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Present Conditional Tense
 
 
 
PRESENT CONDITIONAL TENSE

Present Conditional Tense in English Grammar

What is Present Conditional Tense?

"The conditional tense is created with two clauses, a dependent clause, known as the 'if' clause, and the main clause."

In English Language, The present conditional express a situation now that isn't true or isn't happening or just an imaginary situations. We also call this the present unreal or present contrary-to-fact.

Examples of Present Conditional tense:

Examples:

• If I had a million dollars, I would give it away to all my friends.
Note : If I had a million dollars" is in the past tense, but it describe a possible situation (or impossible) situation in the present.
I would give it away to all my friends. tells the outcome of the condition. You can use "would," "could," "might," or "should" in these kinds of sentences.

 

• I wouldn't do that, if I were you. (uses of verb in the present conditional)
Note : Well, I'm not you, so this describes a situation that is not true. Notice that "were" is used with "i." Isn't that strange? But it's correct.

 

• If she had more time today, she could meet her friend for lunch.
Note : The situation is present, but notice the use of "had," the past tense of "have." This means that she doesn't have time.

There are basically two types of Present Conditional sentences:

• Present Real Conditional

• Present Unreal Conditional

USES OF PRESENT CONDITIONAL TENSE
Present Real Conditional Tense

Used to talk about what you normally do in real-life situations.

The Present Real Conditional is used to talk about what you normally do in real-life situations.

Both "if" and "when" are used in the Present Real Conditional.

Using "if" suggests that something happens less frequently.

Using "when" suggests that something happens regularly.

Examples:
  • • When I have a day off from work, I usually go to the beach.
  •   ('When I have a day off' means: I regularly have days off from work.)
  • • If I have a day off from work, I usually go to the beach.
  •   ('If I have a day off' means: I rarely have days off from work.)
More Examples:
  • • I study if there is nothing on TV.
  • • If it snows a lot [it may really snow], I can ski.
  • • If the weather is nice, she walks to her office.
  • • Payal helps me with my homework when she has time.
  • • When I have a day off from office, I often go to the super market.
  • • If I go to a friend's house for dinner, I usually take some chocolates.
  • • If she comes tomorrow [she may actually come], we will go to the movies.
Present Unreal Conditional

Used to talk about what you would generally do in imaginary situations.

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

Examples:
  • • If I owned a car, I would drive to office.
  • • If I won the lottery, I would buy a new house.
  • • Rosy would move to Japan if she spoke Japanese.
  • • I would study more if I didn't watch so much TV.
  • • If I moved to the U.S., I would live in Newyork.
  • • If I were rich [I am not rich], I would buy a car.
  • • If they worked harder, they would earn more money.
  • • She would travel around the world if she had more money.
  • • If Rinkal were here [she isn't here], would you tell her the truth?
EXCEPTION to Conditional sentences with Modal Verbs

The words 'can', 'shall' and 'may' cannot be used with 'would'. Instead, they must be used in these special forms.

Modal Verbs Special forms
Can + would = could
Shall + would = should
May + would = might
   
Note: The words 'could', 'should', 'might' and 'ought to' include conditional, so you cannot combine them with 'would'.
Examples:
  • • If I went to Japan, I could learn Japanese. -(Correct)
  • x If I went to Japan, I would can learn Japanese. -(Not Correct)
  • • If she had time, she might go to the party. -(Correct)
  • x If she had time, she would may go to the party. -(Not Correct)
  • • If I had more time, I could exercise after work. -(Correct)
  • x If I had more time, I would exercise after work. -(Not Correct)
  • • If he invited you, you really should go. -(Correct)
  • x If he invited you, you really would go. -(Not Correct)
PRESENT CONDITIONAL TENSE TABLE
PRESENT CONDITIONAL TENSE
Present Real Conditional
  • If I have time, I study English.
  • (Sometimes I have time.)
Present Unreal Conditional
  • If I had time, I would study English.
  • (I don't have time.)

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