PRESENT
CONTINUOUS CONDITIONAL
In type 2 conditional sentences, the continuous form of the present conditional may be used:
If I were a millionaire, I wouldn't be doing this job!
1. Present continuous conditional - form.
This form is composed of two elements: the present conditional
of the verb 'to be' (would be) + the present participle of the
main verb (base+ing).
| Subject | would be | base+ing |
| He They |
would
be would be |
going living |
| Affirmative | ||
|
We |
would be |
coming |
| Negative | ||
|
You |
wouldn't be |
working |
| Interrogative | ||
|
Would |
you be |
sharing? |
| Interrogative negative | ||
|
Wouldn't |
they be |
playing? |
Example: to live, Present continuous conditional.
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
|
I would be living |
I wouldn't be living |
Would I be living? |
|
You would be living |
You wouldn't be living |
Would you be living? |
|
He would be living |
She wouldn't be living |
Would he be living? |
|
We would be living |
We wouldn't be living |
Would we be living? |
|
You would be living |
You wouldn't be living |
Would you be living? |
|
They would be living |
They wouldn't be living |
Would they be living? |
2. Present continuous conditional - function
This form is common in Type 2 conditional sentences. It expresses an unfinished or continuing action or situation, which is the probable result of an unreal condition:
- I would
be working in Italy if I spoke Italian.
(but I don't speak Italian, so I am not working in Italy. - She would
be living with Jack if she wasn't living with her parents.
(but she is living with her parents so she's not living with Jack).
More examples:
- I wouldn't be eating this if I wasn't extremely hungry.
- If I had an exam tomorrow, I'd be revising now.
- You wouldn't be smiling if you knew the truth.
NOTE: This form is also found in: mixed
conditional sentences (See section on Mixed Conditional Sentences);
in indirect speech:
She said "I'll
be working in the garden."
She said she would be working in
the garden. (See section on Indirect Speech)
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