Conditionals

Factual Future (predictive) Imaginative

Hypothetical
Counterfactual
Timeless Time-bound (unlikely but
(impossible)
possible)

Strong Weakened
Generic
Habitual (habit) condition or condition or
(scientific)
result result

Present or past Present or Present or

Outside time All times Past time Future time Present time Past time
time future time future time

Past tense +
modal +
Present or past Same or Past tense + Present + Past perfect
Present tense infinitive; or Past tense+
tense; or different modal + have future tenses; tense + modal
Present tense + other modal were to + modal +
would + tenses or + past or present + + have + past
+ infinitive infinitive + infinitive
infinitive modals participle imperative participle
modal +
infinitive

e.g. If you heat e.g. If I e.g. If you e.g. If they e.g. If you e.g. If you e.g. If you e.g. If Einstein e.g. If you had
water to 100°C, estimate the create a financed the analyse the assess the exported the were alive contextualised
it boils. results first, it spreadsheet, project, they results, you will data table, it would today, he the argument it
always helps. you can may have define the thoroughly, you require too would solve the would have
If we formulate the distributed the problem more might establish much data. problem. been more
misinterpreted results more product too. clearly. If you the cause of If I were to useful.
the results, we easily. If you proceed with the problem. process all this
indicated this legislate for the experiment, If you benefit data, I would
immediately. xxx, it could interpret the from the study, structure the
occur. If you findings you should resulting graph
researched the carefully. identify the key very carefully.
area, you must factors in its
have realised success.
the problem
before we did.

Predictions. Possible plans. Present or . . . but you

Scientific facts Habits Implications Inferences . . . but he isn't.
Commands Advice future dream didn’t.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Based on Celce-Murcia, M & Larsen-Freeman, D 1999, The grammar book , 2nd edn, Heinle & Heinle, USA, pp. 548, 552