Таблица на тему "Types of Conditionals"

Type of Conditional

Condition

Consequence

Use

Zero

(general truth)

If/when + Present Simple

If you heat metal,

Present Simple

it melts.

Sth which is always true, laws of nature

First

(real present)

If + any present form

(Present Simple, Present Continuous, Present Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous)

Unless (=if not) + verb in the affirmative

As long as/provided/providing that = if

If you have finished your work,

Future/imperative/can/may/might/must/ could/should + bare infinitive

we can go for a walk.

Real – likely to happen in the present or future

Second

(unreal present)

If + Past Simple/ Past Continuous

(were for all persons)

If I were you,

would/could/might + bare infinitive

I wouldn’t go out that late.

Imaginary situations contrary to facts in the present; also used to give advice

Third

(unreal past)

If + Past Perfect/Past Perfect Continuous

If I had closed the window,

would/could/might + have + past participle

we wouldn’t have been robbed.

Imaginary situation in the past; also used to express regrets and criticism

1 Mixed Type

If + Past Simple/ Past Continuous

If he knew her,

would/could/might + have + past participle

he would have spoken to her.

Condition refers to no-particular time; consequence refers to the past

2 Mixed Type

If + Past Perfect/Past Perfect Continuous

If he had found a job,

would/could/might + bare infinitive

he wouldn’t be searching for one now.

Condition refers to the past; consequence refers to the present or future

(We can use were instead of was for all persons here)

Form

Use

Example

Wish /if only
(regret about the present)

+ Past Simple/Past Continuous

Regret about a present situation which we want to be different

I wish/If only I were/was more patient.

Wish /if only
(wish/regret about the present)

+ Subject + could + bare infinitive

Wish or regret in the present

I wish/If only I could ride a bicycle.

Wish /if only
(wish for a future change)

+ Subject + would + bare infinitive

1. ‘wish’ and ‘would’ should have different subjects;

2. wish + inanimate subject + would is used to express the speaker’s lack of hope or disappointment

Wish for a future change unlikely to happen or wish to express dissatisfaction; polite request implying dissatisfaction or lack of hope

I wish/If only Jane would go to the university.

Wish /if only
(regret about the past)

+ Past Perfect

Regret that sth happened/didn’t happen in the past

I wish/If only I had gone to Ann’s party last night.