Conditional Forms if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if
First Conditional Time: refers either to present or to future time. Conditional clause Main clause If + Present Tense will + inf. /imperative Time: refers either to present or to future time. Meaning: what is said in the sentence is possible e.g. If I have enough money, I will go to Japan If you see Amy, tell her to call me.
Hawra: I am so tired. I need to leave now. Zainab: you have to take Dr Hawra: I am so tired. I need to leave now. Zainab: you have to take Dr. Humady’s permission first. Hawra: He is not here. If he were here, I would ask him - In which tense is the conditional clause? - When does hawra need to leave? So, the form is …. ? But the time is…?
Second Conditional Conditional clause Main clause If + Past Tense would + inf. Time: present; the TENSE is past, but we are talking about the present, now. Meaning: Unreal, impossible to happen e.g. If I had enough money, I would go to Japan. If I were you, I would tell my father.
If you had spoken to me, I would have changed the plan. Third Conditional Conditional clause Main clause If + Past Perfect Tense would have + past participle Time: Past Meaning: Unreal, it is used to imagine different past than the one that happened. e.g. If you had spoken to me, I would have changed the plan.
Note that after I / he/ she /it we often use the subjunctive form 'were' and not 'was'. e.g. If she were happy in her job, she wouldn't be looking for another one.
Note the form 'If I were you' is often used to give advice. e. g Note the form 'If I were you' is often used to give advice. e.g. If I were you, I'd look for a new place to live.
Every rule has exceptions Note that the 'If clause' can contain the past simple or the past continuous. e.g. If I was still working in Brittan, I would travel by train.
Note that the main clause can contain 'would' 'could' or 'might. e. g Note that the main clause can contain 'would' 'could' or 'might. e.g. If I spoke to him directly, I might be able to persuade him. If we met up for lunch, we could go to that new restaurant.
Sources http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/conditional2.htm http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/secondconditional/menu.php