Condit

ndioGrammar notes: conditionals
General information In English there are four basic conditional structures, although these can be mixed according to the situation. They can also be mixed in otherlanguages. The tenses I've used are the BASIC tenses. However, once you know the general structures you can check what other verb forms you can use. Zero conditional This is used when there is nocondition, in other words you could substitute 'if' with 'when'. It is often used when describing facts or explaining how something works. Structure: if + present, present Examples: If you don't waterflowers, they die. If you turn that switch to the black position, the power gets cut off. If you mix water with oil, the oil floats. 1st conditional The first conditional is used for situations based onfact. The condition describes something normal and possible, and the result is probable and based on the present or the future. Structure: if + present, future Examples: If you study hard, you will passyour exams. If you click on that icon, you'll lose anything you haven't saved. If it doesn't rain tomorrow we're going to the beach. (present used as future). 2nd conditional This conditional is notbased on fact. It refers to a situation in the present or future which is unreal, unlikely or contrary to facts. To show this unreality, we have to shift the tense from the present to the past,although the condition still refers to the present or the future. Structure: if + past, would + infinitive Examples: If I won the lottery, I would buy a fast car (but I haven't won the lottery, so I can'tbuy anything).

If I had some money, I would give you some (but I haven't got any money, so you can't have any). If Valencia were a good football team I would support them (but they're rubbish, so Idon't, and anyway I hate football). 3rd conditional The third conditional refers to situations in the past which, because they're in the past, are imaginary or impossible. You can't change the...