PRESENT REAL an imperative in the main clause simple present present continuous present perfect present perfect continuous modal verbs (not 'would') 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 past simple (common) past continuous past perfect past perfect continuous. 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. If I had time, I used to go snowboarding. past modals in either clause. 'used to' and 'would' for habits in the main clause. SPECIFIC PAST SITUATIONS If she left early, she might have gone home. modal + have + past participle in the main clause.
FUTURE REAL 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 IF-CLAUSE we can also use: In the MAIN CLAUSE 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. Should it rain, I'll stay at home. If it rains, I might 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 PAST CONDITION PRESENT RESULT PAST CONDITION FUTURE RESULT If + past / present perfect, present / will (present guess) / modal (not 'would'). If + past / present perfect, will / modal (not 'would'). If Lucy went home, she'll be there now. If Julie went home early, she'll be there when the delivery arrives. PRESENT CONDITION FUTURE RESULT PRESENT / FUTURE CONDITION IDEA ABOUT THE PAST If + present, will / modal (not 'would'). If + present / future, modal + have + past participle. If David's studying now, he'll go the gym later. If she has 100% on the exam, she must have studied very hard.
PRESENT UNREAL 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 If I knew her number, I would call her. WOULD + INFINITIVE If I knew her number, I would call her. PAST CONTINUOUS If it was raining, we would stay at home. OTHER PAST MODALS 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 PAST IMAGINARY SITUATIONS (THIRD CONDITIONAL) IF-CLAUSE PAST PERFECT MAIN CLAUSE If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS If I hadn't been working, I would have gone to the party. WOULD + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam. INVERSION OF HAD (FORMAL) Had you got up earlier, we wouldn't have missed the plane. WOULD + HAVE + BEEN + V-ING If I had caught the plane, I would have been lying on the beach yesterday. WERE TO HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE (RARE) (+ INVERSION) If she were to have thought about it a bit more, she wouldn't have done it. OTHER PAST MODALS + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE If I hadn't been working, I could have gone to the party.
FUTURE UNREAL 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 doctor. IF-CLAUSE SHOULD / HAPPEN TO / BOTH (+ INVERSION) If she should happen to read the newspaper, she would see your article. MAIN CLAUSE WOULD WITH MODAL MEANING If you would help me, I'd be very grateful. WOULD + INFINITIVE If she passed the exam, she would become a doctor. WERE TO + INFINITIVE (+ INVERSION) If she were to become a doctor, she would move to Canada. OTHER PAST MODALS If I had enough time next week, I could come and see you.
MIXED UNREAL 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 be changed like the if-clause in present unreal conditionals. The main-clause can be changed like the if-clause in past 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 be changed like the if-clause in past unreal conditionals. The main-clause can be changed like the if-clause in present unreal conditionals.