The Unreal Conditional

Present Unreal Conditional

The present unreal conditional is used to express a present (or future) condition. We call it unreal because it
tells us what would happen or how things would be if the situation were different:
I don't have a car. I don't visit you often.
If I had a car, I would visit you often.
The present unreal conditional is made up of an if-clause (if I had...) plus a main clause with would (I would
visit).
You work so hard. You're tired all the time.
If you didn't work so hard, you wouldn't be tired all the time.
Fur coats are so e!ensive. I don't have one.
If they weren't so e!ensive, I would have one.
The form of the verb in the if-clause is the same as the past tense form of the verb. There is one exception,
though: the verb be taes were for all persons:
I am ! if I were
"ou are ! if #ou were
$e is ! if he were.
If I were you, I would be more careful.
If you were leavin" earlier, I would "o with you.
#hat time would we "et there if we took the subway$
Past Unreal Conditional
The past unreal conditional consists of two clauses, an if clause and a would clause.
The if-clause refers to an unreal past event or condition:
If I had arrived on time... %I didn't&
If it hadn't rained yesterday... %it did&
The would clause describes the conse%uence:
...I wouldn't have missed the train.
...we would have "one to the beach.
It wasn't warm yesterday. #e didn't "o to the beach.
If it had been warm yesterday, we would have "one to the beach.
&n unreal past condition ma# have a conse%uence in either the present or the past.
If you had listened to my advice, you wouldn't be in trouble now. %now&
If it had rained an hour a"o, we would have stayed inside.
If it had rained an hour a"o, the streets would be wet. %now&
Conditional 'entence Ty!e (
'onditional t#pe (ero is used to tal about general truths, scientific facts or things which alwa#s happen
under certain conditions.
Form)
If ) *imple +resent, ) *imple +resent
Use)
The (ero conditional is used to tal about things which are alwa#s true, scientific facts, general truths:
*am!les:
If you cross an international date line, the time changes.
Phosphorus burns if you expose it to air.
If I wake up early, I go jogging.
,-T.: #ou can use /when/ instead of /if/.
Conditional 'entence Ty!e +
-ften called the /real/ conditional because it is used for real or possible situations. These situations tae
place if a certain condition is met. It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled.
Form)
If ) *imple +resent, ) *imple 0uture
Use
'onditional *entences T#pe 1 refer to the future. &n action in the future will onl# happen if a certain
condition is fulfilled b# that time. We don2t now for sure whether the condition actuall# will be fulfilled or
not, but the conditions seems rather realistic 3 so we thin it is liel# to happen.
*am!le)
If I have enough time, I'll watch the football match.
I ma# have time to watch the match but I2m not sure about it.
Conditional 'entence Ty!e ,
-ften called the /unreal/ conditional because it is used for unreal impossible or improbable situations. This
conditional provides an imaginar# result for a given situation. It is very unlikely that the condition will be
fulfilled.
Form)
if - 'im!le Past, - would - base verb
#ere . #as
In conditional t#pe 4, we usuall# use in the if clause /were/ instead of /was/ even if the pronoun is I, he,
she or it. /were/ here is a sub5unctive form.
,-T. /was/ is also a possible form.
*am!le:
If I were a millionaire, I would buy a castle.
Use
'onditional *entences T#pe 4 refer to an action in the present that could happen if the present situation were
different. I don2t reall# expect the situation to change because it is ver# unliel#.
*am!le)
If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.
Conditional 'entence Ty!e /
It is impossible that the condition will be met because it refers to the past.
Form)
if - Past Perfect, - would - have - Past Partici!le
Use
'onditional *entences T#pe 6 refer to situations in the past. The# express h#pothetical results to past given
situations.
*am!le)
If he had been careful, he wouldn't have had that terrible accident.
*ometimes in the past, he was careless. $e drove so fast. *o he had a terrible accident
Thin"s to remember
1. The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don2t use a comma.
*am!les)
/+hosphorus burns if #ou expose it to air./
/ I will send her an invitation if I find her address./
/ I would travel around the world if I had a million dollars./
/$e wouldn2t have had that terrible accident if he had been careful./
4. ain clause and!or if clause might be negative.
*am!le:
If I don!t see him this afternoon, I will phone him in the evening.
If he had been careful, he wouldn't have had an accident.