CONDITIONAL CLAUSES

Conditionals always have two parts: the Main Clause and the IF Clause
(When the If Clause goes first, it is followed by a comma, but you can also put the Main Clause first without using a comma between the clauses.)

Conditional Conjunctions:
IF is the most common one.
Others are:

As long as Provided/ Providing (that)

UNLESS = If not

(0 &) 1st Type Conditional (Real Possibility)

It is used for real - or possible - situations.

The If Clause goes in the Present Tense (usually Simple): If you want , If you are late again, If you have done your homework,

The Main Clause can go in: - Present Tense - Imperative - Present Modal Verb: can, may, must. But usually in - FUTURE SIMPLE:

-If you want, Ill help you -I ll be angry if youre late again -If youve done your homework, you can go out

UNLESS is the opposite of If:

If she doesnt call soon, Ill be angry = Unless she calls soon, Ill be angry. He will be late if he doesnt hurry up = He will be late unless he hurries up

2nd Type Conditional

Often called the "unreal" conditional because it is used for unreal impossible or improbable - situations. This conditional provides an imaginary result for a given situation.

The If Clause goes in

Simple Past Tense

The verb 'to be', when used in the 2nd conditional, is usually conjugated as 'were'.

The Main Clause goes in

Conditional Tense:
Would(nt) + infinitive (Could or Might are also possible but less common) If I were you, Id go to the doctors. If he studied more, hed pass all his subjects. They would buy a new house if they had more money.

3rd Type Conditional

Known as the "past" conditional because it refers only to past situations with hypothetical results.

The If Clause goes in - Past Perfect The Main Clause takes: WOULD(NT) (Could/ Might) HAVE + Past Participle
He would have found a new job if he had tried. We wouldnt have seen this film if you hadnt told me about it. If you had studied for the exam, you would have passed.

To sum up:
(Taken from

http://www.xtec.es/~ogodoy/sac/rephrasing/conditionals.htm)