Present Unreal Conditional Tense Examples: Definition, Structure, Rules, Exercises [PDF Available] 

Present unreal conditional examples: There are two kinds of conditional sentences: real and unreal. Real Conditional describes real-life situations. Unreal Conditional describes unreal, imaginary situations. Although the various conditional forms might seem quite abstract at first, they are actually some of the most useful structures in English and are commonly included in daily conversations. The Present Unreal Conditional is used to talk about what you would generally do in imaginary situations. In this blog, we will discuss everything you need to know about present unreal conditional tense examples, rules, sample worksheets and much more!

What is Present Unreal Conditional Tense?

The present unreal conditional tense is a grammatical construction used in English to talk about hypothetical or unreal situations in the present or future. It is often used to express conditions that are contrary to fact, unlikely, or imaginary. This tense is also sometimes called the “present unreal conditional” or “second conditional.”

Structure For Present Unreal Conditional Tense

Present Unreal Conditional Tense Rules And Points to Remember

The present unreal conditional tense, often referred to as the second conditional, is used to express unreal or hypothetical situations in the present or future. Here are some rules and points to remember for forming and using the present unreal conditional tense:

1. If Clause (Condition): The “if” clause introduces the unreal or hypothetical condition. It is typically in the past simple (or past continuous) tense.
   • Examples:
     • If I had a lot of money…
     • If she were here right now…
2. Result Clause (Consequence): The result clause follows the “if” clause and describes the hypothetical outcome. It uses the modal verb “would” followed by the base form of the main verb.
   • Examples:
     • …I would travel the world.
     • …she would help you.
3. Use “Were” for All Subjects: In the “if” clause, the verb “be” is often replaced with “were” for all subjects (I, he, she, it, we, they). This is a common feature of the present unreal conditional.
   • Example:
     • If I were you, I would study harder.
4. Modals in the Result Clause: Other modal verbs like “could,” “might,” or “should” can be used in the result clause to express different shades of meaning.
   • Examples:
     • If I had more free time, I could take up a new hobby.
     • If you called ahead, they might reserve a table for us.
     • If she practised regularly, she should improve her skills.
5. Negative Form: To make negative sentences in the present unreal conditional, you add “not” after the modal verb “would.”
   • Examples:
     • If I didn’t have to work tomorrow, I would go to the concert.
     • If they didn’t live so far away, we would visit more often.
6. Questions: You can turn present unreal conditional sentences into questions by switching the word order, making the “if” clause interrogative.
   • Examples:
     • Would you travel the world if you had a lot of money?
     • What would she do if she were here right now?
7. Hypothetical or Imaginary Situations: The present unreal conditional is used to discuss situations that are contrary to fact, unlikely, or imaginary. It’s often used for making polite requests, giving advice, or discussing hypothetical scenarios.
   • Example:
     • If I were the president, I would make education free for everyone. (Hypothetical scenario)
8. Differentiating from the First Conditional: The first conditional is used for likely or real future conditions, while the present unreal conditional is used for hypothetical or unreal present or future conditions.
   • First Conditional: If it rains tomorrow, I will stay home. (Realistic future condition)
   • Present Unreal Conditional: If it rained tomorrow, I would stay home. (Hypothetical future condition)

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Present Unreal Conditional Tense Exceptions

While the present unreal conditional tense, also known as the second conditional, generally follows the rules and structure mentioned earlier, there are a few exceptions or variations to be aware of:

1. Using “Was” Instead of “Were”: In informal spoken English, it’s common to use “was” instead of “were” in the “if” clause for the first and third-person singular subjects (I, he, she, it). For example, “If I was rich…” or “If she was here…” In more formal writing or when emphasizing correctness, “were” should still be used.
2. Omitting “If”: In informal speech, native speakers sometimes omit the word “if” in the condition clause. For example, “I were you” instead of “If I were you.” This is more common in casual conversation and may not be considered grammatically correct in formal writing.
3. Using “Should” for Expressing a Strong Recommendation: In some cases, the modal “should” is used in the result clause to express a strong recommendation or advice, even in unreal conditional sentences. For example, “If you were feeling tired, you should take a break.” This indicates that taking a break is strongly advised in the hypothetical situation.
4. Mixing Tenses: In complex sentences, it’s possible to mix tenses in the unreal conditional. For instance, you might use a past perfect verb in the “if” clause and a modal verb in the result clause. This can create more complex hypothetical situations.
   • Example: If she had studied harder last year, she would be better prepared for the exam now.
5. Using “Could” or “Might” for Additional Uncertainty: In addition to “would,” you can use “could” or “might” in the result clause to express a sense of possibility or uncertainty about the outcome in unreal conditional sentences.
   • Example: If I won the lottery, I might buy a big house.
6. “Unless” Clauses: “Unless” clauses can also express unreal or hypothetical conditions. In these clauses, the unreal aspect is inherent in the structure, and they function similarly to unreal conditional sentences.
   • Example: Unless you helped me, I wouldn’t finish the project. (This means if you don’t help me, I won’t finish the project.)

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How to Make Present Unreal Conditional Tense Negative

To make the present unreal conditional tense negative, you need to include “not” after the modal verb “would” in the result clause. Here’s the basic structure for creating negative sentences in the present unreal conditional tense:

If + past simple verb (in the “if” clause), would + not (or wouldn’t) + base form of the verb (in the result clause)

Here are some examples:

1. If I didn’t have to work tomorrow, I wouldn’t stay at home.
   • In this example, “didn’t” (the negative form of “did”) is used in the “if” clause to make it negative, and “wouldn’t” is used in the result clause to form the negative result.
2. If she weren’t so busy, she wouldn’t decline the invitation.
   • “Weren’t” is the negative form of “were” in the “if” clause, and “wouldn’t” is used in the result clause to express the negative outcome.
3. If they didn’t live so far away, we wouldn’t hesitate to visit them.
   • “Didn’t” is the negative form of “did” in the “if” clause, and “wouldn’t” is used in the result clause to convey the negative meaning.

How to Make Present Unreal Conditional Tense Positive

To form the present unreal conditional tense in a positive sentence, you should use the modal verb “would” in the result clause, following the “if” clause. Here’s the basic structure for creating positive sentences in the present unreal conditional tense:

If + past simple verb (in the “if” clause), would + base form of the verb (in the result clause)

Here are some examples:

1. If I had a million dollars, I would travel the world.
   • In this example, “had” is the past simple form of “have” used in the “if” clause, and “would” is used in the result clause to express the positive hypothetical result.
2. If she were here right now, she would help you.
   • “Were” is used instead of “is” in the “if” clause, and “would” is used in the result clause to indicate a positive hypothetical outcome.
3. If it rained tomorrow, the picnic would be cancelled.
   • “Rained” is used in the “if” clause, and “would” is used in the result clause to convey a positive hypothetical result.

Common Regular Verbs in Present Unreal Conditional Tense

Here are some common regular verbs in the present unreal conditional tense presented in a table below:

Verb	Example Sentence
Work	If I had more free time, I would work on my novel.
Read	If he had a library card, he would read more books.
Study	If she were better at math, she would study engineering.
Travel	If we had enough money, we would travel the world.
Visit	If they lived closer, we would visit them more often.
Cook	If I knew the recipe, I would cook a delicious meal.
Call	If you gave me your number, I would call you.
Sing	If she had a good voice, she would sing in the choir.
Dance	If he were more confident, he would dance at the party.
Swim	If it were warmer, I would swim in the lake.

Common Irregular Verbs in Present Unreal Conditional Tense

Here are some common irregular verbs in the present unreal conditional tense presented in a table:

Irregular Verb	Base Form	Example Sentence
Be	Were	If I were taller, I would play basketball.
Have	Had	If she had a better job, she would buy a new car.
Do	Did	If they did more exercise, they would be healthier.
Go	Went	If he went to the party, he would have a great time.
Come	Came	If she came to the meeting, she would learn a lot.
See	Saw	If we saw a shooting star, we would make a wish.
Take	Took	If I took a day off, I would relax at home.
Make	Made	If he made more money, he would buy a bigger house.
Sing	Sang	If they sang together, they would sound amazing.
Have (possession)	Had	If I had more books, I would have a larger library.

Present Unreal Conditional Tense Examples

Here are some examples of the present unreal conditional tense, both with regular and irregular verbs, presented in a table:

Condition (If Clause)	Result (Result Clause)
If I had more free time,	I would work on my novel.
If he had a library card,	he would read more books.
If she were better at math,	she would study engineering.
If we had enough money,	we would travel the world.
If they lived closer,	we would visit them more often.
If I knew the recipe,	I would cook a delicious meal.
If you gave me your number,	I would call you.
If I were taller,	I would play basketball.
If she had a better job,	she would buy a new car.
If they did more exercise,	they would be healthier.
If he went to the party,	he would have a great time.
If she came to the meeting,	she would learn a lot.
If we saw a shooting star,	we would make a wish.
If I took a day off,	I would relax at home.
If he made more money,	he would buy a bigger house.
If they sang together,	they would sound amazing.
If I had more books,	I would have a larger library.

Present Unreal Conditional Tense Sample Exercises

Question 1: What is the correct form for the verb “be” (singular) in the “if” clause of a present unreal conditional sentence?

A. Is
B. Am
C. Was
D. Were

Answer: D. Were

Question 2: Which sentence is in the present unreal conditional tense?

A. If I’m hungry, I eat a snack.
B. If I were hungry, I would eat a snack.
C. If I’m hungry, I will eat a snack.
D. If I’m hungry, I ate a snack.

Answer: B. If I were hungry, I would eat a snack.

Present Unreal Conditional Tense Sample Exercises PDF 

Types of Tenses Chart
Past Tense	Present Tense	Future Tense
Simple Past Tense	Simple Present Tense	Simple Future Tense
Past Continuous Tense	Present Continuous Tense	Future Continuous Tense
Past Perfect Tense	Present Perfect Tense	Future Perfect Tense
Past Perfect Continuous Tense	Present Perfect Continuous Tense	Future Perfect Continuous Tense
Past Unreal (Third Conditional)	Present Unreal (Second Conditional)	Future Unreal (Mixed Conditional)

Related Read

Idioms	Synonyms	Antonyms
Idioms to Express Sadness	Synonyms of Ephemeral	Antonyms of Brave
Idioms to Express Surprise	Synonyms of Welcome	Antonyms of Selfish
Idioms to Express Friendship	Synonyms of Cry	Antonyms of Victim
Idioms to Express Excitement	Synonyms of Huge	Antonyms of Misogyny
No Pain No Gain Meaning, Synonyms, Examples	Synonyms of Jovial	Antonyms of Lazy

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