Real and unreal conditionals

When are real conditionals used?

Real conditionals are used to express a cause and a result that are likely to happen. The present real conditional is used to talk about what you normally do in real-life situations. You can express routines and habits, predictions and promises, advices, warnings or instruccions.
*Expressing certainty: When the speaker is certain that the results will occur whenever the condition in the if clause is true.
Example: If she buys a product, the store deliver it in her house.
* Routines and Habits: If I take a the bus, I arrive to work at 7:00.
*Predictions: If it rains today, they will stay home.
* Promises: If you help me, I will help you too.
*Advice: If you feel bad, you should stay home.
*Warnings: If you don't come tomorrow, she will be mad.
*Instructions: If your cell phone has a red light, charge it.


Real conditionals are divided in two types:

    1. Zero conditional: It is used to express a general truth, the cause and result will always be the same. Zero conditionals can be used to communicate scientifics facts.

FORM

[If / When ... Simple Present ..., ... Simple Present ...]

[... Simple Present ... if / when ... Simple Present ...]

Examples: If you cross an international date line, the time changes.

Phosphorus burns if you expose it to air.
If I wake up early, I go jogging.

NOTE: you can use "when" instead of "if".

     2. First conditional: It expresses conditions and their possible results whether be in the present or in the future. 

FORM

[If / When ... Simple Present ..., ... Simple Future ...]

[...Simple Future ... if / when ... Simple Present ...]

Examples: If you save money, you will be able to buy the car.

If I have enough time, I'll watch the football match. 

now that you know how to use real conditionals you can practice here:

Test what you have learned 

When are unreal conditionals used?

Unreal Conditional is used to talk about what you would generally do in imaginary situations.

You can give advices and opinions or ask for permission using the unreal conditional.
* Advices: If I were you, I would read more.
*Permissions: Would it be ok if I stay here?

FORM

[If ... Simple Past ..., ... would + verb ...]

[... would + verb ... if ... Simple Past ...]

Examples: 

If I owned a car, I would drive to work. But I don't own a car.

She would travel around the world if she had more money. But she doesn't have much money.

I would read more if I didn't watch so much TV.

Mary would move to Japan if she spoke Japanese.

If they worked harder, they would earn more money.

A: What would you do if you won the lottery?
B: I would buy a house.

A: Where would you live if you moved to the U.S.?
B: I would live in Seattle.

 exercise 

1. REAL—TRUE
   The present tense in a conditional clause expresses that the activity may occur–is likely to occur. (Conditions are favorable for the action to happen).
   PRESENT	LIKELY CONDITION
   Jack mows the grass — He does this routinely whenever he has time.	if he has time.
   FUTURE	LIKELY CONDITION
   Jack will mow the grass — He doesn't know if he will have time yet.	if he has time.
   PAST	LIKELY CONDITION
   Jack mowed the grass — He did it whenever he had time.	if he had time.

   UNREAL—UNTRUE / HYPOTHETICAL
   The past or past perfect in a conditional clause expresses that the activity isunlikely to occur. (Conditions are unfavorable for the action to happen.) Also called a "remote conditional".
   PRESENT	UNLIKELY CONDITION
   Ted would mow the grass – He doesn't have time.	if he had time.
   FUTURE	UNLIKELY CONDITION
   Ted would mow the grass – He won't have time.	if he had time.
   PAST	UNLIKELY CONDITION
   Ted would have mowed the grass  – He didn't have time.	if he had had time.

   
   
   

   STATEMENT
   We use special verbs with if when we are talking about situations that we imagine; that is, things that probably will not happen. The unreal statement includes the preterit. The result clause includes a would or could modal form.
   CONDITION	RESULT — WOULD / COULD
   If I were/was a millionaire,	I would buy a private jet.
   If I were/was a millionaire,	I could buy a private jet.
   If I could choose anything,	I would buy a house.
   If I could choose anything,	I would buy a house. I could buy¹ a house.
   Were I a millionaire,	I could buy a house.

   NEGATIVE / QUESTION
   A negative is formed by placing not after the verb in the hypothetical clause or in the other clause.  A question is formed by inverting the subject and auxiliary verb (would or could) in the result clause.
   CONDITION	WOULD OR COULD NOT
   If I were/was a millionaire, (I am not)	I wouldn't travel on a commercial airline.
   If I weren't /wasn't a millionaire, (I am)	I would have to travel like everyone else.
   If I could vacation anywhere,	I wouldn't stay here.
   If you were a millionaire,	could you stop working?
   If you could choose,	would you move away?