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ENGLISH
 LESSONS

 


Conditional Tense 
  (example : to call)

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

                Long Form

              Contracted Form

   I would call     I would not call       I wouldn't call        Would I call?
   You would call     You would not call       You wouldn't call        Would you call?
   He/she/it would call     He would not call       He wouldn't call        Would he call?
   We would call     We would not call       We wouldn't call        Would we call?
   You would call     You would not call       You wouldn't call        Would you call?
   They would call     They would not call       They wouldn't call        Would they call?

                                            1)  The conditional:  would + verb, is used to refer to an imaginary or hypothetical situation,
                                                 with an 'if' clause in the past.

                                                 Ex : ◊  If I saw an accident, I would call an ambulance.
                                                        ◊  I would call an ambulance if I saw an accident.
                                                           It is possible that you will never see an accident, but here you are describing
                                                           your probable reaction in such circumstances.

                                                           Tom is not rich but he likes fast cars.
                                                        ◊  If Tom had more money, he would buy a fast car.

                                             2)  In English, there are different conditional structures :

   Present + Present (what is recommended in this situation)  If you see an accident, call a doctor!
   Present + Future   (possible future situation)  If I see an accident, I will call a doctor.
   Past + Conditional (imaginary situation)  If I saw an accident, I would call a doctor.
   Past Perfect + Conditional Perfect
  
(the accident occurred but I didn't see it)
 If I had seen the accident,
 I would have called a doctor.

 


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