The Conditional Mood

The Conditional Mood

There are many variations of the conditional mood (please see document at the bottom of this page). However, the most common and widely used is the Present Unreal Conditional.

The Present Unreal Conditional

If + S + simple past...,... S + would + verb (in the infinitive form)

or

S + would + verb (in the infinitive form) ...  if + S + simple past

Interrogative structure:

QW + would + S + verb ... if + S + simple past ... ? 

Note: The verb 'to be' becomes 'were' in the simple past for the purpose of the present unreal conditional, regardless of the subject of the sentence.

The Present Unreal Conditional is used:

• to talk abouy what you would do in imaginary situations.

Examples:

• If I had enough money, I would buy a house. But I don't have the money, so I won't buy it.
• If they were better, they would win the championship. But they are not.
• If she had a boat, she would travel around the world, But she doesn't have a boat.
• If I were an airplane pilot, I would go to China. But I'm not a pilot.
• If I were president, I would help the poor. But I'm not president.
• I would read a lot more if I had the time. But I'm quite busy and I don't have the time.
• They would get fired if they did not listen to their boss. But they listen to their boss.
• If I were you, I would recycle more. But I'm not you.
• If I could I would save the planet. But I can't.

Questions in the conditional form:

• What would you do if you were president?
• Where would you go if you had 20 million dollars?
• How many cars would you buy if you were millionaire?
• What would you do if you were 20 years old?