Dan’s information on Conditional forms

In English there are 5 conditional forms:

In every conditional sentence there is a condition and a result.

*BUT sometimes you don’t need to mention the condition because it’s obvious or understood.
The result part is ALWAYS necessary.

0/zero conditional
If/When + present simple & present simple
REAL/100% true FACTS, especially scientific
If you come to Colombia you love it!
If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

1st conditional
If + present simple & will/may/might/could + infinitive
REAL or POSSIBLE situations in the present/future
If it rains, I will stay at home!

2nd conditional
If + past simple & would/may/might + infinitive
UNREAL/Imaginary/hypothetical situation IN THE PRESENT/FUTURE
If I won the lottery (tomorrow), I would buy you a Ferrari!

3rd conditional
If + past perfect* & would/might/could + have + past participle
UNREAL/Imaginary/hypothetical situation IN THE PAST – you ALWAYS need to say the
OPPOSITE of what really happened!! 
If I hadn’t drunk a bottle of tequila last night, I wouldn’t have danced naked on the table in the
bar. (You DID drink the tequila, and you DID dance naked!)
If I had drunk a bottle of tequila last night, I would have embarrassed myself! (you DIDN’T drink
a bottle, and you DIDN’T embarrass yourself.

+ past perfect*
= Had/hadn’t + past participle

You have an exam tomorrow. You haven’t studied for the exam – you fail the exam. After the
exam you can say:

If I had studied, I would have passed the exam.

MIXED Conditional
If + past perfect & would + infinitive
To talk about an imaginary/hypothetical situation in the past and its present result – AGAIN
you need to say the opposite of what really happened.
If I had studied more at school, I would be rich now!

Wish and If only

Both are used to talk about regrets in the present or past.

Wish/if only + past simple = present/future

Wish/if only + past perfect = past