Conditionals and the Subjunctive

Based on the Grammar Presentation on Pages 408-409

Present and Future Real Conditionals

Present Real Conditional = Type 0 Future Real Conditional = Type 1

If Clause If it is hot, If it isnt hot,

Result Clause I drink iced tea. I dont drink iced tea

If Clause If rains, If it doesnt rain, If you have finished your homework,

Result Clause we will close the windows. we wont close the windows. we can have dinner.

Present Unreal Conditionals (Type 2)

Actual Situations
It is rarely hot in Antarctica. It is actually hot in Egypt. It rarely rains in the Sahara. It usually rains the jungle.

Conditionals
If Clause If it were hot in Antarctica, If it werent hot in Egypt, If it rained in the Sahara, If it didnt rain in the jungle, Result Clause

that would be very strange.

Past Unreal Conditionals (Type 3)

Actual Situations
They stopped, so they were late. They didnt drive past the old man, so Donna didnt buy the chest of drawers. They helped the man, so he sent them a gift. They didnt drive past the old man, so he didnt go into shock.

Conditionals
If Clause If they hadnt stopped, If they had driven past the old man, If they hadnt helped the old man, they wouldnt have been late. Donna would have bought the chest of drawers. he wouldnt have sent them a gift.

If they had driven past the old man,

he would have gone into shock.

Mixed Conditionals
Actual Situations Conditionals
If Clause He didnt have children, so he is alone. If he had had children, Result Clause he wouldnt be alone.

His memory is not good, so he didnt buy his medicine.

If his memory were he would have good, bought his medicine.

Conditional with Wish

Actual Situations
She will miss the sale.

Conditionals
Statement with Wish She wishes (that) she wouldnt miss the sale. They wish (that) they could buy the chest of drawers.

They cant buy the chest of drawers.

They arrived late

They wish (that) they hadnt arrived late.

But use present tense, future tense or infinitive after hope.

Actual Situations
Maybe she will miss the sale.

Hope for the future

Statement with Hope She hopes (that) she doesnt miss the sale/She hopes (that) she wont miss the sale/She hopes not to miss the sale. I hope (that) I can buy a new car next year/I hope (that) I will be able to buy a new car next year/I hope to buy a new car next year. I hope (that) they arrive soon. I hope (that) they will arrive soon.

Maybe I can buy a new car next year.

Maybe they will arrive soon.

Notice the difference in meaning between hope and wish:

Hope for something possible or likely:
Statement with hope I hope that they arrive soon.

Wish for something less possible or likely:

Statement with wish I wish they would arrive soon.

I hope I can buy a new car next year.

I wish I could buy a new car next year.

I hope to transfer to a university.

I wish that I could transfer to a university.

Subjunctive with if only

Actual Situations
She will miss the sale.

Conditionals
Statement with Wish If only she wouldnt miss the sale.

They cant buy the chest of drawers.

If only they could buy the chest of drawers.

They arrived late

If only they hadnt arrived late.