PRESENT

REAL Use:
an imperative
CONDITIONALS in the main clause

Use:
simple present Use:
present continuous modal verbs
present perfect (not 'would')
present perfect
continuous

GENERAL TRUTHS (ZERO CONDITIONAL)

If you add two and two, you get four.

PRESENT HABITS
If my husband cooks dinner, I clean up.
If I'm travelling, I call my children every day.

SPECIFIC PRESENT SITUATIONS

If it's raining outside now, we can call a cab.
If she's at home, she'll be working.

Use a modal in the main

clause of specific present
situations - 'will' to make a
guess about the present
is very common.
 PAST REAL
CONDITIONALS

Use:
past simple (common)
past continuous
past perfect
past perfect
continuous.

Use:
past modals in
either clause.

PAST HABITS AND GENERAL SITUATIONS

If we didn't want to cook, we went to a restaurant.
If I had time, I could go snowboarding.
Use:
If I had time, I used to go snowboarding.
'used to' and 'would'
for habits in the
main clause.

SPECIFIC PAST SITUATIONS

If she left early, she might have gone home.

Use:
modal + have + past
participle in the
main clause.
 FUTURE REAL
CONDITIONALS

FUTURE SPECIFIC SITUATIONS (FIRST CONDITIONAL)

If it rains, I'll stay at home.
(Normally: if + present simple (with a future meaning), will + infinitive.)

In the In the

IF-CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE

we can also use: we can also use:

the present continuous be going to

If it's raining at 10 am, I'll stay at home. If it rains, I'm going to stay at home.

can /may / must the imperative

If I can, I'll come at 10am. If it rains, take your umbrella.

should / happen to / both + inversion modals (not would)

If it happens to rain, I'll stay at home.
If it rains, I might stay at home.
Should it rain, I'll stay at home.

will / won't with modal meaning the future perfect

If he won't help, I won't either. If we don't hurry, the film will have started.
 MIXED
REAL
CONDITIONALS

PAST CONDITION PAST CONDITION

PRESENT RESULT FUTURE RESULT
If + past / present perfect,
If + past / present perfect,
present / will (present guess)
will / modal (not 'would').
/ modal (not 'would').

If Lucy went home, If Julie went home early,

she'll be there now. she'll be there when the delivery arrives.

PRESENT / FUTURE
PRESENT CONDITION
CONDITION
FUTURE RESULT
IDEA ABOUT THE PAST
If + present, If + present / future,
will / modal (not 'would'). modal + have + past participle.

If David's studying now, If she has 100% on the exam,

he'll go the gym later. she must have studied very hard.
 PRESENT
UNREAL
CONDITIONALS

SPECIFIC AND GENERAL UNTRUE CONDITIONS

(This is one use of the second conditional.)
If I had enough money, I would buy a new car.

IF-CLAUSE MAIN
CLAUSE

PAST SIMPLE WOULD + INFINITIVE

If I knew her number, I would call her. If I knew her number, I would call her.

PAST CONTINUOUS OTHER PAST MODALS

If it was raining, we would stay at home. If I knew her number, I could call her.
If I knew her number, I might call her.

'WERE' INSTEAD OF 'WAS'.

If he were President, he would raise taxes.

INVERT 'WERE' : VERY FORMAL

Were he President, he would raise taxes.
 PAST UNREAL
CONDITIONALS

PAST IMAGINARY SITUATIONS

(THIRD CONDITIONAL)

IF-CLAUSE

MAIN
PAST PERFECT CLAUSE
If I had studied harder, I would have passed the
exam.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS WOULD + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

If I had studied harder, I would have passed the
If I hadn't been working, I would have gone to
exam.
the party.

INVERSION OF HAD (FORMAL) WOULD + HAVE + BEEN + V-ING

If I had caught the plane, I would have
Had you got up earlier, we wouldn't been lying on the beach yesterday.
have missed the plane.

WERE TO HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE (RARE)

OTHER PAST MODALS + HAVE +
(+ INVERSION)
PAST PARTICIPLE
If she were to have thought about it a bit If I hadn't been working, I could have
more, she wouldn't have done it. gone to the party.
 FUTURE UNREAL
CONDITIONALS

IMPOSSIBLE OR UNLIKELY THINGS IN THE FUTURE

(One of the uses of the second conditional.)

If I had enough time next week, I would come and see you.

POLITE REQUESTS, EVEN IF THEY ARE LIKELY

If you were able to drive me to the airport, I'd be very grateful.

PAST SIMPLE
If she passed the exam, she would become a IF-CLAUSE
doctor.

MAIN
SHOULD / HAPPEN TO / BOTH (+ INVERSION)
CLAUSE
If she should happen to read the newspaper,
she would see your article.

WOULD WITH MODAL MEANING WOULD + INFINITIVE

If she passed the exam, she would become a

If you would help me, I'd be very grateful.
doctor.

OTHER PAST MODALS

WERE TO + INFINITIVE (+ INVERSION)
If I had enough time next week, I could
If she were to become a doctor, she would come and see you.
move to Canada.
 MIXED UNREAL
CONDITIONALS

PRESENT / PAST
If-clause (second conditional), main clause (third conditional)
If + past simple, ... would + have + past participle

If she wasn't French, she wouldn't have moved to Paris.

The if-clause can The main-clause can

be changed like the be changed like the
if-clause in present if-clause in past
unreal conditionals. unreal conditionals.

PAST / PRESENT
If-clause (third conditional), main clause (second conditional)
If + past perfect, ... would + infinitive

If I had gone to bed earlier last night, I wouldn't be so tired now.

The if-clause can The main-clause can

be changed like the be changed like the
if-clause in past if-clause in present
unreal conditionals. unreal conditionals.