Reported Speech
The Reported speech or indirect speech is a structure that we use when we report or mention of something someone has said previously. Here are several sites that will help you understand its use.
Conditional
The "Conditionals" are certain structures, which, if certain condition, event or circumstance is true, then a particular result happens.
zero conditional
Notice that we are thinking about a result that is always true for this condition. The result of the condition is an absolute certainty. We are not thinking about the future or the past, or even the present. We are thinking about a simple fact. We use the present simple tense to talk about the condition. We also use the present simple tense to talk about the result. The important thing about the zero conditional is that the condition always has the same result.
Examples
If you visit London, go on the London Eye.
If unemployment is rising, people tend to stay in their present jobs.
When I'm concentrating, please don't make so much noise.
First Conditional
We are talking about the future. We are thinking about a particular condition or situation in the future, and the result of this condition. There is a real possibility that this condition will happen.
Notice that we are thinking about a future condition. We use the present simple tense to talk about the possible future condition. The important thing about the first conditional is that there is a real possibility that the condition will happen.
Examples
If it rains today, I'll stay at home.
If he is busy now, I will come back tomorrow.
If I have time, I'll visit my parents this afternoon.
If he doesn't do his homework, he cannot go to the party.
second conditional
The second conditional is like the first conditional. We are still thinking about the future. We are thinking about a particular condition in the future, and the result of this condition. But there is not a real possibility that this condition will happen. It's not very real, but it's still possible.
Examples
If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world.
If I had more money, I would buy a nice apartment.
If I were you, I would buy that car.
If he were in my place, he wouldn't do this.
Third Conditional
The first conditional and second conditionals talk about the future. With the third conditional we talk about the past. We talk about a condition in the past that did not happen. That is why there is no possibility for this condition. The third conditional is also like a dream, but with no possibility of the dream coming true.
Notice that we are thinking about an impossible past condition. So the condition was not true, and that particular condition can never be true because it is finished. The important thing about the third conditional is that both the condition and result are impossible now.
Examples
If I had won the lottery, I would have traveled around the world.
If I had known the answer, I would have raised my hand.
If they had left earlier, they would have arrived on time.
If we had studied harder, we might have passed the test.
First Conditional
We are talking about the future. We are thinking about a particular condition or situation in the future, and the result of this condition. There is a real possibility that this condition will happen.
Notice that we are thinking about a future condition. We use the present simple tense to talk about the possible future condition. The important thing about the first conditional is that there is a real possibility that the condition will happen.
Examples
If it rains today, I'll stay at home.
If he is busy now, I will come back tomorrow.
If I have time, I'll visit my parents this afternoon.
If he doesn't do his homework, he cannot go to the party.
second conditional
The second conditional is like the first conditional. We are still thinking about the future. We are thinking about a particular condition in the future, and the result of this condition. But there is not a real possibility that this condition will happen. It's not very real, but it's still possible.
Examples
If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world.
If I had more money, I would buy a nice apartment.
If I were you, I would buy that car.
If he were in my place, he wouldn't do this.
Third Conditional
The first conditional and second conditionals talk about the future. With the third conditional we talk about the past. We talk about a condition in the past that did not happen. That is why there is no possibility for this condition. The third conditional is also like a dream, but with no possibility of the dream coming true.
Notice that we are thinking about an impossible past condition. So the condition was not true, and that particular condition can never be true because it is finished. The important thing about the third conditional is that both the condition and result are impossible now.
Notice that we are thinking about an impossible past condition. So the condition was not true, and that particular condition can never be true because it is finished. The important thing about the third conditional is that both the condition and result are impossible now.
Examples
If I had won the lottery, I would have traveled around the world.
