The document discusses the second and third conditional tenses in English. The second conditional expresses hypothetical or unlikely scenarios related to the present or future, using the past simple in the if-clause and "would" in the main clause. The third conditional expresses regret or hypothetical scenarios that cannot change because they are in the past, using the past perfect in the if-clause and "would have" in the main clause.

1. CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
THE SECOND CONDITIONAL

2. FORM
If I touched this switch, the alarm would go off
You would study better if you didn’t watch TV
CONDITION: Tense used – PAST SIMPLE
RESULT: Tense used – WOULD + verb base form
CAREFUL!!
COULD and MIGHT can be used in this type of conditional
instead of WOULD, implying a more improbable result
If he were here, he might help us
Although expressed witn a PAST tense, the condition is
related to the PRESENT or FUTURE time.
If I had money now, I would lend you some

3. USE
Type II conditionals express a hypothetical action or
event. In theory, they could happen, but it is very
unlikely. The action or state is usually opposite to the
current one.
Toexpress hypothesis: We don’t have her number.
We would phone her if we had it.
To express future hope or ambition: If I got a pay
rise, I’d buy a new car.
To give advice: If I were you, I’d study everyday

4. FIRST vs SECOND CONDITIONAL
 Type I usually refers to the FUTURE, and Type II to
the PRESENT.
If I take the bus, I’ll be there on time (future)
If we had money, we would buy the house (we do
not have the money at the present)
 Taking the same situation:
If I pass the exam, I’ll do my degree in London (my
plans for the future, it is very likely to happen)
If I passed the exam, I’d do my degree in London
(more unlikely to happen, hypothetical)
COULD can be used as past tense of CAN in the condition.

5. CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
THE THIRD CONDITIONAL

6. FORM
If you had been here, you would have enjoyed a lot
He would have come to school if he hadn’t been ill
CONDITION: Tense used – PAST PERFECT
RESULT: Tense used – WOULD HAVE + past participle

7. USE
Type III conditionals are related to the PAST and conditions
that WILL NEVER BE changed, since that time is finished.
If I hadn’t brought the penknife, I wouldn’t have been able to
open the package
Instead of WOULD HAVE, we can use MIGHT HAVE or COULD
HAVE, slightly modifying the sense of the sentece
Jean might have come to the party if she had known about it
in time (maybe)
We couldn’t have bought our flat if I hadn’t got the job (they
wouldn’t have had the possiblity)