| TYPE
|
| Zero Conditional
(General Conditional)
| First Conditional
(Possible Conditional)
| Second Conditional
(Unlikely Conditional)
| Third Conditional
(Past / Impossible Conditional)
| Mixed Conditional
|
| Pattern:
If + Present Simple / Present Simple
| Pattern:
If + Present Simple / Will (won’t) + Infinitive
| Pattern:
If + Past Simple / Would (wouldn’t) + Infinitive
| Pattern:
If + Past Perfect / Would (wouldn’t) + have + V3
| Pattern:
· Mixed Second / Third
Conditionals
If + Past Simple / Would (wouldn’t) + have + V3;
· Mixed Third / Second Conditional
If + Past Perfect / Would (wouldn’t) + Infinitive
|
| Use:
Events and situations that can occur at any time and often occur more than once
| Use:
· Possible future events or situations;
· Commands;
· Offers and suggestions
| Use:
· Improbable future events or situations;
· Hypothetical current situation or event (which is contrary to known facts);
· Giving advice;
· Polite requests;
· Desires / regrets
| Use:
Hypothetical situation or event in the past (the past event is contrary to known facts)
| Use:
· Second / Third Conditionals: hypothetical situation or event in the past and the result in the main clause refers to the past.
· Third / Second Conditional:
hypothetical situation or event in the past and the result in the main clause refers to the present.
|
| Examples:
If the bill is passed by both Parliamentary Houses, it becomes law.
If a person reads a lot, it is usually a pleasure to communicate with him.
If you press this button, the game starts.
| Examples:
If I find the book you need, I will let you know.
If the museum charges the entry, a lot of people won’t be able to visit it.
If our team continues to do so well, they will win the World Cup.
| Examples:
If I were you, I would choose this particular school for you child.
What would you do, if you won a million?
If we didn’t have to work so hard, we could spend more time together.
| Examples:
If the film had been released in winter, it wouldn’t have been so successful.
If the play had been finished on time, we wouldn’t have missed the train.
If I had seen you, I would have said hello.
| Examples:
If the island was still an inhabited area, the last week’s earthquake would have caused far more destroyals. (= The island is no longer an inhabited area).
If Fleming hadn’t discovered penicillin, the medicine wouldn’t be able to deal with many diseases. (= Fleming did discover penicillin).
|
