LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CONDITIONAL IN ENGLISH

 I) GENERAL RULES OF THE CONDITIONAL

There are four ways to construct a conditional grammatical sentence in English:

A) The zero conditional: is used for an established fact 

- Structure: If + simple present tense / simple present tense

- Example: If you eat too much, your  stomach hurts

- Example: If you drive too fast, you have an accident

B) The first conditional: is used for a situation that will happen if you meet a condition 

- Structure: If + simple present tense / will + verb base 

- Example: If you learn your English lessons, you will get good grades

- Example: If you gave me a chance, I would prove myself in English

C) The second conditional: is used for an unreal present, the condition is possible but is not met 

- Structure: If + simple past / would + verbal base  

- Example: If you went abroad more often, you would master foreign languages in no time

- Example: If we had more time, I would look into a new lesson chapter

D) The third conditional: is used for an unreal past, it didn't happen like that 

- Structure: If + had + past participle / would have + past participle   

- Example: If I had booked a table in advance, we wouldn't have waited so long

- Example: If we had been there, we would have helped her out 

A FEW THINGS WORTH BEARING IN MIND:

1. If can be replaced in the first two conditionals by: when, as soon as, the moment, before, after, until, unless  

- Example n°1: As soon as you win the contest, you will realize how good it feels

- Example n°2: The moment you get there, they will tell you what to do

2. In a more formal context: should can be used instead of if 

- Example n°1: Should you come across her, give her my regards  

- Example n°2: Should we finish early, we will pay them a surprise visit

3. We can replace will and would: with might or could 

Compare: 

- I will call you if I have any further questions; 

- I might call you if I have any further questions; 

- I would call you if I had any further questions; 

- I could call you if I have any further questions;

- I could call you if I had any further questions. 

- I could have called you if I had any further questions; I could have called you if I had had any questions

II) THE AMERICAN SUBJUNCTIVE

Americans use the subjunctive with some verbs: 

Example: the CEO insisted that he go on a business trip (= the 3rd person -s/-es is missing in this example: the subjunctive is presented as a verb basis, it is not conjugated).

1. The following verbs are followed by the subjunctive: that + subject + verb base: advise, ask, demand, desire, insist, intend, prefer, propose, recommend, request, require, suggest.

- Example n°1: The shopkeeper has proposed that we get a pay rise at the end of the month. 

- Example n°2: We insisted that we go Dutch. 

- Example n°3: We suggested that he be promoted to CEO.

2. The subjunctive is also used after certain adjectives such as: advisable, important, necessary, crucial, preferable, vital. 

- Example n°1: It is essential that he know the lay of the land before purchasing the property

- Example n°2: It is important that he get a higher wage

- Example n°3: It is necessary that he leave earlier not to be trapped in snarl-ups

3. The subjunctive is also used with the conditional: this form is only noticeable with the verb be. 

- Example n°1: If I were you, I would postpone the meeting

- Example n°2: If I were you, I would learn my lessons regularly

- Example n°3: If I were you, I would make the decision more quickly