SENTENCES → CONDITIONALS · RULE 14
Conditionals
Sentences with if: one part is the condition, the other is the result. Four types — from always true to too late now.
FORMULA
if + …
FIRST — REAL FUTURE
If it rains,
IF + PRESENT
we will stay home
WILL + V
SECOND — A DREAM
If I had a million,
IF + PAST
I would travel
WOULD + V
THE FOUR TYPES
0
If you heat ice, it melts.
always true: present + present
1
If it rains, we will stay home.
real future: present + will
2
If I had more time, I would travel.
a dream: past + would
3
If you had called, I would have come.
too late: had V3 + would have V3
After if — never will: If it rains (not if it will rain).
COMMA OR NOT
if comes first → commaIf it rains, we stay.
result comes first → no commaWe stay if it rains.
WOULD SOUNDS SOFT
wishesI would love some tea.
polite asksWould you help me?
unless = if notWe'll go unless it rains.
SIGNAL WORDSifwhenunlessin case
COMMON MISTAKES