clause

Type 2 Type 1
If the plane landed late last night, he won´t be on time for work today.
Type 2 Type 3
If you were less impulsive, you wouldn´t have spoken to your
supervisor like that
Type 3 Type 2
If I hadn´t drunk the bad milk, I would be fine now.

• WISHES

We can use wish/if only to express a wish.

Verb Tense Example Use

+ past simple / past I wish I was/were 10 years
continuous old. (but I´m not).
If only I were travelling
with you and not alone! It
would be much more fun.
(but I´m not)
+ past perfect I wish I had saved more
money during my twenties.
(but I didn´t)
If only I hadn´t been so
harsh to her! We could still
be friends. (but Iwas)
+ subject + would + bare I wish you would stop
infinitive spreading rumours.
If only it would be sunny
on my birthday!
To say that we would like
something to be different
about a present situation.
To express regret about
something which
happened or didn´t
happen in the past.
To express:
 a polita imperative
 a desire for a situation
or persnon´s
behaviour to change

• If only is used in exactly the same way as wish but it is more emphatic or more
dramatic.
• We can use were instead of was after wish and if only: I wish I were/was a
famous writer!
• After the subject pronouns I and we, we can use could instead of would. I wish I
could study art history.