In the first sentence, we have used the 3rd conditional whereas in the second one we have used a mix of the 3rd conditional. The change of meaning is expressed by using a different tense in the result clause. If you hadn’t lied to her, she wouldn’t be angry now. If you hadn’t lied to her, she wouldn’t have been angry. When can substitute if for when in the zero conditional, but the meaning doesn’t change.ġ. But it must be a fact that always remains the same no matter what. It is not past, present or future, it simply is. We use the zero conditional when we are thinking of a simple fact. If it did not, you would think there was something very wrong with the world. For example if you take an ice cube and put it in the sun it melts. We use the zero conditional when we have absolute certainty of the statement (facts and general truths). The use of “should” indicates that the result is something necessary for you to do. Here are some more examples. Again that possibility is now lost to you. The use of “might” indicates that you are less in need of a new car, but you like the idea of getting a new one. Perhaps you REALLY need a new car, and now that you know you haven’t won the lottery, that possibility is lost to you. Using “could” here indicates that there was a possibility of buying a new car, if you could afford it. In addition you can use “should have” if you are talking about something you regret not doing. We use the past perfect and most commonly “would have + base verb” to form the third conditional, however like the second conditional you can also use “could have” and “might have”. For example: you brought a lottery ticket last week, but did not win. There is no possibility of this situation coming true, because the moment has passed. We use the third conditional to talk about a situation that did not happen in the past. Remember that the verb to be in the 2nd conditional always takes the form were: If I were younger. Here “might” indicates a higher level of uncertainty, you are perhaps deciding between London and another city, or thinking of spending your money on other things. It is like saying you could afford a house in London if you were rich. The use of “could” indicates that there is the possibility or ability to buy a house in London, but it’s not certain that you would follow the action. However, if there is less certainty in your statement or if something is possible, but you might choose not to do it, then use “could or might + base verb”. We use the past simple in the second conditional and most commonly “would + base verb” in the result. Most of us aren’t millionaires, but we like to think what we would do if we were. For example you could be thinking what you would do if you had a lot of money or were a millionaire. Like the first conditional we are thinking about the future, however with the second conditional, the situation is unreal, or unlikely to occur (hypothetical). For example perhaps you want to go to the beach after lunch, but the weather is a bit cloudy at the moment, and you only want to go if the sun comes outĪlthough we are thinking about a possibility in the future, the condition is always presented in the present simple, and the result is presented with “will + the base verb”. There needs to be a real possibility that this situation could occur. We use the first conditional to talk about a possibility in the future. (and so the result clause is a question). Suppose (that) / supposing (that) = what if. Supposing he had come for an interview, would you have given him a job? Suppose he went by train, would it be any quicker? Suppose he comes tomorrow, will we still meet him? *Note the different uses of suppose and supposing: It refers to things that we do in advanced so that we are prepared for what might come. This linking word is used with the present or the past to refer to a condition that could happen or not. We can also use in case or in case of + noun. Otherwise, you’ll be late for your appointment. In some other cases, we can substitute the conditional clause by otherwise as in this example: You’d better hurry. He could have recovered provided (that) he had stayed in bed. She agreed to come with us on (the) condition that she could bring her guitar. You can go to the ball, as long as /so long as you come back by midnight. The main linking words for conditional clauses are if and unless, but even if, as/so long as, on (the) condition that, provided (that) / providing (that), supposing*, no matter who, how, when etc., can also be used. If A= 50 then 2A =100.įrom a mathematical point of view, if we write a conditional sentence, it will be in one of the following two basic structures: This can be put simply into mathematical terms. Thus, if a particular condition is true, then it has a particular result. “Condition” means a type of circumstance or situation.
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