English Grammar: Conditionals in Imagined Conditions

12 Questions

What type of condition is used in the sentence 'If the weather improves, we’ll go for a walk'?

Possible or likely

Which type of conditional sentence is used to talk about an imagined future situation?

First conditional

What is the form of the conditional clause in the first conditional?

if + present simple

In the sentence 'If a lawyer reads the document, we will see if we’ve missed anything important.', which verb tense is used in the main clause?

Future simple

What is the function of the modal verb in the first conditional?

To express possibility or future meaning

Which of the following sentences is an example of the third conditional?

If the weather had improved, we could have gone for a walk.

What is the main purpose of using the second conditional in English?

To talk about the possible result of an imagined situation in the present or future

What is the correct form of the conditional clause in the second conditional?

If + past simple

What is the difference between the first and second conditional?

The first conditional is used for likely situations, while the second conditional is used for unlikely situations

What is the correct form of the main clause in the third conditional?

Modal verb with future-in-the-past meaning + have + -ed form

What is the function of the third conditional in English?

To imagine a different past and its consequences

What is the warning about using 'would' in the second conditional?

We use 'would' only in the main clause, not in the conditional clause

Study Notes

Imagined Conditions

There are different types of conditions: possible or likely, unlikely, and impossible.

First Conditional

Used to talk about the result of an imagined future situation, when we believe the imagined situation is quite likely.
Form: if + present simple, modal verb with future meaning (shall/should/will/would/can/could/may/might) in the main clause.
Examples:
If the taxi doesn’t come soon, I’ll drive you myself.
If he gets a job in Liverpool, he’ll have to get up early.

Second Conditional

Used to talk about the possible result of an imagined situation in the present or future.
Form: if + past simple, modal verb with future-in-the-past meaning (should/would/might/could) in the main clause.
Examples:
If people complained, things would change.
If you asked her nicely, she would say yes, I’m sure.

Third Conditional

Used when we imagine a different past, where something did or did not happen, and we imagine a different result.
Form: if + past perfect, modal verb with future-in-the-past meaning (should/would/might/could) + have + -ed form in the main clause.
Examples:
If I had played better, I would have won.
It would have been easier if George had brought his own car.