Real conditionals and unreal conditionals

Real conditionals and unreal conditionals

1. What is a Real Conditional?a sentence with a conditional clause with a true situation is a real conditional

2. What is an Unreal Conditional? untrue situation is an unreal condition, a hypothetical condition or an imaginary present, past or future.

3. A conditional sentence is formed by a main clause (the consequence), a conjunction (if), and a conditional clause (the condition).

   • Example; I will go to the beach if it's sunny
     • or even: If it's sunny I will go to the beach
   • Past Real Conditional:If I had money, I spent it.
     • Present Real Conditional:If I have money, I spend it.
       • Future Real Conditional:If I have money, I will/am going to spend it.
   • In this case it is normally used " Would" to indicate an unreal condition
     • Past unreal Conditional:If I had had money, I would have spent it.
       • Present unreal Conditional:If I had money, I would spend it.
         • Future unreal Conditional:If I had money, I would spend it.
   • Modal verbs: Main clauses with real conditional tenses can have modal verbs. If I have money, I can spend it.
     • Can be used could and might instead of would in unreal conditional clauses. If I had money, I could spend it. → (I would be able to spend it.) If I had money, I might spend it. → (I would possibly spend it.)