CONDITIONAL TENSES

Likely Conditions
Sentences of this type show that the conditions are likely to be fulfilled. They refer to present time. a) The verb in the if clause is ALWAYS in the Present tense but the verb in the main clause can be (i) In the Future tense: Usage Practice If it rains, they will get wet. If I need you, will you help me? We shall inform her if we meet her. (ii) In the Past tense: Usage Practice If you are right, then I was wrong. If what she says is correct, the he was mistaken. (iii) In the Imperative: Usage Practice If he disobeys you again, punish him. If he refuses to leave, call me. If you fall, get up quickly. (iv) In the Present tense. Here it shows a natural result: Usage Practice If you heat iron, it expands. If we are cold, we shiver. If a child is hurt, he cries. b) In the main clause, we use may or can to express possibility or permission. Usage Practice If he is in a hurry, he can take my car.(permission) If he finishes on time, he can leave. If she comes, I may see her. (possibility) We may catch the bus if we run. c) NOTE that we can introduce the if clause with unless ; provided that , supposing that , on condition that , etc. He wont come unless he is incited. (unless means if not) I shall write to her provided that she writes to me. She will help you on condition that you help her. Impossible Conditions Sentences of this type refer to the past and thus show that the condition can NEVER be fulfilled. The Past Perfect tense is used in the if clause and the Perfect Conditional tense in the main clause. Usage Practice If you had come earlier, you would have seen them perform. If you had asked politely, he would have told you the answer. If it hadnt rained, we would have gone to the stadium. The child would have fallen if you hadnt caught him. I could have done it if I had been asked to. We should not have lost our way if we had brought a map.

EXERCISE UNLIKELY CONDITIONS Put the verb in brackets into the correct tense. If she does not come on time, we(leave) without her. If she does not come on time, we shall leave without her. 1. If we climb higher, it (become) colder. 2. if you take a taxi, you(be) in time to catch the train. 3. Shell be ill if she (drink) that dirty water. 4. if I have the time, I (come)to(visit)you. 5. If you stop breathing for more than five minutes, you (die). 6. Ice (melt) if it is heated. 7. If what I said (be) wrong, I apologize. 8. He (hear) you if you shout. 9. If he comes late again,(send) him to the discipline master. 10Give me your wallet if you(value) your life! he cried out.

EXERCISE IMPOSSIBLE CONDITIONS Put the verb in the brackets into the correct tense. You (live) more comfortably if you had wanted to. You could have lived more comfortably if you had wanted to. 1. We would have gone to the cinema with you if you (not be) ill. 2. If I (have) the chance, I would have hitch-hiked round the world. 3. We (not punish) by our teacher if we had completed our assignment. 4. if they had really wanted to help her, they (say) so. 5. We(not lose) the match if our goal-keeper had not slipped. 7. I (learn) on going if you hadnt interrupted her. 8. He would have explained everything if he (ask). 9. We (not import) this brand of goods if we had known. 10. We (win) the competition if we had been instructed in the first place.