Upper-Intermediate Grammar

Upper-Intermediate · Grammar Reference

Unit 11 — Conditionals and Hypothesis

first & second conditional · third conditional · wish/if only/I'd rather

11.1 First and second conditionals

First conditional

First conditional sentences are based on fact in real time. They express a very possible condition and its result.

If you pass your exams, I'll buy you a car.

Second conditional

Second conditional sentences are not based on fact. They express a situation which is contrary to reality in the present and future. This unreality is shown by a tense shift from present to past.

If I were taller, I'd join the police force.

📌 Note

The difference between first and second conditional sentences is not about time. Both can refer to the present and future. By using past tense forms in the second conditional, the speaker suggests the situation is less probable, improbable, or imaginary.
We can use were instead of was, especially in a formal style.

11.2 Third conditional

Form: if + Past Perfect, would have + past participle

Third conditional sentences are not based on fact. They express a situation which is contrary to reality in the past.

If you'd come to the party, you'd have had a great time.I wouldn't have met my wife if I hadn't gone to France.

Each of the clauses in a conditional sentence can have a different time reference. The result is a mixed conditional.

If we had eaten (we didn't), we wouldn't be hungry (we are).I wouldn't have married her (I did) if I didn't love her (I do).

11.3 Other structures that express hypothesis

The tense usage with wish, if only, and I'd rather is similar to the second and third conditionals. Unreality is expressed by a tense shift.

Structure	Meaning	Example
I wish / If only + Past Simple	Present unreal wish	I wish I were* taller. (But I'm not.)*
I wish / If only + Past Perfect	Past regret	If only you hadn't said* that! (But you did.)*
I'd rather + Past Simple	Preference about another's action	I'd rather you didn't wear* lots of make-up. (But you do.)*

I'd rather you … is often used as a polite way to tell someone to do something differently. The negative form I'd rather you didn't … is especially useful as a polite way to say 'no'.

📌 Note

wish … would can express regret, dissatisfaction, impatience, or irritation because someone WILL keep doing something: I wish you'd stop smoking. I wish you'd do more to help in the house.
If we are not talking about willingness, wish … would is not used: I wish my birthday wasn't in December. I wish I could stop smoking.

enough

When enough is used as a determiner, it comes before the noun: We haven't got enough food.
When it is used as an adverb, it comes after the adjective, adverb, or verb: Your homework isn't good enough. You don't exercise enough.