Module 2 · Conditionals

Conditionals Overview — Real vs. Unreal

Intermediate40 min25 questions8 sections

Step 1

Quick Look

A conditional sentence has two parts: the IF-clause (the condition) and the result clause. English sorts all conditionals into two families — REAL (possible, factual) and UNREAL (imaginary, impossible). Master the family system first; the individual conditionals become easy after that.

Sentence TypeStructure + Example

Structure

If+condition, result.

If it rains, we will cancel the site visit.

Order is flexible

Result+if+condition (no comma)

We will cancel the site visit if it rains.

The comma rule

If-clause FIRST comma after it. Result clause first no comma.

The golden rule of all conditionals: UNREAL = one step back in time. To show something is imaginary, English shifts the tense backwards — present ideas use past tense, past ideas use past perfect. This single trick unlocks every unreal conditional in this module.

Two clauses, two orders

Same meaning either way: the comma depends only on which clause comes first.

Step 2

When to Use It

Use 1

The REAL family — things that do or can happen

Facts, habits, and possible futures. Normal tenses, no shifting.

If you heat ice, it melts. (fact — always true)
If the client agrees, we will sign tomorrow. (possible future)
If I had free time in those days, I visited the site myself. (real past habit)

Use 2

The UNREAL family — imagination, dreams, regrets

Tense shifts one step back to signal ‘this is not reality’.

If I had ₹10 crore, I would buy that corner plot. (I don’t have it — imaginary present)
If we had launched last year, we would have beaten the competition. (we didn’t — past regret)

Use 3

Spot the difference — same idea, two families

Watch how the tense shift changes the meaning:

If prices fall, I will buy. (REAL — I think they may fall)
If prices fell, I would buy. (UNREAL — I doubt they will fall)
The facts are identical; the speaker’s belief is different.

Use 4

The one rule that never changes

WILL and WOULD almost never enter the if-clause. The if-clause carries the condition in a simple tense; will/would live in the result clause.

If he calls (NOT will call), tell me immediately.
If I knew (NOT would know) the answer, I would tell you.

Extra

The Map of Module 2

Conditional	Formula	Meaning	Chapter
Present Real (Zero)	If + present, present	Facts, habits	2
Future Real (First)	If + present, will + V1	Possible future	3
Present Unreal (Second)	If + past, would + V1	Imaginary now	4
Past Real	If + past, past	Real past habits	5
Past Unreal (Third)	If + past perfect, would have + V3	Past regrets	6
Future Unreal	If + past/were to, would + V1	Unlikely future	7
Continuous & Mixed	combinations	Advanced	8
Wish & Were to	wish + past forms	Desires, regrets	9

The map of Module 2

Time runs left to right. Unreal = one step back from its real partner. The number in each circle is the chapter.

Step 4

Hindi Concept Note

अHindi Concept Noteहिंदी में समझिए

Conditional मतलब ‘अगर... तो...’ वाले वाक्य। हर conditional के दो हिस्से हैं: शर्त (if-clause) और नतीजा (result)।

REAL = जो हो सकता है या होता है: अगर बारिश होगी, तो हम नहीं जाएँगे।

If it rains, we will not go.

UNREAL = ख़याली बात: अगर मेरे पास दस करोड़ होते, तो मैं वह plot ख़रीद लेता।

If I had ten crores, I would buy that plot.

ध्यान दें — हिंदी में unreal का signal है ‘होते / होता / लेता’ (…ता form)। English में signal है tense का एक क़दम पीछे जाना: have had, will would।

और सबसे बड़ा rule: हिंदी में ‘अगर बारिश होगी’ future में है, पर English के if-clause में will नहीं आता — If it rains (NOT will rain)।

Step 5

Common Mistakes Hindi Speakers Make

Wrong

Right

Why

If it will rain, we will stay home.

If it rains, we will stay home.

No will in the if-clause. Hindi ‘hogi’ misleads you — English uses present tense there.

If I would have money, I would invest.

If I had money, I would invest.

No would in the if-clause either. The if-clause takes simple past for unreal.

If you heat water it boils.

If you heat water, it boils.

If-clause first comma after it.

We will sign, if the client agrees.

We will sign if the client agrees.

Result clause first no comma.

If prices fell, I will buy.

If prices fell, I would buy. / If prices fall, I will buy.

Don’t mix families: past + would (unreal) or present + will (real). Never past + will.

Suppose if he comes late...

Suppose he comes late... / If he comes late...

‘Suppose’ already means ‘if’ — using both is an Indian-English double.

Step 6

Signal Words

Family-spotting signals:

REAL normal tenses; the speaker believes it can happen

UNREAL tense shifted back (had, knew, were, would have); the speaker is imagining

ifunlessas long asprovided thatin case — all introduce conditions

would / could / might in the result clause = you are in the unreal family

Step 7

Practice

Set A

Fill in the blanks

0 / 10

1
Label REAL or UNREAL: If I were the CM, I (fix) these roads first.
2
If you mix blue and yellow, you (get) green.
3
If the loan (get) approved this week, we will book the unit.
4
If I (know) his number, I would call him right now.
5
If she (come) tomorrow, give her the file.
6
If we (have) a bigger office, we would hire more staff. (we don’t)
7
Water freezes if the temperature (drop) below zero.
8
If they (offer) a discount, I will close the deal today.
9
If he (be) serious about the plot, he would have visited by now.
10
Unless you (hurry), you will miss the train.

Set B

Correct the mistake

0 / 8

11
If it will be sunny tomorrow, we will visit the site.
12
If I would know the answer, I would tell you.
13
If you heat ghee it melts quickly. (punctuation)
14
We will leave early, if the meeting ends on time. (punctuation)
15
If I had wings, I will fly to Mumbai.
16
Suppose if the buyer backs out, what will we do?
17
If she will call, tell her I am in a meeting.
18
If prices would fall, I would buy two units.

Set C

Translate into English

0 / 7

19
अगर बारिश हुई, तो हम घर पर रहेंगे।
20
अगर मेरे पास समय होता, तो मैं ज़रूर आता।
21
अगर तुम मेहनत करोगे, तो सफल होगे।
22
अगर पानी को गर्म करो, तो वह भाप बन जाता है।
23
अगर वह कल आए, तो मुझे बता देना।
24
अगर मैं तुम्हारी जगह होता, तो यह offer ले लेता।
25
जब तक तुम कोशिश नहीं करोगे, कुछ नहीं होगा।

Step 8

Answer Key

Show answersHide answers

Answers · Set A

would fix (UNREAL)

get (REAL)

gets (REAL)

knew (UNREAL)

comes (REAL)

had (UNREAL)

drops (REAL)

offer (REAL)

were (UNREAL)

hurry (REAL)

Answers · Set B

If it is sunny tomorrow, we will visit the site. (No will in the if-clause.)

If I knew the answer, I would tell you. (No would in the if-clause.)

If you heat ghee, it melts quickly. (Comma after the if-clause.)

We will leave early if the meeting ends on time. (No comma when result comes first.)

If I had wings, I would fly to Mumbai. (Unreal would, not will.)

Suppose the buyer backs out — what will we do? / If the buyer backs out... (‘Suppose’ = ‘if’; use one.)

If she calls, tell her I am in a meeting. (Present tense in the if-clause.)

If prices fell, I would buy two units. (Simple past in the if-clause.)

Answers · Set C

If it rains, we will stay home.

If I had time, I would definitely come.

If you work hard, you will succeed.

If you heat water, it turns into steam.

If he comes tomorrow, let me know.

If I were you, I would take this offer. / If I were in your place, I would accept this offer.

Unless you try, nothing will happen.

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Your notes for this chapter

Next up · Chapter 2Present Real Conditional (Zero Conditional)

The conditional of facts, rules, and habits: if you heat ice, it melts.