Conditional Tenses (Real & Unreal)
Definition
Conditional sentences express situations and their possible results. The First Conditional deals with real possibilities; the Second Conditional deals with unreal or hypothetical present/future situations.
Formula
1st Conditional: If + Simple Present, will + base verb 2nd Conditional: If + Simple Past, would + base verb
Key Rules
1. First Conditional: real, possible situations in the future.
2. Second Conditional: imaginary, hypothetical, or unlikely situations.
3. In 2nd Conditional, use ‘were’ instead of ‘was’ for all subjects in formal/correct English.
4. The ‘if clause’ can come first or second in the sentence.
Signal Words / Keywords
if, unless, as long as, provided that, supposing, imagine
10 Example Sentences
1. If it rains tomorrow, we will cancel the picnic. (1st)
2. If I study hard, I will pass the exam. (1st)
3. If you call now, you will get a discount. (1st)
4. Unless you hurry, you will miss the train. (1st)
5. If I were rich, I would travel the world. (2nd)
6. If she knew the answer, she would tell you. (2nd)
7. I would sleep more if I didn’t have so much work. (2nd)
8. If we had a bigger house, we would get a dog. (2nd)
9. If I were you, I would apologize. (2nd)
10. What would you do if you lost your job? (2nd)
Dialogues
Dialogue 1 – Real Possibility (1st Conditional)
Sue: Are you going to apply for the promotion?
Dan: I’m not sure. If I apply, I might not get it.
Sue: But if you don’t try, you will never know. If you get the job, you will earn more.
Dan: You’re right. If I prepare a strong application, I will have a good chance.
Dialogue 2 – Hypothetical Situation (2nd Conditional)
Chris: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Dana: I would move to New Zealand. If I lived there, I would hike and kayak every weekend.
Chris: I would choose Japan. If I were there, I would study martial arts and try every food.
Dana: We should plan a trip. If we saved money for a year, we could visit both places!
About the Author
