1. Present Real
If I go to the store, I will buy some eggs.
| If I go to the store [If-clause] | I will buy some eggs [result-clause] |
| If I go to the store [present tense] | I will buy some eggs [future tense] |
Usage: Use this form when there is a real intention of doing the thing that the speaker says he/she is going to do.
2. Present Unreal
If I went to the store, I would buy some eggs
| If I went to the store [If-clause] | I would buy some eggs [result-clause] |
| If I went to the store [past tense] | I would buy some eggs ["would" + simple form] |
If I were a fish, I would swim in the bathtub.
| If I were a fish [If-clause] | I would swim in the bathtub [result-clause] |
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If I were a fish [past tense] Note: When you are using this form and the verbin the if-clause is "to be", then use "were" with both 1st and 3rd person singular. |
I would swim in the bathtub ["would" + simple form] |
Usage: Use this form when the speaker does not have any intention of doing the thing that he/she is talking about. Also, use this form when the statement is clearly in opposition to reality.
3. Past Unreal (Counterfactual)
If I had gone to the store yesterday, I would have bought some eggs.
| If I had gone to the store yesterday [If-clause] | I would have bought some eggs [result-clause] |
| If I had gone to the store yesterday [past perfect tense] | I would have bought some eggs ["would" + present perfect] |
Usage: Use this form when the statement is clearly counter to the actual record of events as they occurred in the past.
Note: Instead of always using "will" or "would" in the result clause, you may also use other modals instead; however, you can only use certain modals to replace each one.
| will |
can, could, shall, should, may, might, must, Example:
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| would |
could, might Example:
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