Conditionals

"Condition" means "situation or circumstance". If a particular condition is true, then a particular result happens. The structure of most conditionals is very simple. There are two basic possibilities. Of course, we add many words and can use various tenses, but the basic structure is usually like this:

First Conditional: Always a real situation

If clause (in present tense) + main clause in present tense If you freeze water, it turns into ice.

Second Conditional: Real or possible situation

If clause (in present tense) + will / can / may / must + verb + predicate If it rains today, Ill stay at home.

Third Conditional: Hypothetical situation

If clause (past simple) + would/could/might + verb + compliment If I won the lottery, Id travel around the world

Fourth Conditional: Hypothetical situation in the past

If (past perfect) + would/could/might + have + past participle + compliment If I had won the lottery, I would have traveled around the world

Unreal situations WISH

We use this expressions to talk about something wed wish to have, but its most unlikely to happen:

Wish + past simple

I wish I were rich I wish I could fly

Wish + Past Perfect

Something youd like to have accomplished in the past I wish I had learned English when I was younger I wish I had stayed at the party

Wish + Would
Used to express irritation/disagreement about something thats happening I wish you would stop making noise

Future conditionals
Future Real
The Future Real Conditional describes what you think you will do in a specific situation in the future. It is different from other Real Conditional forms because, unlike the present or the past, you do not know what will happen in the future. If I go to my friend's house for dinner tonight, I will take a bottle of wine or some flowers. If the weather is nice, she is going to walk to work.

Future Unreal
The Future Unreal Conditional is used to talk about imaginary situations in the future. It is not as common as the Future Real Conditional because English speakers often leave open the possibility that anything MIGHT happen in the future. If I had a day off from work next week, I would go to the beach. Jerry would help me with my homework tomorrow if he didn't have to work. If I were going to Fiji next week, I would be taking my scuba diving gear with me. In if-clause and result. If I were not going to visit my grandmother tomorrow, I would help you study.

Exception: Conditionals with Modal Verbs

would + can = could would + shall = should would + may = might

If I went to Egypt next year, I could learn Arabic. Unfortunately, that's not possible. If I didn't have to work tonight, I could go to the fitness center.