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Lets have a look at conditionals sentences…

Conditional sentences

The most common form of conditional sentences is made up of two clauses.  Usually they start with an if, but they don’t have to.     If it rains, I’ll stay home. =  I’ll stay home if it rains.

The clause with the if is the subordinate and the clause without the if is the main clause.

We’ll have a look at four types of conditional clauses.

Zero-type conditionals

In the zero-type conditionals, both clauses use present tense.

If clause                                   main clause

If + present tense                     present tense

If you heat water                     it boils.

This form of conditional is used for facts and to express truth.

First-type conditionals

This type is used to refer to future possibilities that are certain or probable.

If clause main clause

If + present tense                  future tense

If she doesn’t call me            I’ll be sad

If you eat more                      you’ll be sick

Second-type conditionals

This type is used to express hypothetical or  “unreal” present or future possibilities.

If clause                                main clause

If + past tense                       would + verb

If I had time                           I would take you to dinner

If it had wings                        it would fly

If I were you                           I would call back

If you were coming with us    you would have fun

If conditionals were easy       I would be out of a job

Third-type conditionals

This type is for hypothetical(unreal) possibilities in the past.

If clause                             main clause

If + past perfect tense        would have + past participle

If we had known about this restaurant    we would not have came here.

If I had known about the storm               I would have stayed home.

If she had known about the holiday        she wouldn’t have gone to work.