Conditionals

Conditionals

1. Real

   • generic factual conditionals
     • the conditional construction refers to statements of universal truth or general validity. Usually, simple present in both clauses.
       • If the temperature falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, water freezes.
   • habitual factual conditionals
     • express situations or events, in the present or past; the relationship between the clauses is based on habit instead of physical law.
       • If I made a promise, I kept it. If she is his bridge partner, they usually lose big.
   • inference conditionals
     • the proposition in the result clause is inferred from the proposition in the if clause. they make use of a much wider range of tense and aspect markers, and they also occur with certain modal auxiliaries.
       • If that call is for me, it must be my wife. If Ann is wearing a wedding ring, she and Bill must have got married. If Ann and Bill are buying the wedding rings, they will probably get married soon.
   • future conditionals
     • Express predicted future results of conditions. Future conditionals expressing future results may be about plans or other contingencies.
     • it is possible to talk about a future result that depends upon something that happened in the past . In such cases, the verb in the if clause could be in the simple past, or in the present perfect.

2. Unreal