UNIT 9 Conditionals

Second conditional
+ past simple + would + infinitive:
Ifyou walked all the way, it would take about three hours.
I would 9,0 to the beach if it were summer.
NOTE
Details on zero and Iirst conditional sentences are on pp.125-126.
Use the second conditional to refer to:
things that are possible but unlikely in the future.
I would watch the football match if they showed it on television.
(I do not think they will show it.)

• things which are unreal or impossible.

IfI wereyou, I'd listen to the weather forecast before going for apicnic.
(I am not you and can never be you.)

Third co~~itional

" + past perfect + would have + past participle:

• Ifyou hadn'tphoned, I wouldn't have known you were back from your holiday.

• If I batJ not gone to that school, I would not have metyou.

Use the third conditional to refer to:

• an imagined action in the past.

If it had continued raining, the town would have flooded.
(But it did not continue raining and the town did not flood.)
Ifhe had been taller, he would have been a basketballplayer.
(But he is/was not taller and he did not become a basketball player.)
Common errors
Correct
Ifyou walked all the way, it would take about three hours.
If it had continued raining, the town would have flooded.
If I had gone to England, I would have met my penfriend.
Wrong
If;youwalked all the way, itwilt take about three hOurs.
Ifitwould ha¥8 Continued raining, the tOwn would have flooded.
IfI went to England, I would have met my penfriend.
Notes
In second conditional sentences, the verb in the main part of the sentence is would; not will.
In third conditional sentences, the verb in the if-clause is in the past perfect. Wouldhave is used in the main
part.
In third conditional sentences, use the past perfect in the if-clause, not the past simple.