條件語氣與虛擬語氣是比較容易混淆的兩種語氣，二者的常用詞如下
條件語氣常用詞：if; may, might; can, could; will, would
虛擬語氣常用詞：I wish; If I were; If I had; It must be; Would have; It may be
由于兩種語氣都用到if-clause失仁，接下來便以if為例闡述兩者區(qū)別與聯(lián)系。
Conditional mood
Subjunctive mood
Q:
Do both conditionals and subjunctive mood overlap each other at some point??
Yes, they do. Both the second and third conditional overlap with the subjunctive mood and its unreal state.
What is the difference between a second or third conditional and subjunctive mood??
While second and third conditionals are only capable of expressing unreal states in the present and the past, respectively; the subjunctive can further express such things as a wish, emotion, opinion, obligation, importance, and so on.
These descriptions can be a bit daunting to parse, so let's take your example and demonstrate them.
First Conditional:?If we start now, we'll be on time.
Second Conditional (also, subjunctive possibility):?If we were in a faster car, we would be on time.
Third Conditional (also, subjunctive possibility): If we had started earlier, we would have been on time.
Subjunctive (importance): It is imperative that we make it on time.
Subjunctive (wish): I wish we had started already.
Subjunctive judgement & possibility (also, second mixed conditional): If she had been here, we could have started already, and would have easily been there on time!
