Unreal conditions

An unreal condition is a type of conditional. Related link: conditionals.

The if clause (describing an unreal situation)

When you want to describe a past situation which is unreal, or imagine how a past situation might have been different, you backshift the verb in the if clause.

What really happened                   What might have happened
(real past)                                   (unreal past)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
She won a small amount of     ->    If she had won the jackpot,...
money in the lottery.

She wasn't paying attention.   ->    If she had been paying a little more   
                                                  attention,...

Substituting if

Instead of using if to introduce the unreal situation, you can invert the subject and verb.

     If she had won the jackpot,...     ->    Had she won the jackpot,...
     If your work had been more        ->    Had your work been more 
     satisfactory,...                                 satisfactory,...

This is more typical of formal language, especially if it is written.

The main clause

Describing possible present consequences

You use would (do) or would be (doing) to describe the possible present consequences of the unreal past situation.

If she had won the lottery, she wouldn't be working for the Tatler any more.
If she had been paying more attention, she wouldn't be in such a mess.

Describing possible past consequences

You use would have (done) or would have been (doing) to describe the possible past consequences of the unreal past situation.

If she had won the lottery, she would have bought a snazzy red sports car.
She wouldn't have been daydreaming in class if the lesson had been a little more interesting.


The if clause and the main clause can be used in either order.

Conditionals

     Conditionals es el tema central de esta nueva entrada.

     Existen 4 tipo de condicionales: tipo 0, tipo 1, tipo 2 y tipo 3. Vamos a ver cuándo se usan cada una de las condicionales, la estructura de los 4 tipos y ejemplos de cada uno de ellos.

     Empecemos por la condicional de tipo 0. Este tipo de condicional se usa para expresar una verdad o un hecho científico. La estructura de este tipo de condicional es:

                      If-Clause                        Main Clause
          If/When + present simple -------> present simple

Ejemplo: If/When you mix red and yellow paint, you get orange.

     La condicional de tipo 1 se usa para expresar una situación real o muy probable en el presente o futuro. La estructura de este tipo de condicional es:

       If-Clause                                      Main Clause
If + present simple -------> future simple, imperative, can/must/may/etc +
                                       infinitive

Ejemplo: If I finish my homework tonight, I will/might/etc go to the cinema.

Nota: Unless + affirmative verb (=if + negative verb)
         I'll not be able to come unless Jack gives me a lift (=if Jack does not give a lift)

     La condicional de tipo 2 se usa para hablar de situaciones hipotéticas en el presente.

       If-Clause                                                Main Clause
If + past simple/past continuos ---> would/could/might/etc + present bare
                                                    infinitive

Ejemplos:
  If I watched that serial, I would know what they were talking about.
  If Jack was playing today, we would have a much better chance of winning.
  If I were you, I would tell her the truth.

Nota: If I were you, ... se utiliza para dar consejos.

     La condicional de tipo 3 se usa para expresar situaciones hipotéticas en el pasado. También son usados para expresar arrepentimientos o críticas.

       If-Clause                                                     Main Clause
If + past perfect (simple/continuous) ---> would/could/might/etc + have +
                                                           past participle

Ejemplos:
If they had invited me, I would have gone to the party.
If it hadn't been raining today, we would have gone to the party.