Conditional Overview with Examples (Part 1)

A. Present Real Conditional

If I have time, I study English. (Sometimes I have time)

B. Present Unreal Conditional

If I had time, I would study English. (I don't have time)

C. Past Real Conditional

If I had time, I studied English. (Sometimes I had time)

D. Past Unreal Conditional

If I had had time, I would have studied English. (I didn't have time)

E. Future Real Conditional

If I have time, I will study English.

If I have time, I am going to study English. (I don't know if I will have time or not)

Other forms possible.

F. Future Unreal Conditional

If I had time, I would study English. (I won't have time)

Other forms possible.

Present Conditionals

Present Real Conditional

FORM

[If / When ... SIMPLE PRESENT..., ... SIMPLE PRESENT ...]

or

[... SIMPLE PRESENT ... if / when ... SIMPLE PRESENT...]

USE

The Present Real Conditional is used to talk about what you normally do in real-life situations.

EXAMPLES:

If I go to a friend's house for dinner, I usually take a bottle of wine or some flowers.

When I have a day off from work, I often go to the beach.

If the weather is nice, she walks to work.

Jerry helps me with my homework when he has time.

I read if there is nothing on TV.

What do you do when it rains?

I stay at home.

Where do you stay if you go to Sydney?

I stay with my friends near the harbor.

IMPORTANT If / When

Both “if” and “when” are used in the Present Real Conditional. Using “if” suggests that something happens less frequently. Using “when” suggests that something happens regularly.

EXAMPLES:

When I have a day off from work, I usually go to the beach.

(I regularly have days off from work)

If I have a day off from work, I usually go to the beach.

(I rarely have days off from work)