Conditionals

Conditional sentences are used to describe a situation or condition that may or may not happen depending on certain conditions.  These sentences usually use "if" to introduce the dependent clause.  "Unless" can also be used when there is a negative in the main clause.  The dependent clause can go either at the beginning of the sentence or at the end.  If it is at the beginning of the sentence, a comma is used.

There are three types of conditionals:
1. The Real Present 
This type is used to describe a situation that may or may not occur regularly in the present.  It can also be used to describe a situation that may or may not occur in the future.  The present tense is always used in the dependent clause.

Examples:
If I get up on time, I usually take the bus.  (I usually take the bus if I get up on time.)
If I win the lottery, I'll take a trip around the world.  (I'll take a trip around the world if I win the lottery.)
I'm going to the movies later if I get all of my work done.
I can't help you if you don't tell me what the problem is.

2. The Unreal Present
This type is used to describe a situation that is not possible in the present.  Although the past tense is used,  the meaning is in the present.  In the dependent or if clause the verb "were" is used for all forms of the verb to be.  In the independent clause, the Conditional Tense (would + the base form of a verb) is used.  In addition, could and might can also be used in the independent clause.

Examples:
If I were younger, I would take up jogging and run the marathon.
If I had a car, I would get to school on time. (I'd get to school on time if I had a car.)
If she were wearing sneakers, she could participate in the soccer game.
I might be able to go on vacation this summer if I had the money. (You don't have the money.)

3. The Unreal Past
This type of conditional is used to describe a past situation that was not possible.  In the independent clause the Conditional Perfect or a past or perfect modal is used.  In the dependent clause, use the Past Perfect Tense.

Examples:
If I had been born in 1901, I wouldn't have known about computers.
If the Yankees had won the World Series last year, the team would have gotten a diamond ring.
I could have won the lottery if I had bought a ticket.
I would have gone to the movies with you yesterday if I hadn't had work to do.

Wish vs. Hope
When you use the verb hope, it describes a condition or situation that is possible or that may happen.
Examples:         I hope that I can buy a new car.
                           My son hopes that he will make the soccer team.

Wish is used to show a condition that you want to exist but for some reason doesn't.  It also indicates some kind of regret over a particular situation or event.  The verb wish can be used in the Present Tense to show situations that are in the present, past, or future.  With wish and a noun clause the use of that is optional.
When you use wish to show a situation that you want to be different in the present, we use the past tense.
Examples:         I wish (that) I had a sports car.
                             My family wishes (that) I was studying to be a doctor.
When you use wish to indicate a future situation that you want to be different, use could or the conditional tense with would.
Examples:          I wish I could go on vacation this summer.
                              I wish would get to class on time.
When you use wish to show an action that happened in the past and that you regret, use the past perfect form of the verb.
Examples:            I wish that I had come to the United States when I was younger.
                              My friend wishes that he had graduated from high school.