English : Unreal conditional

Unreal conditionals

If she were a good student, I would´t worry.

they could get fired if their boss saw them.

if I hadn´t the time, I would play soccer with you.

if it were sunny today, we could have a picnic.

- Unreal conditionals express a situation that is not true because of certain circumstances

- In unreal conditional sentences, the circumstances are alredy given and the situation cannot happen, therefore making it imaginary or hypothetical.

- Unreal conditionals use the simple past tense to represent a present imaginary situation

- They use the past perfect to represent a past imaginary situation.

PRESENT IMAGINARY SITUATION OR SECOND CONDITIONAL

IF- CLAUSE RESULT CLAUSE

Simple past Would/could/might+ base

(be=were) form of the verb

PAST IMAGINARY SITUATION OR THIRD CONDITIONAL

IF-CLAUSE RESULT CLAUSE

Past perfect Would/could/migh have+ past participle