Conditionals: How do we use them?

We use it to talk about things that are generally true or scientific facts. We can use if or when.

• If you mix yellow and blue (the condition), you get green (the main clause).
• I usually take some aspirin (the main clause) when I get a headache (the conditional clause).
• If it rains, the grass gets wet.

We talk about the future or present situations that we believe are possible or real to happen.

• If the weather is fine (the condition), we will go for a walk (the main clause).
• If he asks me, I’ll help him.
•  I can’t stay in this flat unless I get a well-paid job.

= There is a real possibility that this condition will be fulfilled.

We talk about future or present situations that are impossible or unlikely to happen.

• If we had a big garden (the condition), we would have a dog (the main clause).
• If I had time tomorrow, I’d come.

= It’s very improbable; it’s a hypothetical situation, and we do not think it could happen.

Note

•         If I were you, I wouldn’t trust him.

In this situation it is better to use were rather than was. Using was is more informal, it sounds uneducated.

We are talking about a condition in the past that did not happen, so it is an unreal past situation.

• If he had asked me (the condition), I would have helped him (the main clause).
  But he didn’t ask me.

• If you had studied hard, you would have passed the exam.
  But he didn’t study hard.

A mixed conditional is when the two parts of the conditional refer to different times. Mixed conditional clauses are of two types.

A: If you had gone to the dentist yesterday, your tooth wouldn’t hurt you now.

–>But he didn’t go to the dentist yesterday, and his tooth hurts him now.

B: If he didn’t like him, he would have sacked him a long time ago.
–>But he likes him so he didn’t sack him.