What is the conditional?
The conditional is used in general to express what could happen, what might have happened, and what we wish would happen.
The formula of the sentence : conditional clause or if clause + main clause and we do remove the comma if the position is changed for the main and conditional clause but the important thing in conditional is the verb tenses.
| Types | If clause verb tense | Main clause verb tense |
| Type0 | Simple present | Simple present |
| Type 1 | Simple present | Simple future |
| Type 2 | Simple past | Present conditional or Present continuous conditional |
| Type 3 | Past perfect | Perfect conditional |
Conditional type0 :
General truths (something that is always true: scientific truths, Personal facts)
Formula: if + present simple / present simple
Example:
If you heat butter, it melts
Personal facts (allergy..):
If I eat fish, I get sick
Conditional type1:
Probability in the present or in future, it’s an open condition (something’s that will or will not happened)
Formula: (If clause) if + present simple / (main clause) will + infinitive
Example:
If you jump, you will fall
If you are late, you will miss the bus
Conditional type 2 = we use its in case of unreal conditional or hypothetical and its probable result
Form tense
(If clause) if + past simple / (main clause) would + infinitive
Example:
If i had wings, i would fly
The symphony will be great, if they were dressed traditionally
Conditional type 3:
Hypothetical conditional in past its probable result in the past (in condition: if this thing had happened, result: this thing would have happened)
Formula: (If clause) if + past perfect / (Main clause) would+ have + past participle
Example:
If I had known you were come, I would have stayed
If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam
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