Conditional Sentence Types in English Cheat Sheet

Form: If + present simple, present simple

Use: Something that always or usually happens when the condition is true.

• If I have enough money, I buy my favorite car.
• If the weather is nice, she walks to work.

Form: If + present simple, will + base verb

Use: A realistic situation in the future and its likely result.

• If I have money, I will travel around the world.
• If I am good at speaking, I will get the highest mark.

Form: If + past simple, would + base verb

Use: An imaginary or unlikely situation now or in the future.

• If I had ample money, I would spend it to gain more experience.
• If I had enough time, I would study more.
• If I were good at communication, I would start my own business.
• If you helped me, we would finish the project earlier.

In formal English, use were for every subject in the second conditional: If I were, if he were.

Form: If + past perfect (had + past participle), would/could have + past participle

Use: An imaginary past that didn’t happen, usually to express regret or criticism.

• If I had had enough money, I would have traveled all around the world.
• If you had studied enough, you would have passed the exam easily.
• If you had driven carefully, he would not have died.
• If you had talked to me before, I could have given you some advice.