Conditional Sentences

3 MAIN TYPES:
First, second and third
conditional
First Conditional
If I see Andrew at the meeting, I'll give him your message.
If clause:
PRESENT SIMPLE
Main clause:
FUTURE SIMPLE
USE: To talk about a possible condition that is quite
likely to happen in the future. It is very possible that I will
see Andrew at the meeting, in which case I'll give him your
message. The condition is quite likely to be fulfilled. For
presenting future plans, real possibilities, steps in an
argument, points in a procedure, predictable
consequences, instructions.
Second Conditional (Hypothetical)
If my parents were alive, they would be very proud of me now.
If clause:
PAST SIMPLE
Main clause:
WOULD + INFINITIVE
What would happen if?
USE: To talk about a present situation which is impossible or unreal, a
hypothetical situation. The situation cannot be fulfilled because my
parents are not alive.
If she changed her job, she would be much happier.
USE: To talk about a future event which is unlikely to happen. The
speaker doesn`t expect her to change her job. That is, it is unlikely that
the condition will be fulfilled.
Third Conditional
If she had worked harder, she would have passed her
exams.
PAST PERFECT WOULD + PERFECT INFINITIVE
What would have happened if?
PAST PERFECT WOULD + PERFECT INFINITIVE
USE: To talk about something that might have happened in
the past, but didn`t. She didn`t work hard enough and,
consequently, she didn`t pass her exams.
It also expresses excuses, regrets and blame for past
events.
The ero conditional (!act"al)
What happens if?
If I stay out late, I always take a taxi home.
PRESENT SIMPLE PRESENT SIMPLE
USE: To describe something that is generally true. The use of if
here is very similar to when. For presenting habits, general
truths, rules, typical patterns, correlations.
We can also use the past simple in the two clauses:
If I stayed out late, I always got a taxi home.
Conditional Sentences:
#ariations in tenses ($)
First Conditional: The if clause is usually in the present simple.
However, we can also use:
Present continuous:
If he's still waiting for you, he'll be very angry. If he's still waiting for you, he'll be very angry.
Present erfect simle:
If !ob's received your letter, he'll hone you.
Present erfect continuous:
If it's been raining all night, you'll have to wear boots.
"an:
If I can finish wor# early, I'll hel you.
$hould:
If I should see him, I'll tell him the news.
First Conditional: the main clause usually has the verb will %
shall. &ut we can also use:
'oing to:
If Helen asses her exams, I'm going to buy her a
resent.
(uture continuous:
Conditional Sentences:
#ariations in tenses (%)
(uture continuous:
If we boo# this holiday, we'll be lying on the beach in two
wee#s) time.
(uture erfect:
If they win the next match, they'll have won every match
in the season.
Imerative:
If you need me, call me.
"an % could, may % might, should % ought to, must:
If you don't eat your dinner, you can't have an ice cream.
Tense &ariations in Conditional %
The if clause usually takes the past simple.
However, it is also possible to use:
Past continuous:
If you were coming with me, I`d give you a lift. If you were coming with me, I`d give you a lift.
Poem: "If you were coming in the fall"
Could
If I could have the day off, I`d go with you.
Were / was to:
If you were to ask Steve, I`m sure he would do it.
The main clause usually has the modal would *
infinitive. However, the modals could and might
are also used and the infinitive can be in the
continuous form:
Tense &ariations in Conditional %
continuous form:
If we had more money, we wouldn`t be living
here.
If we had more money, we could go out more.
If you as#ed Tony, he might do it for you.
Tense &ariations in Conditional 3
The if clause is usually in the ast perfect simple.
However, we can also use the past perfect
continuous or could + perfect infinitive.
If he had been travelling in the car, he would
have been #illed too.
If we could have got a taxi, we would have
come round to see you.
The main clause usually has the modal would *
perfect infinitive. However, we can also use the
modals could and might * perfect infinitive.
Tense &ariations in Conditional 3
If I had #nown there was no more wor# to do, I
could have stayed in bed.
If the ambulance had come sooner, he might
have been saved.
Words other than if
Unless I won`t go out unless he comes too.
Even if Even if it rains, we`ll go to the match.
If only If only I had money, I would go out more.
As/so long as You can use the car as long as you take
care of it. care of it.
On condition
(that)
I`ll lend you the car on condition that you
take care of it.
Provided /
providing (that)
I`ll lend you the car provided that you
take care of it.
Assuming (that) Assuming that you take care of the car,
I`ll lend it to you.
Suppose /
supposing (that)
Suppose you had a lot of
money, would you give up
work?
What if What if you had a lot of money,
In questions.
would you give up work?
Imagine Imagine you had a lot of
money, would you give up
work?
IMPLIED CONDITIONALS
Conditions are not always expressed in the form of
conditional clauses, particularly in spoken English. They
can be expressed in another way or they may be
evident from the context. The rules for the verb usage
are still followed in the result clause (main clause). are still followed in the result clause (main clause).
He committed the crime, otherwise he wouldnt have been
arrested. (implied conditional)
If he hadnt committed the crime, he wouldnt have been arrested.
I would have stayed longer, but he didnt ask me to.
(implied conditional)
I would have stayed longer if he had asked me to.
In&ersion
If the first verb in a conditional if clause is should,
were or had, we can leave out if and ut the verb at
the start of the clause. +e do this articularly in
formal or literary ,nglish.
Should any of this cost you anything, send me the Should any of this cost you anything, send me the
bill -If any of this should./
It would be embarrassing were she to find out the
truth. -. if she were to find out./
Had they not rushed to hosital, 0an would have
died. -If they hadn)t rushed./
+e use if it was / were not for + noun to say that
one situation is deendent on another situation.
If it wasn1t % weren1t for the fireman, my dog would
have died in the fire.
'ther e(pressions
have died in the fire.
If it hadn1t been for my arents, I wouldn1t have
gone to university.
+e also use but for + noun with a similar meaning:
&ut for 2im1s suort, I wouldn1t have got the 3ob.
In real conditional sentence, we use:
f ! happen to,
f ! should,
f ! should happen to
'ther e(pressions
to tal# about something that may be ossible but
is not very li#ely:
If you haen to be in our area, dro in and see
us.
If you should be in our area, .
If you should haen to be in our area, .
Polite re)"ests
+e can use if ! will in re4uests:
If you will ta#e your seats, ladies and gentlemen,
we can begin the meeting. we can begin the meeting.
If you want to ma#e a re4uest more olite, you can
use if !would:
If you would ta#e your seats, .
I! I were yo"* I would do these
online e(ercises+
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