First conditional
It is used to plan future situations that are
likely to happen.
Tense: Simple present.
Modal verbs in the main clause: May, should,
can (and will).
Traduction: We may rent it if we like the
apartment (Podríamos rentarlo si nos gusta el
departamento).
Traduction 2: If everyone agrees we will go to
Spain next year (Si todos están de acuerdo
vamos a España el próximo año).
Examples:
1. If you don’t hurry, you will miss the
bus.
2. If he calls you, you should go.
Second conditional
A hypothetical condition and it’s probable
result.
Tense: Simple past.
Modal verbs in the main clause: Would,
should, might, could.
Traduction: If I won the lottery, I would buy a
house (Si me ganara la lotería me compraría
una casa).
Traduction 2: If I were wrong, I would
apologize at once (Si estuviera equivocado me
disculparía de inmediato)
Examples:
1. If I were a boy, I think a could
understand.
2. I wouldn’t eat that if I were you.
Third conditional
Condition in the past that did not happen.
Tense: Past perfect
Modal verbs in the main clause: Would have
Traduction: If I had seen Mary, I would have
told her (Si hubiera visto a Mary, le hubiera
dicho).
Traduction 2: Would you have stayed at home
if it had rained yesterday? (¿Te hubieras
quedado en casa si hubiera llovido ayer?).
Examples:
1. If I had studied medicine, I would have
have been a surgeon today.
2. If I had studied the right things, I
would have passed that exam.