FORM

[If / When ... Simple Present ..., ... Simple Present ...] [... Simple Present ... if / when ... Simple Present ...]

USE

This tense is used to talk about what you normally do in real-life situations.

Examples:

If I go to a friend's house for dinner, I usually take a bottle of wine or some flowers. When I have a day off from work, I often go to the beach. If the weather is nice, she walks to work. Jerry helps me with my homework when he has time. I read if there is nothing on TV. A: What do you do when it rains?

B: I stay at home. A: Where do you stay if you go to Sydney?

B: I stay with my friends near the harbor.

Present Unreal Conditional FORM

[If ... Simple Past ..., ... would + verb ...] [... would + verb ... if ... Simple Past ...]

USE

The Present Unreal Conditional is used to talk about what you would generally do in imaginary situations.

Examples: •She

would travel

around the world if she

had

more money. ( But she doesn't have much money.

) •I

would read

more if I

didn't watch

so much TV. •Mary

would move

•If they

worked

to Japan if she harder, they

spoke would earn

Japanese. more money. •A: What

would

you

do

if you

won

the lottery?

B: I

would buy

a house. •A: Where

would

you

live

if you

moved

B: I

would live

•If I

owned

in Seattle.

a car, I

would drive

to the U.S.?

to work. But I don't own a car.

EXCEPTION If I were ...

In the Present Unreal Conditional, the form "was" is not considered grammatically correct. In written English or in testing situations, you should always use "were." However, in everyday conversation, "was" is often used.

Examples: •If he

were

French, he would live in Paris. •If she

were

rich, she would buy a yacht. •I would play basketball if I

were

taller. •I would buy that computer if it

were

cheaper.

Past Unreal Conditional FORM

[If ... Past Perfect ..., ... would have + past participle ... ] [... would have + past participle ... if ... Past Perfect ...]

USE

The Past Unreal Conditional is used to talk about imaginary situations in the past. You can describe what you would have done differently or how something could have happened differently if circumstances had been different.

Examples: If I had owned a car, I would have driven to work. (But I didn't own one, so I took the bus. ) She would have traveled around the world if she had had more money. (But she didn't have much money, so she never traveled. ) I would have read more as a child if I hadn't watched so much TV. (Unfortunately, I did watch a lot of TV, so I never read for entertainment. ) Mary would have gotten the job and moved to Japan if she had studied Japanese in school instead of French. If Jack had worked harder, he would have earned more money. (Unfortunately, he was lazy and he didn't earn much. )

1. If I (have) __________________enough money, I (backpack)______________ around Europe. But, unfortunately, I am broke. 2. If I (have)_________________ enough money in my twenties, I (backpack)_____________________ around Europe. But, unfortunately, I was broke. 3. She would have been here earlier if she (miss, not)______________________ the test. 5. If I exercised more, I (be_____________) much more fit and I (have, not)____________________ so many health problems. 6. It's too bad Frank isn't with us. If he (be________________) here, he (can, translate) ____________________the letter for us. 7. Stop asking me what Joe bought you for your birthday. Even if I (know)______________________ what he bought you, I (tell, not)____________ you.

FORM 2

[If ... were + present participle ..., ... would be + present participle ...] [... would be + present participle ... if ... were + present participle ...]

USE

Form 2 of the Future Unreal Conditional is also used to talk about imaginary situations in the future. Native speakers often prefer this form over Form 1 to emphasize that the conditional form is in the future rather than the present. Also notice in the examples below that this form can be used in the if-clause, the result, or both parts of the sentence.

Examples: If I were going to Fiji next week, I would be taking my scuba diving gear with me. (I am not going to go to Fiji and I am not going to take my scuba gear with me. ) If I were not visiting my grandmother tomorrow, I would help you study. (I am going to visit my grandmother tomorrow. ) I am busy next week. If I had time, I would be coming to your party.

( I am not going to come to your party.)

1. Researchers are visiting Loch Ness next week to see if they can find signs of the Loch Ness Monster. I seriously doubt they will find anything. If they did actually manage to find something, I am sure they (become) ____________________ world famous. 2. I am going to go to California next week on business. If I have enough time, I (visit)_____________________ my friends in Los Angeles. 3. Sally has always been interested in pre-Columbian cultures. When she (go)_______________________ to Mexico, she (visit)____________________ Chichen Itza, the most famous Mayan site in the Yucatan. 4. We are driving from Las Vegas to Death Valley next week by way of Pahrump, a town located on the edge of the infamous Area 51. Area 51 is well known for its UFO sightings. If I (see)________________ any aliens, I will be sure to take a picture for you. Just kidding! 5. I am afraid I won't be able to come to your wedding next week because my company is sending me to New York to attend a trade show. I (miss, never) ____________________your wedding if I (have) _____________ a choice in the matter.

6. I (interpret) _________________for you at the conference tomorrow if I (be) ________________ not already scheduled to work at the UN. I have a friend who (do) ___________________it for you if she (be) ______________ not busy. Why don't I give her a call to see what her schedule is like.

7. The mountain climbing team (attempt) __________________to conquer Mount Everest next month if the weather conditions (be) ____________ suitable. I (join)______________ them in the ascent if I (can)_________________ . Unfortunately, I broke my leg last month while training in Alaska. 8. If Sarah (go)_____________ to university, she (be) ________________the first person in her family to get an advanced education. She has applied to many schools, but she really wants to go to MIT. If she (get) ______________ accepted to the university, she (move) _____________to Boston to study astrophysics. 9. If mankind (do)________________ not do something about the destruction of the rain forest, global warming (cause) _________________ dramatic changes in weather conditions all over the world. 10. Even if they managed to convince him to run for president in the next election, he (be, never) ___________________elected . His ideas are too dramatic and unconventional to be accepted by the mainstream.