Conditionals

   If Clauses

There are three types of  if-clauses.

type	condition
I	condition possible to fulfil
II	condition in theory possible to fulfil
III	condition not possible to fulfil (too late)

Form

type	if clause	main clause
I	Simple Present	will-future (or Modal + infinitive)
II	Simple Past	would + infinitive *
III	Past Perfect	would + have + past participle *

Examples

type		Example
I	positive	If I study, I will pass the exam.
	negative	If I study, I won't fail the exam. If I don't study, I will fail the exam.
II	positive	If I studied, I would pass the exam.
	negative	If I studied, I wouldn't fail the exam. If I didn't study , I would fail the exam.
III	positive	If I had studied, I would have passed the exam.
	negative	If I had studied, I wouldn't have failed the exam. If I hadn't studied, I would have failed the exam.

* We can substitute could or might for would (should, may or must are sometimes possible, too).

I would pass the exam.

I could pass the exam.

I might pass the exam.

I may pass the exam.

I should pass the exam.

I must pass the exam.

Third Conditional

View more presentations from carolinaguerreror.

• Exercises using the 3rd conditional