Unit 10 Career choices
| If type 1 (If + simple present ⇒ will + infinitive) |
If you study hard, you will pass.
If you visit me, I'll visit you.
| If type 2 (If + past simple ⇒ would + infinitive ) |
If you studied hard, you would pass.
If you visited me, I'd visit you.
| If type 3 (If + past perfect ⇒ would have + past participle ) |
If you had studied hard, you would have passed.
If you had visited me, I'd have visited you.
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Zero and first conditionals with future time phrases
● We use the zero conditional (if + Present Simple/Present Simple) to describe something that always happens (the inevitable consequence) after a certain action or event.
If plants don’t get enough sunlight, they die.
● We use the first conditional (if + Present Simple/will + Present Simple) to describe a future outcome of a certain future action or event.
If you get an interview for a job in pharmaceuticals, you will need to show real enthusiasm for the industry.
● We can use provided that, as long as, unless, when and even if in the same way as if, but they don’t all mean the same thing.
I’ll buy the book if/provided that/as long as it isn’t too expensive. (I won’t buy it if it is too expensive)
The third conditional
● We use the third conditional (if + Past Perfect/would have + past participle) to imagine past situations. These past situations
are impossible, and did not happen.
● The if-clause states one event that did not happen.
If I had stayed at home that day, I would have missed the celebration. (The person did not stay at home that day.)
● The main clause states the result, which also did not happen:
If I had stayed at home that day, I would have missed the celebration. (The person attended the celebration.)
The third conditional with could and might
● When we are talking about the imaginary past, we can use could have or might have + past participle in place of would have + past participle.
● We use these past modals when we are less sure of the result of the impossible past situation.
If I had prepared better for the competition, I might have won the first prize.(The speaker is not sure that this would have been true.)
If I’d gone to a different school, I might not have studied French. I could have taken English.
The second conditional (revision)
● We use the second conditional (If + Past Simple, would/wouldn't + infinitive) to talk about imaginary or unlikely events.
If we were in London today, we would be able to go to the British Museum.