Episode 28 — 가정법: 현실이 아닌 세계를 말하는 법

MisoEnglish Grammar Series

Episode 28 — 가정법

현실이 아닌 세계를 말하는 법

"문법을 외우지 말고, 느껴라" Don't memorize grammar. Feel it.

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🧭 들어가며 | Introduction

가정법은 현실이 아닌 세계를 말하는 법이다.

Conditionals are how we talk about worlds that aren't real.

"만약 내가 새라면, 날아갈 텐데."
"If I were a bird, I would fly away."

실제로 나는 새가 아니다. 하지만 영어는 이 상상의 세계를 정밀하게 표현하는 도구를 가지고 있다.

I'm not actually a bird. But English has a precise tool for expressing this imagined world.

가정법에는 네 가지 유형이 있다. 각각 얼마나 현실적인가에 따라 구분된다.

There are four types of conditionals. They're distinguished by how realistic the situation is.

이것이 MisoEnglish 시리즈의 마지막 편이다. 28편의 여정을 끝내는 데 가장 어울리는 주제다.

This is the final episode of the MisoEnglish series. There's no better topic to end 28 episodes with.

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1. 가정법의 네 가지 유형 | Four Types of Conditionals

0형 — 항상 사실인 것 (Zero Conditional)
1형 — 현실적인 가정 (First Conditional)
2형 — 비현실적인 현재/미래 가정 (Second Conditional)
3형 — 과거에 대한 반사실 가정 (Third Conditional)

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2. 0형 가정법 — 항상 사실 | Zero Conditional — Always True

과학적 사실, 보편적 진리, 습관을 표현한다. "~하면 반드시 ~한다" — 예외 없는 결과.

Expresses scientific facts, universal truths, habits. "Whenever ~ , always ~" — no exceptions.

If + 현재시제, 현재시제
If + present, present

 

If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.
물을 100도로 가열하면, 끓는다.

If it rains, the streets get wet.
비가 오면, 거리가 젖는다.

If I eat too much, I feel sick.
너무 많이 먹으면, 속이 안 좋아진다.

when으로 바꿔도 의미가 같다. Can replace "if" with "when" — same meaning.

When you heat water to 100°C, it boils. ✅

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3. 1형 가정법 — 현실적 가정 | First Conditional — Real Possibility

실제로 일어날 수 있는 미래의 가정. "만약 ~한다면, ~할 것이다" — 충분히 가능한 상황.

Realistic future possibility. "If ~ , will ~" — genuinely possible.

If + 현재시제, will + 동사원형
If + present, will + base verb

If it rains tomorrow, I will stay home.
내일 비가 오면, 집에 있을 거야.

If you study hard, you will pass.
열심히 공부하면, 합격할 거야.

If she calls, tell her I'm out.
그녀가 전화하면, 나 없다고 해줘. (tell = 명령문도 가능)

If I have time, I will visit you.
시간이 있으면, 방문할게.

⚠️ if절에는 will을 쓰지 않는다! Never use "will" in the if-clause!

~~If it will rain, I'll stay home.~~ ❌
If it rains, I'll stay home. ✅

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4. 2형 가정법 — 비현실적 현재/미래 | Second Conditional — Unreal Present/Future

현재 사실과 반대이거나, 일어날 가능성이 거의 없는 가정. "만약 ~라면(지금/미래에), ~할 텐데" — 현실이 아님을 안다.

Contrary to present reality, or highly unlikely future. "If ~ (now/future), would ~" — speaker knows it's not real.

If + 과거시제, would + 동사원형
If + past, would + base verb

If I had more money, I would travel the world.
돈이 더 있다면, 세계를 여행할 텐데. (지금 돈이 없다)

If I were you, I would apologize.
내가 너라면, 사과할 텐데. (나는 네가 아니다)

If she knew the answer, she would tell us.
그녀가 답을 안다면, 우리에게 말할 텐데. (모른다)

If I spoke French, I could live in Paris.
프랑스어를 한다면, 파리에서 살 수 있을 텐데.

were — 모든 주어에 were를 쓴다 | "Were" for All Subjects

2형 가정법에서는 주어에 관계없이 were를 쓰는 것이 격식체다.

In formal 2nd conditional, use "were" for all subjects.

If I were rich... ✅
(격식) If I was rich... ✅
(구어 — 둘 다 쓰임) If she were here... ✅
If he were taller... ✅

"If I were you" — 이 표현은 항상 were를 쓴다.

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5. 3형 가정법 — 과거에 대한 반사실 | Third Conditional — Unreal Past

과거 사실과 반대. "만약 그때 ~했더라면, ~했을 텐데" — 이미 지나간 일, 돌이킬 수 없음.

Contrary to past reality. "If ~ had happened, would have ~" — already over, can't be changed.

If + had + p.p., would have + p.p.
If + past perfect, would have + past participle

If I had studied harder, I would have passed.
더 열심히 공부했더라면, 합격했을 텐데. (
공부 안 했고, 불합격했다)

If she had called, I would have come.
그녀가 전화했더라면, 내가 갔을 텐데. (
전화 안 했고, 가지 않았다)

If it hadn't rained, we would have gone to the beach.
비가 오지 않았더라면, 해변에 갔을 텐데.

If I had known, I would have told you.
알았더라면, 말해줬을 텐데.

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6. 혼합 가정법 | Mixed Conditionals

3형의 조건 + 2형의 결과 — 과거의 조건이 현재에 미치는 영향.

3rd conditional condition + 2nd conditional result. The past condition still affects the present.

If + had + p.p. (과거), would + 동사원형 (현재)

If I had taken that job, I would be in London now.
그 직업을 받아들였더라면, 지금 런던에 있을 텐데.
(과거에 직업을 안 받았고, 그래서 지금 런던에 없다)

If she hadn't missed the plane, she would be here now.
비행기를 놓치지 않았더라면, 지금 여기 있을 텐데.

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7. 가정법 총정리 | Complete Conditional Map

유형 If절 주절 현실성

0형	현재시제	현재시제	항상 사실
1형	현재시제	will + 원형	현실적 가능성
2형	과거시제	would + 원형	비현실적 현재/미래
3형	had + p.p.	would have + p.p.	반사실적 과거
혼합	had + p.p.	would + 원형	과거→현재 영향

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8. wish — 소망 표현 | Wish — Expressing Desires

wish도 가정법과 같은 구조를 쓴다. 현실과 다른 소망을 표현할 때.

"wish" also uses the conditional structure. Expressing a desire that's different from reality.

현재/미래 소망 | Present/Future Wish (2형과 같은 구조)

I wish I were taller.
내가 더 키가 크면 좋을 텐데. (현실: 작다)

She wishes she could fly.
그녀는 날 수 있으면 좋겠다고 바란다.

I wish I knew the answer.
답을 알면 좋을 텐데.

과거 소망 | Past Wish (3형과 같은 구조)

I wish I had studied more.
더 공부했더라면 좋았을 텐데. (후회)

She wishes she hadn't said that.
그 말을 하지 않았더라면 하고 바란다.

if only — wish의 강조형

If only I were rich!
내가 부자라면 얼마나 좋을까!

If only I had listened to you!
네 말을 들었더라면 얼마나 좋았을까!

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📌 이번 편 요약 | Episode Summary

1. 0형 — If + 현재, 현재 / 항상 사실, 과학적 진리 Zero — If + present, present / always true, universal facts.
2. 1형 — If + 현재, will + 원형 / 현실적 미래 가능성 First — If + present, will + base / realistic future possibility.
3. 2형 — If + 과거, would + 원형 / 비현실적 현재/미래 가정 Second — If + past, would + base / unreal present or future.
4. 3형 — If + had p.p., would have + p.p. / 반사실적 과거 Third — If + had p.p., would have + p.p. / unreal past.
5. 혼합 — If + had p.p., would + 원형 / 과거 조건의 현재 영향 Mixed — past condition + present result.
6. if절에는 will 없음 — If it rains (❌ will rain) No "will" in the if-clause.
7. wish — 현재 소망(과거형) / 과거 소망(had p.p.) wish — present wish (past tense) / past wish (had p.p.).

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🎉 MisoEnglish 시리즈 완료! | MisoEnglish Series Complete!

28편의 여정이 끝났다.

The journey of 28 episodes is complete.

레벨 편 주제

Level 1	01–07	영어의 본성 — 문장의 뼈대
Level 2	08–14	시제의 세계 — 시간을 표현하는 법
Level 3	15–21	명사·관사·전치사·형용사·부사
Level 4	22–28	문장을 확장하는 법

이 시리즈를 통해 영어 문법을 외우는 것이 아니라 느끼는 것이 무엇인지 경험했기를 바란다.

Through this series, I hope you've experienced what it means not to memorize grammar — but to feel it.

문법은 도구다. 도구를 손에 익히면, 더 이상 문법을 생각하지 않아도 된다. 그때부터가 진짜 영어다.

Grammar is a tool. When the tool becomes part of you, you stop thinking about it. That's when real English begins.

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"문법을 외우지 말고, 느껴라." "Don't memorize grammar. Feel it."

© MisoEnglish Grammar Series | Level 4 — Episode 28 (Final)

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Conditionals: How to Talk About Worlds That Aren't Real

Four Types, One Map — The Final Episode

MisoEnglish Grammar Series — Episode 28

"Don't memorize grammar. Feel it."

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Introduction

"If I were a bird, I would fly away."

I'm not a bird. But that sentence works — and it works differently from "If it rains, I'll stay home." Both use "if." Both are conditionals. But they're expressing fundamentally different things: one is a real possibility; the other is an impossible wish.

English has four types of conditionals, each one sitting at a different point on the spectrum from real to completely imagined. This episode maps all four — and closes out the MisoEnglish series.

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1. Zero Conditional — Always True

For facts that are always true: scientific laws, universal truths, habits with predictable results.

If + present tense, present tense

If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.
If it rains, the streets get wet.
If I eat too much, I feel sick.

"When" can replace "if" with the same meaning.

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2. First Conditional — Real Possibility

For situations that could genuinely happen in the future.

If + present tense, will + base verb

If it rains tomorrow, I will stay home.
If you study hard, you will pass.
If she calls, tell her I'm out.

⚠️ Never use "will" in the if-clause:

~~If it will rain, I'll stay home.~~ ❌
If it rains, I'll stay home. ✅

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3. Second Conditional — Unreal Present or Future

For situations contrary to present reality, or futures the speaker considers highly unlikely.

If + past tense, would + base verb

If I had more money, I would travel the world.
(I don't have much money)

If I were you, I would apologize.
(I'm not you)

If she knew the answer, she would tell us.
(She doesn't know)

"Were" for all subjects (formal):

If I were rich... / If she were here... / If he were taller... "If I were you" — always uses "were."

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4. Third Conditional — Unreal Past

For situations contrary to what actually happened in the past. The past can't be changed — this is about regret, reflection, and alternate histories.

If + had + p.p., would have + p.p.

If I had studied harder, I would have passed.
(I didn't study; I didn't pass)

If she had called, I would have come.
(She didn't call; I didn't go)

If it hadn't rained, we would have gone to the beach.

If I had known, I would have told you.

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5. Mixed Conditionals

A past condition with a present result — the past choice still echoes in the present.

If + had + p.p. (past), would + base verb (present)

If I had taken that job, I would be in London now.
(I didn't take the job → I'm not in London now)

If she hadn't missed the plane, she would be here now.

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6. The Complete Map

Type If-clause Main clause Reality

Zero	present	present	Always true
First	present	will + base	Realistic future
Second	past	would + base	Unreal present/future
Third	had + p.p.	would have + p.p.	Unreal past
Mixed	had + p.p.	would + base	Past → present effect

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7. Wish — Expressing Desires Against Reality

"Wish" uses the same conditional structures.

Present/future wish (same as 2nd conditional):

I wish I were taller. (I'm not tall) She wishes she could fly.
I wish I knew the answer.

Past wish (same as 3rd conditional):

I wish I had studied more. (regret)
She wishes she hadn't said that.

If only — emphatic wish:

If only I were rich!
If only I had listened to you!

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Episode Summary

1. Zero — If + present, present / always true.
2. First — If + present, will + base / real future possibility.
3. Second — If + past, would + base / unreal present/future.
4. Third — If + had p.p., would have + p.p. / unreal past.
5. Mixed — past condition + present result.
6. No "will" in the if-clause.
7. wish — present wish (past tense) / past wish (had p.p.).

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🎉 MisoEnglish Series — Complete

28 episodes. Four levels. One idea.

Level Episodes Theme

Level 1	01–07	The nature of English — the skeleton of sentences
Level 2	08–14	The world of tense — expressing time
Level 3	15–21	Nouns, articles, prepositions, adjectives, adverbs
Level 4	22–28	Expanding the sentence

Grammar is a tool. When a tool becomes part of you, you stop thinking about it. You just use it. That's when real English begins.

"Don't memorize grammar. Feel it."

© MisoEnglish Grammar Series | Level 4 — Episode 28 (Final)

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