Modal auxiliary verbs like will, would, can, could often appear in conditional sentences. And conditional sentences often use the word if (if). There are two types of conditional sentences: real and unreal conditions.

1. Executable Condition (Type I Condition)

Real conditionals are when we talk about something that can happen. For example: How will we eat ice cream tomorrow?

Structure

Future: If + S + simple present … S + {will/can/shall/may/must} + [Verb in simple form]

Example: If he tries much more, he will improve his English.

Habit: If + S + simple present tense … + simple present tense …

Example: If the doctor has morning office hours, he visits every patient in the afternoon.

Imperative sentences: If + S + simple present tense … + command form of verb + …

Example: If you go to the Post Office, mail this letter to me.

2. Conditional sentence cannot be executed (Condition type II, III)

This form usually refers to things that did not happen or could have happened in a different situation. For example: If I were rich, I would travel around the world.

2.1. Present unreal condition (Form 2):

Like if we had a lot of money now, we would go around the universe.

Present or future time:

If + S + simple past + … + {would/could/should/might} + [Verb in simple form]

For example:

• If i had enough money now, I would buy a tourist trip to the moon.
• He would tell you about it if he were here.
• If he didn't speak so quickly, you could understand him.

2.2. Unreal conditions in the past (Form 3)

For example, when you are 70 years old, you will tell your children and grandchildren, if in the past he was handsome, he would have flirted with the girl next door.

Past time:

If + S + past perfect … + {would/could/should/might} + have + [past participle verb]

• If we had known that you were there, we would have written you a letter.
• If we hadn't lost our way, we would have arrived sooner.

3. How to use will, would, could, should in some other cases.

Normally these auxiliary verbs are not used with if in the conditional clause of the conditional sentence, but there are some exceptions as follows:

• If you (will/would): if … please, used when you want to be polite, remember that would is more polite than will. Ex: If you will/would wait for a moment, i will go and see if Mr Conner is here.
• If + Subject + Will/Would : If … bear. voluntary representation. Ex If he will listen to me, i can help him.
• If you could: Please. Polite Expression A request that the speaker assumes the other person will agree to as a matter of course.
• If + subject + should + … + command : Something that is very unlikely to happen.

4. How to use Hope and wish

To put it simply, hope is saying things that can happen and wish is things that are certain not to happen.

• We hope that they will come (We don't know if they are coming or not).
• We wish that they will come (We know they can't come).
• We hope that he came there yesterday (We don't know if he came there or not)
• We wish that he had come there yesterday (He didn't come)

4.1. Wish in the future.

S + wish + (that) + S + {could + verd/would + verd/were + verb-ing} + …

We wish that you could come to the party tonight.

4.2. Wish in the present

S + wish + (that) + S + Simple past tense.

Note that the verb after wish must be in the past tense and tobe must be in the past.

I wish that I had washed the clothes yesterday.

She wishes that she could have been there.

Note:

• to wish sb smt: means "wish". I wish you a happy birthday.
• to wish to do smt: means "what to want". Why do you wish to see the manager.

5. How to use as if, as though (as if).

The clause after these two idioms is in the form of an impossible condition.

5.1. In the present time:

If the verb in the previous clause is conjugated in the simple present tense, then the verb in the following clause must be in the simple past tense. To be uses were with all persons.

S + verb (present) + {as if/as ough} + S + verb (past) …

The old lady dresses as if it were winter even in the summer.

He acts as though he were rich. (He is not rich in fact).

5.2 Past tense.

The following verb is in the past perfect tense.

S + verb (past) + {as if/ as though} + S + verb (past perfect) …

Jeff looked as though he had seen a ghost

6. How to use used to (to be/get) used to.

6.1: Used to + verb:

Just a past habit. Kind of like when I was alive, I used to play with electrical outlets.

S + used to + [verb in simple form]

When David was young, he used to swim once a day.

6.2. Tobe/ to get used to + V_ing/ Noun.

Gradually becoming familiar.

S + {be/get} + used to + [verb-ing] …

He is used to swimming every day.

7. How to use would rather

would rather … than is the same as prefer … to, but the grammar is not the same. Would rather is followed by a non-to infinitive, but after prefect is a V-ing or a noun. When comparing two sides, would rather is with than and prefect is used with to.

• We would rather die in freedom than lice in slavery.
• I would rather drink Coca than Pepsi.
• I prefer drinking Coca to drinking Pepsi.
• I prefer Coca to Pepsi.

S + would rather + [verb in simple form]

Jim would rather go to class tomorrow than today

S + would rather + have + [verb in past participle]

Jim would rather have gone to class yesterday than today.

Note: in everyday speech we often use wish instead of would rather that