These are the rules...


Conditional 1


example:


If I learn for the test, I will get a good grade.



rule:

We use the Conditional 1 to express that something very likely will or won't happen under certain circumstances in the present or in the future.



form:

if clause:            simple present

main clause:     will future



Conditional 2

 

example:

 

If I learned for the test, I would get a good grade.

 

 

rule:

We use the Conditional 2 to express that something probably would or would not happen under certain circumstances in the present or in the future.

 

form:

if clause:            simple past

main clause:     would(n't)   

                           +simple present

Conditional 3

 

example:

 

If I had learned for the test, I would have gotten a good grade.

 

rule:

We use the Conditional 3 to speculate about a situation in the past. It expresses e.g. wishes or regrets that are impossible to come true now.

 

 

form:

if clause:             past perfect

main clause:      would(n't)

                             + have + 3rd

                             form of verb



ATTENTION:

  • DON’T use "would" in the if clause!!!
  • The if-clause doesn’t have to be in the beginning of the sentence (I will get a good grade, if I learn for the test is correct, too.)
  • "I`d" in the if clause stands for: I HAD. I`d in the main clause stands for I WOULD. Don’t mix them up.