PRESENT CONDITIONAL TENSE |
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The present conditional express a situation now that isn't true or isn't happening. We also call this the present unreal or present contrary-to-fact.
Examples |
| If I had a million dollars, I would give it away to all my friends. |
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If I had a million dollars" is in the past tense, but it describe a possible situation (or impossible) situation in the present.
I would give it away to all my friends. tells the outcome of the condition. You can use "would," "could," "might," or "should" in these kinds of sentences
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| I wouldn't do that if I were you. (uses of verb in the present conditional) |
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Well, I'm not you, so this describes a situation that is not true. Notice that "were" is used with "i." Isn't that strange? But it's correct.
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| If she had more time today, she could meet her friend for lunch. |
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The situation is present, but notice the use of "had," the past tense of "have." This means that she doesn't have time.
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There are basically two types of Present Conditional sentences:
• | Present Real Conditional |
• | Present Unreal Conditional |
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USES OF PRESENT CONDITIONAL TENSE |
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| Present Unreal Conditional |
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| EXCEPTION to Conditional sentences with Modal Verbs |
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The words 'can', 'shall' and 'may' cannot be used with 'would'. Instead, they must be used in these special forms.
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| can + would = could
shall + would = should
may + would = might |
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Examples |
| If I went to Japan, I could learn Japanese. | -Correct |
x | If I went to Japan, I would can learn Japanese. | -Not Correct |
| If she had time, she might go to the party. | -Correct |
x | If she had time, she would may go to the party. | -Not Correct |
| If I had more time, I could exercise after work. | -Correct |
x | If I had more time, I would could exercise after work. | -Not Correct |
| If he invited you, you really should go. | -Correct |
x | If he invited you, you really would should go. | -Not Correct |
Note: | The words 'could', 'should', 'might' and 'ought to' include conditional, so you cannot combine them with 'would'. |
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CONDITIONAL TENSE TABLE |
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Present Real Conditional | | Present Unreal Conditional |
If I have time, I study English. |
Sometimes I have time. |
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If I had time, I would study English. |
I don't have time. |
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Past Real Conditional | | Past Unreal Conditional |
If I had time, I studied English. |
Sometimes I had time. |
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If I had had time, I would have studied English. |
I didn't have time. |
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Future Real Conditional | | Future Unreal Conditional |
If I have time, I will study English. |
I don't know if I will have time or not. |
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If I had time, I would study English. |
I won't have time. |
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THE PRESENT CONDITIONAL TENSE
The present conditional of any verb is composed of two elements:
would + the infinitive of the main verb, without "to"
Subject | + would | + infinitive |
He | would | go |
They | would | stay |
TO GO: PRESENT CONDITIONAL
Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative | Interrogative Negative |
I would go | I wouldn't go | Would I go? | Wouldn't I go? |
You would go | You wouldn't go | Would you go? | Wouldn't you go? |
He would go | He wouldn't go | Would he go? | Wouldn't he go? |
She would go | She wouldn't go | Would she go? | Wouldn't she go? |
We would go | We wouldn't go | Would we go? | Wouldn't we go? |
They would go | They wouldn't go | Would they go? | Wouldn't they go? |
Tense
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Present Tense
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Past
Tense
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