We use conditional sentences to say one thing depends on another. They can be used to talk about real or imaginary situations. One of the clauses starts with if (or a similar word) – this is the conditional clause. The other clause talks about the result of the conditional clause happening.
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- This kind of conditional sentence (Type 1) is used to talk about a possible present or future situation and its result.
- You can use any present tense in the if clause and any form of the future in the other clause.
- Type 2 conditional sentences are used to talk about hypothetical or improbable situations in the present or future.
- You can use the past tense (simple or continuous) in the if clause and would + infinitive (or could / might) in the other clause.
- Type 3 conditional sentences are used to talk about a hypothetical situation in the past.
- You can use the past perfect (simple or continuous) in the if clause and would have + infinitive (or could / might have) in the other clause.
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If we want to refer to the present and the past in the same sentence, we can mix tenses from two different types of conditionals, e.g. I wouldn’t be in this mess (type 2) … if I had listened to your advice (type 3). Jane would have left Mike by now (type 3) … if she didn’t still love him (type 2).
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