Types of conditional sentences

Conditional sentences are usually divided into three basic types referred to as Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3. Each has its own variations, but the elements are as follows:

type 1: What will you do if you lose your job?
Asking/talking about something that is quite possible:
'if + present + 'will'

If I lose my job, I will go abroad

type 2: What would you do if you lost your job? Asking/talking about imagined situations/consequences now:

'if +past + 'would'

If I lost my job, I would go abroad

type 3: What would you have done if you had lost your job?
Asking/talking about imagined situations/consequences then:
'if + past perfect + 'would have'

If I had lost my job, I would have gone abroad

The abbreviation // can be used instead of will in all persons, and shall can be used instead of will after / and we [> 9.36]. The abbreviation d can be used instead of would in all persons, and should can be used instead of would after / and we.

The conditional can be expressed with other modal verbs [e.g. > 14.19],

as well as with shall will should and would:

We could have had a good time (e.g. if we had had the money)

14 Conditional sentences

Mixed tense sequences in conditional sentences

Sense and context permitting, any tense sequence is possible:

Type 1 type 3

If I am as clever as you think, I should have been rich by now

Type 2 type 3

If you knew me better, you wouldn't have said that

Type 3 type 2

If I had had your advantages, I'd be better off now.