Unreal Conditionals

1. Unreal Conditionals
(2nd and 3rd Conditionals)
EF B2.2 5A

2. “Real” Conditionals
0 conditional → always true, present reference.
If you heat water to 100C, it boils
1st conditional → possible, present/future
reference
If you study hard, you will pass the exam
If you can attend, don’t miss this class

3. Unreal Conditionals
2nd conditional → hypothetical, present/future
reference.
If you studied harder, you would pass the exam
3rd conditional → impossible, past reference
If you had studied hard, you would have passed
the exam

4. The Second Conditional
Review

5. Second Conditional
Use second conditional sentences (if + past
simple, would/wouldn’t + infinitive) to talk
about hypothetical or improbable situations
in the present/future
If there was a fire in this hotel, it would be very
difficult to escape

6. Second Conditional
In the if-clause you can also use the past
continuous (was/were + verb -ing), and/or
could/might instead of would.
If you weren’t making so much noise, I
could/might concentrate better.
I could/might concentrate better if you weren’t
making so much noise

7. Second Conditional
With the verb be you can use was or were for I,
he, and she in the if-clause. However, in
conditionals beginning If I were you … to give
advice, always use were.
If she was/were more sociable, she’d have more
friends.
If I was/were you, I wouldn’t touch that.

8. The Third Conditional
Review

9. Third Conditional
We use 3rd conditional sentences (if + past
perfect, would/wouldn’t have + past
participle) to talk about a hypothetical past
situation and its consequence. This situation is
impossible (unless you could travel back in time…)
If you had studied harder, you would have
passed the exam
(but you didn’t – and you cannot change that -)

10. Third Conditional
You can also use the past perfect continuous
(had been + verb + -ing) in the if-clause,
and/or could/might have instead of would
have in the other clause.
You could have died if you hadn’t been wearing
a hard hat

11. Second or Third Conditional?
If you studied more, you would pass the exam
Present/present reference (hypothetical) – 2nd
Conditional
If you had studied more, you would have passed
the exam
Past reference (impossible) – 3rd
Conditional

12. Mixed Conditionals (WTF!)
Sometimes we mix the second and third
conditionals when a hypothetical situation in
the past has a present/future consequence
If he had studied medicine, he would be a doctor
If she hadn’t forgotten to buy the tickets, we’d
be flying to London tomorrow

13. Online Exercises
http://www.impact-
english.com/members/Grammar_Practice/Always/test-
grammar/gr_prac_form-Cond3.htm
http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/thirdconditional/me
nu.php
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/3cond
1.htm
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?
id=3233