Conditional Sentences

Present and Future Conditions

1. Present Conditions (zero conditional)
A conditional sentence has two clauses:
the condition (if) clause (present simple)→the result clause (present
simple)
If people steal from this shop, the store detectives always catch them.
The if clause can come before or after the result clause.
 We use the zero conditional to describe real situations that can
happen at any time, or one event that always follows another. We
can use when instead of if:
If / When we talk to the baby, she smiles.
 We often use this conditional form with the imperative in the
result clause, for rules and to give instructions:
If the lift breaks down, press the alarm button. (with this meaning
we use only with if, not when)
2. Future Conditions (first conditional)
the condition (if) clause (present simple)→the result clause (future simple)
We use the first conditional to talk about the results of a possible
future condition, one that we think is likely to happen:
If they catch you, they will call the police.
Note the comma after the conditional clause when it comes
before the result clause. If the conditional clause comes after the
result clause, a comma is not necessary:
They won’t catch me if I run fast enough.
In the first conditional the if clause describes the future
but uses the present tense, not will or won’t (will not):
If Jan gets the job, he will move to New York.
Alternatives to if: unless, in case, even if, provided, as long as.
I won’t wash you car unless you pay me. (if you don’t pay me).
Unlikely/unreal conditions (second conditional)

Second conditional
CONDITION if + past simple→RESULT would (not) + infinitive
If we moved out of the city, we would (we’d) be safer.
We use the second conditional for future actions or situations
that are possible, but UNLIKELY:
I know I’ve made a lot of mistakes at work, but if I got a pay rise this
year, I’d buy a new car. (I don’t think I’ll get a pay rise).
We can use the second conditional for present situations that
are imaginary, not real:
If they had stricter laws against crime, we wouldn’t have to move!
(They don’t have these laws.)
We often use the expression If I were you, I’d ... to give personal advice:
If I were you, I would get a taxi home from the party. (I think you should
get a taxi)
Past Conditions (Third conditional)
CONDITION if+past perfect→RESULT would (not)+(have)+past participle
If we had arrived on time, we wouldn’t have missed the flight.
We can also use could have/might have + past participle in the result clause:
If we hadn’t lost the semi-final, we might have won the tournament.
 We use the third conditional to imagine situations or actions in the past
that we know are the opposites of the facts:
If he had stolen the company plans, he wouldn’t have kept them in his
office.
(We know that he didn’t steal the company plans, but we imagine a past
where he did this). If the past condition happened, we use a negative verb. If
it didn’t CONDITION RESULT
happen,
Condition we use a positive verb:
happened If I hadn’t got the job, I might have stayed in London.
(I got the job) I wouldn’t have moved to Edinburgh.
Condition didn’t happen If I had got the job, I would have moved to Edinburgh.
(I didn’t get the job)
Mixed conditionals
1. Mixed past to present conditional
We use this conditional to talk about present results of an
imagined past condition/action:
CONDITION if + past perfect→RESULT would/could/might (not) + infinitive
If that thief hadn’t tricked me, I wouldn’t be in prison now.
(The thief did trick me.) (I am in prison now)
2. Mixed present to past conditional
We use this conditional to talk about imagined past results of
present condition/action:
CONDITION if + past simple→RESULT would/could/might (not) + have + past
participle
If I didn’t believe you, I would have left you.
(I do believe you.) (I didn’t leave you)
1. Wish and if only + past simple/would
We use wish + past simple to talk about present situations, when
we are unhappy with the situation:
We wish we didn’t live so far away. (We live too far away)
I wish we had a new car. (Our car keeps breaking down)
If only means the same but it can have a little more emphasis:
If only I didn’t get angry so easily! (= I get angry easily, but I don’t
like it.)
! We don’t use wish or if only with a present tense:
x I wish I have a better job. ✔I wish I had a better job.
! To express a wish about the future, we use hope + present tense
verb, not wish:
x I wish you have a good holiday. ✔I hope you have a good holiday.
2. Wish and if only + past perfect
We use wish/if only + past perfect to talk about a past situation
or action that we regret:
I’ve failed my exams. I wish I had studied harder.
3. it’s time and would rather
We use the past tense after it’s time and would rather when we
are talking about the present.
 it’s (about) time means we think that someone should do something:
Come on – it’s time we went home.
 it’s high time + a past simple verb is stronger and suggests that the
action is urgent: It’s high time you started looking for a flat of your
own! You can’t stay here for ever.
 We can also use the infinitive with to (with or without for + object
pronoun)
It’s about time (for you) to get on the plane.