CONDITIONALS

TYPE PATTERNS AND USES

 IF + PRESENT, PRESENT
 To talk about situations that are generally true:
ZERO – If I eat too much spicy food, I get an upset stomach.
 To talk about situations that are always true, such as scientific facts:
– If water boils, it evaporates.
 IF + PRESENT, FUTURE / IMPERATIVE / MODAL VERB + INFINITIVE
 To express a situation that is likely or possible to happen in the future:
– I will go to the cinema with you if I finish my homework soon.
FIRST
– You will meet a lot of people if you go to university.
– If John phones, tell him I am in a meeting.
– If I am free tomorrow, I might go out with you.
 IF + PAST, WOULD / COULD / MIGHT + INFINITIVE
 To express a situation that is unlikely to happen in the future because it is imaginary or contrary to the facts:

SECOND – Her English would be better if she came to class more often.
– I would not work if I won the lottery.
– If I saw a car crash, I would stop to help.
 IF + PAST PERFECT, WOULD / COULD / MIGHT HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
 To talk about a situation that did not happen in the past and its imaginary result in the past:

THIRD – If Simon had gone to the concert, he would have enjoyed himself a lot.
– If the weather had been better, we would have gone swimming.
– If you had paid attention, you might have done better in your exams.