CONDITIONALS
REAL SITUATIONS. Conditional 1.
1.With if and can. This kind of sentence describes a real situation. Although a present tense is used
after if, the time referred is nt present.
If you fall, I won´t be able to catch you!
This means that there is a real possibility this will happen as we are actually in the situation described.
Going to can be used in the place of will.
If it rains, we´re going to get wet.
Modal can is common in contitional 1 sentences.
If the cases are too heavy, I can help you carry them.
2. Unless, provided, as long as
Unless= si no… Unless you leave at once, I´ll call the police.
Provided you leave now, you´ll catch the train.
3. With the imperative:
It is common to use the imperative instead of if:
Get me some cigarrettes, and I´ll pay you later.
4. With should:
Should makes the action less likely. It is often stressed in speech.
If you should see him. can you give him a message?
UNREAL SITUATIONS: CONDITIONAL 2
1. Describes an imaginary or unreal situation. Although the past simple tense is used after if, the time
referred to is not past, but imaginary. I am imagining a situation and its result.
If you fell, you would hurt yourself.
2. Were, might, could. Were is often used instead of was in formal language.
If I were taller, I´d join the basket-ball team.
If I were you, I´d leave now.
Modals might and could are common in this kind of sentence:
If you became a millonaire, you might be unhappy.
UNREAL SITUATIONS: CONDITIONALS 3
1. This kind of condition describes an imaginary or unreal situation. The time referred is past time.
If you had written more, you would have got better marks.
