JaneDerbyshire: Grammar: conditional forms, past, present and future, real and unreal

Conditional forms: Past, present and future, Real and unreal

zero	If you heat ice, it melts. If/when/whenever + present simple, present simple present/always present/always	present real
1st	If you go out in the rain, you'll get wet. If + present simple/cont , will + base form present/future condition present/future result You'll be late unless you go now.	future real
2nd	If I went to Paris, I would go to the museum. If + past simple/cont , would + base form present/future condition present/future result I wouldn't go back unless they told me to.	future unreal
	When I had a day off from work, I often went to the beach. If/when + past simple / ued to past simple past condition past result She often used to walk to work if the weather was nice.	past real
3rd	If I had gone to Paris, I would have gone to the museum. If + past perf simple/cont , would + have + past participle past condition past result I wouldn't have liked her if she hadn't been so kind to Ben.	past unreal
mixed	If the book hadn't been successful, he'd still be a teacher. past perf would + base form 3rd past 2nd present/future If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have lent you my car yesterday. past would + have + past participle 2nd present/future 3rd past	past/future etc. “2 ½”

· When/as soon as, etc. for future time clauses is very similar to the 1st conditional.

· Instead of will, you can use going to, may, might, could, or should (possibility/ability/obligation/advice).

· Instead of would you can use might or could (it depends how certain you are).

Grammar explanation

http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-conditional.htm

Very clear explanations.

More exercises

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/conditionals.html

Mixed conditionals
For keen students, only when you have understood 3rd conditionals!
Explanation