Conditional 1:
a) possible event that depends on a condition
b) refers to the future
c) grammar tenses=present, future
If I get into a car accident, my auto insurance will cover the hospital bills.
(present) (future)
He will call you if his plane lands early.
(future) (present)
If the citizens elect a new president, then I will find a new job.
(present) (future)
I will inform you if I get the job.
(future) (present)
Conditional 2:
a) possible OR impossible situation
b) the possible situations refer to the future, the impossible is hypothetical (use your imagination!)
c) grammar tenses=past, "would" (a modal verb)
d) *Even though we use the past tense, it DOES NOT refer to the actual past
If I won a million dollars, I would donate to SOS charities. (possible in the future)
(past) (modal verb)
If I were you, I would see a doctor as soon as possible. (impossible, hypothetical)
(past) (modal verb)
I would renovate the house if I had more money. (possible in the future)
(modal verb) (past)
I would be King John III if I could be anybody for one day. (impossible, hypothetical)
(modal verb) (past)
Conditional 3:
a) impossible situations
b) impossible situations that refer to a finished, unreachable past
c) grammar: past perfect (had+past participle), modal perfect verb (would have+past participle)
If my mother had spoken German with me as a little girl, I would have been a fluent German speaker! (past perfect) (modal perfect verb)
She would not have failed the exam if she had studied more.
(modal perfect verb) (past perfect)
If I had gone to the doctor a month ago, I would have recovered by now.
(past perfect) ( modal perfect verb)
They would not have broken up if he had treated her better.
(modal verb) (past perfect)
