Real conditional sentences can express generalizations and inferences.

Real conditional sentences can express generalizations and inferences.

1. Generalizations include facts that are always true and never change, and they include present or past activities that are or were usually true.

 

 

Examples of real conditional sentences expressing facts:If water boils, it turns to steam. If water boils, it will turn to steam.

Examples of real conditional sentences expressing inferences:-If it is raining, the streets are getting wet.

 Predictive conditional sentences can express predictions and plans.

 

. Predictive conditional sentences usually contain simple present tense in the if-clause and will or be going to in the result clause. However, a weaker modal of prediction (may or should, for example) can be used in the result clause to express less certainty.

Examples of predictive conditional sentences:

If the exam is hard, many students are going to fail.

 Imaginative conditional sentences are the most difficult for many learners of English because of the unusual relationship between form (the tenses used) and meaning.

 Imaginative conditional sentences can express hypothetical or contrary-to-fact events or states.

 

1. Hypothetical events or states are unlikely but possible in the present or future.

  Imaginative conditional sentences expressing hypothetical events or states have a past tense verb in the if-clause and would + verb (or might or could + verb) in the result clause.

Examples of hypothetical conditional sentences (present and/or future time):

If George had enough money, he would buy a new car.

 

2. Contrary-to-fact events or states are either impossible in the present time or did not happen in the past.

Imaginative conditional sentences.

Some examples:

If I were you, I would not do that. (I am not you; she doesn’t study for exams; it isn’t raining.)

Imaginative conditional sentences

Some examples:

If George had had enough money, he would have bought a new car.