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Conditionals
Conditionals
Real and possible situation, its likely that the condition will be fulfilled.
Main clause: future with will + infinitive, if clause: present.
Examples:
We will stay at home if it rains. (Reference to the future.)
The boss will get angry if Im late for work. (Reference to the future.)
They will finish early if the machine works well. (Reference to the future, the
condition is open, its possible that they finish early.)
If we get the money for this job, well buy a new washing machine. (Future
reference, open possibility and likelihood.)
If you leave now, youll catch the last bus. (Present situation with present or
future possibility.)
Will you help my sister if she asks you? (Future reference.)
Zero Conditional
Certainty, factual implication, general fact, overall truth the result of this
condition is always the same.
Main clause: present, if clause: present.
Examples:
Water boils if you heat it to 100 degrees Celsius.
It gets dark if the sun goes down.
A green light comes up if you press the button.
My boss gets angry if Im late for work.
Mixed Conditional
The time of the if clause is different from the time of the main clause, several
kinds of combinations may be used.
Examples:
If you had taught me how to make muffins (then in the past), I wouldnt have
tobuy them in a shop (now).
I would buy a house by the sea (now or in the future) if I had won the lottery last
week.
If I were in my mothers house, I wouldnt have stayed up so late last night.
We would have scored more in the match yesterday if we were good players.
Notes
If modal verbs like can/could, may/might or should are used in the main clause,
hard)
If can be omitted with inverted word order (usually in the third conditional if
the if clause comes first, and also in the second if the verb is were):
Were I rich, I would buy a house by the sea. (= if I were rich)
Had your sister come earlier, I would have shown her round the house. (= if she
had come earlier)