Conditional Tense
(example : to call)
Affirmative
I would call
You would call
He/she/it would call
We would call
You would call
They would call
Negative
Long Form Contracted Form
I would not call I wouldn't call
You would not call You wouldn't call
He would not call He wouldn't call
We would not call We wouldn't call
You would not call You wouldn't call
They would not call They wouldn't call
Interrogative
Would I call?
Would you call?
Would he call?
Would we call?
Would you call?
Would they call?
1) The conditional: would + verb, is used to refer to an imaginary or hypothetical situation, with an 'if' clause in the past.
Ex : ◊ If I saw an accident, I would call an ambulance.
◊ I would call an ambulance if I saw an accident.
It is possible that you will never see an accident, but here you are describing your probable reaction in such circumstances.
Tom is not rich but he likes fast cars.
◊ If Tom had more money, he would buy a fast car.
2) In English, there are different conditional structures :
Present + Present (what is recommended in this situation) If you see an accident, call a doctor!
Present + Future (possible future situation) If I see an accident, I will call a doctor.
Past + Conditional (imaginary situation) If I saw an accident, I would call a doctor.
Past Perfect + Conditional Perfect
(the accident occurred but I didn't see it) If I had seen the accident,
I would have called a doctor.
from: LEARN ENGLISH TODAY
Showing posts with label Present Conditionals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Present Conditionals. Show all posts
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Present Conditionals
Present Real Conditional
FORM
[If / When ... Simple Present ..., ... Simple Present ...]
[... Simple Present ... if / when ... Simple Present ...]
USE
The Present Real Conditional 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.
IMPORTANT
If / When
Both "if" and "when" are used in the Present Real Conditional. Using "if" suggests that something happens less frequently. Using "when" suggests that something happens regularly.
Examples:
When I have a day off from work, I usually go to the beach.
I regularly have days off from work.
If I have a day off from work, I usually go to the beach.
I rarely have days off from work.
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:
If I owned a car, I would drive to work. But I don't own a car.
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 to Japan if she spoke Japanese.
If they worked harder, they would earn 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 to the U.S.?
B: I would live in Seattle.
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.
I would buy that computer if it was cheaper. Not Correct (But often said in conversation.)
IMPORTANT
Only use "If"Only the word "if" is used with the Present Unreal Conditional because you are discussing imaginary situations. "When" cannot be used.
Examples:
I would buy that computer when it were cheaper. Not Correct
I would buy that computer if it were cheaper. Correct
EXCEPTION Conditional with Modal Verbs
There are some special conditional forms for modal verbs in English:
would + can = could
would + shall = should
would + may = might
The words "can," "shall" and "may" cannot be used with "would." Instead, they must be used in these special forms.
Examples:
If I went to Egypt, I would can learn Arabic. Not Correct
If I went to Egypt, I could learn Arabic. Correct
If she had time, she would may go to the party. Not Correct
If she had time, she might go to the party. Correct
The words "could," should," "might" and "ought to" include conditional, so you cannot combine them with "would."
Examples:
If I had more time, I would could exercise after work. Not Correct
If I had more time, I could exercise after work. Correct
If he invited you, you really would should go. Not Correct
If he invited you, you really should go. Correct
from: ENGLISH PAGE
FORM
[If / When ... Simple Present ..., ... Simple Present ...]
[... Simple Present ... if / when ... Simple Present ...]
USE
The Present Real Conditional 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.
IMPORTANT
If / When
Both "if" and "when" are used in the Present Real Conditional. Using "if" suggests that something happens less frequently. Using "when" suggests that something happens regularly.
Examples:
When I have a day off from work, I usually go to the beach.
I regularly have days off from work.
If I have a day off from work, I usually go to the beach.
I rarely have days off from work.
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:
If I owned a car, I would drive to work. But I don't own a car.
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 to Japan if she spoke Japanese.
If they worked harder, they would earn 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 to the U.S.?
B: I would live in Seattle.
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.
I would buy that computer if it was cheaper. Not Correct (But often said in conversation.)
IMPORTANT
Only use "If"Only the word "if" is used with the Present Unreal Conditional because you are discussing imaginary situations. "When" cannot be used.
Examples:
I would buy that computer when it were cheaper. Not Correct
I would buy that computer if it were cheaper. Correct
EXCEPTION Conditional with Modal Verbs
There are some special conditional forms for modal verbs in English:
would + can = could
would + shall = should
would + may = might
The words "can," "shall" and "may" cannot be used with "would." Instead, they must be used in these special forms.
Examples:
If I went to Egypt, I would can learn Arabic. Not Correct
If I went to Egypt, I could learn Arabic. Correct
If she had time, she would may go to the party. Not Correct
If she had time, she might go to the party. Correct
The words "could," should," "might" and "ought to" include conditional, so you cannot combine them with "would."
Examples:
If I had more time, I would could exercise after work. Not Correct
If I had more time, I could exercise after work. Correct
If he invited you, you really would should go. Not Correct
If he invited you, you really should go. Correct
from: ENGLISH PAGE
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