Level: beginner

Verbs in time clauses and conditionals usually follow the same patterns as in other clauses but there are some differences when we:

talk about the future

make hypotheses.

Talking about the future

In time clauses with words like when, after and until, we often use present tense forms to talk about the future:

I'll come home when I finish work.

You must wait here until your father comes.

They are coming after they have had dinner.

In conditional clauses with words like if, unless, even if, we often use present tense forms to talk about the future:

We won't be able to go out if it is raining.

I will come tomorrow unless I have to look after the children.

Even if Barcelona lose tomorrow, they will still be champions.

We do not normally use will in time clauses and conditional clauses:

I'll come home when I finish work. (NOT will finish work )

We won't be able to go out if it rains. (NOT will rain )

It will be nice to see Peter when he gets home. (NOT will get home )

You must wait here until your father comes. (NOT will come )

but we can use will if it means want to or be willing to:

I will be very happy if you will come to my party.

We should finish the job early if George will help us.

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Level: intermediate

Making hypotheses

Some conditional clauses are like hypotheses, so we use past tense forms.

We use past tense forms to talk about something that does not happen or is not happening in the present:

He could get a new job if he really tried.

(= He cannot get a job because he has not tried.)

If Jack was playing, they would probably win.

(= Jack is not playing so they will probably not win.)

If I had his address, I could write to him.

(= I do not have his address so I cannot write to him.)

We use past tense forms to talk about something that we believe or know will not happen in the future:

We would go by train if it wasn't so expensive.

(= We will not go by train because it is too expensive.)

I would look after the children for you at the weekend if I was at home.

(= I cannot look after the children because I will not be at home.)

We use past tense forms to make suggestions about what might happen in the future:

If he came tomorrow, we could borrow his car.

If we invited John, Mary would bring Angela.

After I/he/she/it, we can use were instead of was:

If Jack was/were playing, they would probably win.

We would go by train if it wasn't/weren’t so expensive.

I would look after the children for you at the weekend if I was/were at home.

We use the past perfect to talk about something which did not happen in the past:

If you had seen him, you could have spoken to him.

(= You did not see him so you could not speak to him.)

You could have stayed with us if you had come to London.

(= You could not stay with us because you did not come to London.)

If we hadn't spent all our money, we could take a holiday.

(= We have spent all our money so we cannot take a holiday.)

If I had got the job, we would be living in Paris.

(= I did not get the job, so we are not living in Paris.)

If the main clause of a hypothetical conditional is about the present or future, we use a modal:

If I had got the job, we might be living in Paris now.

(= I did not get the job so we are not living in Paris now.)

If you had done your homework, you would know the answer.

(= You did not do your homework so you do not know the answer.)

If the main clause is about the past, we use a modal with have:

If I had seen him, I would have spoken to him.

(= I did not see him so I did not speak to him.)

You could have stayed with us if you had come to London.

(= You could not stay with us because you did not come to London.)

If you had invited me, I might have come.

(= You did not invite me so I did not come.)