Conditionals and Wish
Grammar 9: Conditionals and Wish
Conditionals talk about possible or imaginary situations. Wish expresses regret or desire. Both are frequently tested in your Bac grammar and writing sections!
The 4 Main Conditionals
| Type | Structure | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | If + present, present | General truths | If you heat ice, it melts. |
| First | If + present, will + base verb | Real future possibility | If it rains, we will cancel the trip. |
| Second | If + past simple, would + base verb | Unreal/hypothetical present/future | If I had money, I would travel. |
| Third | If + past perfect, would have + past participle | Unreal past (regret) | If she had studied, she would have passed. |
Wish + Past Forms
- Wish + past simple → Regret about the present
→ I wish I had more time. (But I don’t.) - Wish + would → Complaint about someone/something
→ I wish you would listen! - Wish + past perfect → Regret about the past
→ I wish I had revised harder.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ❌ If I will have time… → ✅ If I have time…
- ❌ I wish I can fly → ✅ I wish I could fly.
- Never use “would” in the if-clause (except with “wish”):
❌ If I would win… → ✅ If I won…
Quick Practice
Complete the sentences:
- If I ______ (be) you, I’d apologize.
- She wishes she ______ (not fail) the test.
- If they ______ (leave) earlier, they wouldn’t have missed the train.
✅ Answers: 1. were 2. hadn’t failed 3. had left
Final Tip
In essays, use second or third conditionals to show critical thinking: → “If students revised regularly, they would perform better.”