Conditionals

There are 4 conditionals: zero, first, second, third

- Conditional Zero (cause-effect): If Present S. + Present S.:

If we are late, the boss gets angry / If you touch fire, you get burnt

- First Conditional (possibilities): If Present S. + Future Simple

If you come, we will go to the cinema

- Second Conditional (low probabilities): If “Past S”. + would

If I had money, I would buy a new car
If I were you, I wouldn’t buy that dress

- Third Conditional (hypothesis about past actions): If Past Perf. + would have
If I had studied, I would have passed

*Where you think they are using Past Simple, you are actually using subjunctive tense;
that’s why it is always shown “were”.

Wish Clauses – I wish/If only

To express Wishes:
I wish/if only + Past Simple (subjunctive: were)

Examples: I wish I were taller/ I wish I had more money/ I wish I could dance

To express regrets:
I wish/if only + Past Perfect

Examples: If only I had tried a bit harder/ I wish I hadn’t drunk so much

To express complaints:
I wish/if only + would

Examples: If only my friends would stop laughing at me/I wish she would stop singing