Peter Mangiaracina.

This presentation introduces conditional sentences and the relationship between a condition and its consequence. It covers real conditions that can happen, unreal conditions in the present or future, and past unreal conditions used to imagine a different past.

The lesson explains the verb forms used in each type, the two-clause structure of conditional sentences, the special use of were in unreal conditions, and mixed conditionals in which a past event has a present result.

Important points

• A real conditional uses a possible situation and a likely result.
• A present unreal conditional uses a past-tense form in the if-clause and would or could with a root verb in the result clause.
• The two clauses can appear in either order.
• In formal unreal conditions, use were with every person: If I were, if he were, and if you were.
• A past unreal conditional uses had + past participle in the if-clause and would have + past participle in the result clause.
• A past condition can also produce an imagined present result.

Choose one answer for each question, then check your answers. Your results are private and disappear when you refresh the page.

1. When do we use a real conditional?

A. To describe an impossible past B. To compare two equal qualities C. To talk about a real situation that can happen D. To report what another person said

2. Which sentence correctly uses the real conditional pattern shown in the presentation?

A. If I go to Madrid, I will see a bullfight. B. If I went to Madrid, I will see a bullfight. C. If I will go to Madrid, I see a bullfight. D. If I had gone to Madrid, I see a bullfight.

3. What does a present unreal conditional describe?

A. A present or future situation imagined as different B. A fact that happens every day C. A command about the future D. A completed action with no consequence

4. Which sentence correctly uses a present unreal conditional?

A. If I have a car, I would visit you often. B. If I had a car, I would visit you often. C. If I had a car, I will visit you often. D. If I would have a car, I visited you often.

5. Which form of “be” does the presentation use for all persons in an unreal condition?

A. am B. is C. was D. were

6. What does a past unreal conditional usually express?

A. A possible plan for tomorrow B. A different imagined result for a past event C. A repeated action in the present D. A comparison between two people

7. Which sentence correctly uses a past unreal conditional?

A. If I arrived on time, I wouldn’t miss the train. B. If I had arrived on time, I wouldn’t have missed the train. C. If I would arrive on time, I hadn’t missed the train. D. If I have arrived on time, I won’t miss the train.

8. Which sentence shows a past condition with a present result?

A. If you listen to my advice, you won’t be in trouble now. B. If you had listened to my advice, you wouldn’t be in trouble now. C. If you listened to my advice, you wouldn’t have been in trouble yesterday. D. If you had listened to my advice, you won’t be in trouble tomorrow.

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