UNREAL CONDITIONALS If conditionals about the presentfuture describe
UNREAL CONDITIONALS • If conditionals about the present/future describe an unlikely or impossible situation. If-clause = past simple ‘result clause’ = Would(n’t), could(n’t), or might (not) If I owned a car, I probably wouldn’t use it much (I don’t have a car) I might take the job if if he offered it to me. (I don’t believe he will) (use were for the verb to be) If I were a doctor, I wouldn’t like working such long hours.
UNREAL CONDITIONALS • If conditionals about the present/future describe an unlikely or impossible situation. Sentences with the verb to be = were If I were a doctor, I wouldn’t like working such long hours. (You can use was but only informally)
UNREAL CONDITIONALS Imaginary past conditions: we’re thinking about past events, and imagining the opposite of what happened. If clause = past perfect 2 nd clause = would have + past part. If they hadn’t rescued him, he might have died. If I’d known it was your birthday, I’d have bought him a present.
‘MIXED’ CONDITIONALS • It’s also possible to mix the different kinds of conditionals. • Usually a past situation with a possible present result. “If I hadn’t met my wife in Barcelona, I would probably be living in the US right now. ”
'HYPOTHETICAL PAST' I wish / If only + (past perfect) can be used to express wishes, regrets and criticism "I wish I hadn't killed that man's dog. " "If only you had listened to your mom. . . "
'HYPOTHETICAL PAST' should have + (past participle) can be used to express regrets and criticism "I shouldn't have killed that man's dog. " "You should have listened to your mom. . . "
'HYPOTHETICAL PAST' 3 rd and mixed conditional "If I hadn't killed that man's dog, he wouldn't have killed my cat. " "If I had listened to mom, I wouldn't be in jail now. "
'HYPOTHETICAL PAST' 3 rd and mixed conditional (with inversion) "Had I not killed that man's dog, he wouldn't have killed my cat. " "Had I listened to mom, I wouldn't be in jail now. "
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