What makes them “unreal”?

These patterns talk about imaginary, unlikely or contrary-to-fact situations. The tense in the if-clause shows distance from reality (“remoteness”), not real time.

Comma: use it when the if-clause comes first (If I knew, I’d tell you.); no comma when it comes last (I’d tell you if I knew.).

Second conditional — details

• Present/future hypothesis If there were a fire, it would be hard to escape.
• Continuous result If I worked nights, I would be sleeping now.
• Modals carry meaning would = result; could = ability/possibility; might = possibility: If it rained, we could stay in / it might be nice.
• be: was or were Both are possible after I/he/she/it; advice always uses If I were you: If I were you, I’d call him.
• Set phrase If it weren’t for / But for (=without): If it weren’t for your help, I wouldn’t manage.

Third conditional — details

• Past hypothesis If the jacket had been cheaper, I might have bought it.
• Continuous options If she hadn’t called, we wouldn’t have been waiting so long.
• Cause avoided Had it not been for… (formal inversion): Had it not been for the helmet, he would have died.

Mixed conditionals (quick snapshot)

Real life often mixes time of condition and result:

These are still “unreal” because one side is contrary to fact.

Formal inversion (no if)

• Second Were I free, I would join you.
• Third Had we left earlier, we would have arrived on time.

Meaning notes & common pitfalls

• ❌ Don’t use will after if in these patterns (except to show willingness/politeness: If you’ll wait here…).
• Keep time logic clear: second = unreal now/soon; third = unreal then (finished past).
• Contrast carefully: If he was/were here, he would help (he isn’t) vs If he had been here, he would have helped (he wasn’t).
• Modals change nuance: would (likely result), could (ability/possibility), might (less likely).