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Zero conditional (true situations - present time)

If clause

Main clause

If + Present tense

Present tense

If you freeze water

it turns into ice.

First conditional
If clause

Main clause

If + Present tense

Will (going to) / can / may / must


+ verb

If it rains today,

I'll stay at home

I she has done her homework,

Ill phone later

We also can use unless, provided, as long as, should (if by any chance), even if
Unless you leave at once, Ill call the police
Provided you leave now, youll catch the train
Should you see John, can give him a message?
Even if it rains, well still go for a picnic
Variations
To make conditionals seem unlikely to happen
If I happen to see you tomorrow, Ill pay you back
If I should happen to see you tomorrow, Ill pay you back
To make the statement + formal (should instead of if + inversion)
Should you wish to change the room, well be happy to help you
Second conditional (it refers to an unlikely, imaginary or unreal
present/future situation, it never refers to the past)
If clause

Main clause

If + Past Simple

would / could / might + verb

If I won the lottery,

I would travel around the world.

Were is often used instead of was in formal language


If I were taller, Id join the basketball team
Were to is another way of expression second conditional
If they were to offer me the job, Id turn it down
Variations
To make the events seem more unlikely
If we were to eat less, he would feel much better
To make the statement + formal (were + inversion)
Were he eat less, he would feel much better
Suppose, supposing, imagine (Instead of if)
Suppose/supposing/imagine you run out of money, what would you do?
To express wishes: hope
I hope it doesnt rain tomorrow
Third conditional (refers to an imaginary situation in the past, cannot be
changed, it always refers to the past)
If clause

Main clause

If + Past Perfect tense

would/could/might + have + past


participle

If I had won the lottery,

I would have traveled around the world.

Variation
Had (instead of if) + inversion = +formal
Had he know she was married, he would never asked her out on a date
Alternatives ways to express wishes, regrets and criticism about the past.
Wish/if only/would rather/would sooner
I wish I hadnt eaten my dinner so quickly
Id rather she hadnt told them my secret
If only you had listened to my advice
Should + perfect infinitive
We should have bought an umbrella
We shouldnt have spoken to him like that
Mixed or fourth conditional (unreal/imaginary situation in which we mix
the past and the present/future time reference)
If I had studied, I would be a doctor (today) 3 rd + 2nd = pas + present
If I knew first aid, I would have helped those people (yesterday) 2 nd + 3rd
= pres + past
Other ways of making a conditional sentence
But for
But for your help, we would have been in trouble
If so, if not
There is a possibility that Jack will be late. If so, I will take this place
Colloquial omission of if
Sit down, and Ill make us a cup of tea
If and adjectives
If interested, apply within.
If necessary, take a taxi
If can mean although, usually if + adjective
The room was well-furnished, if a little badly decorated

Unreal time and subjectives


Its time, its high time
They are followed by past simple or continuous, the meaning is past
Its time we left.
As if, as though
Real and unreal
The verb form here depends on whether the situation is true on unreal
You look as if he were in charge
Formal subjunctives
After verbs such as demand, insist, suggest, require which imply obligation, the
subjunctive may be used in formal style
They demanded that he leave at once
The school Principal suggested that he be awarded a scholarship
Less formal usage
Less formally, should can be used, and colloquially no verb from change is
made, or an infinite construction is used
They demanded that he should leave
They demanded that he left (informal)
Formulaic subjunctives
These are fixed expressions all using subjunctive. Typical expressions are:
Heaven help us!
Long live the Queen
Be that as it may (sea como sea)
Suffice it to say. (Es lo menos que
puedo decir)
Come what may
So be it (Ya est)
Far be it from me (no soy nadie, pero)
Heaven forbid!

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