Conditionals I, II, and III

(A Review)

IF and THEN Clauses

Conditional sentences have at least two clauses: IF clauses and THEN clauses. Examples:
If I go into town tomorrow, then I will see a movie. If he spoke Chinese, then he would work as a guide in China. If they had been faster, then they would have won the race.

IF Clauses (the condition)

IF clauses present the condition. Examples:
If I go into town tomorrow If he spoke Chinese If they had been faster

THEN Clauses (the results)

THEN clauses present the results. Examples: then I will see a movie. . then he would work as a guide in China. then they would have won the race.

IF and THEN Clauses

The word then is optional, but the clause is still the result of the condition. So it is a THEN clause, without the word then. There are special rules for leaving out the word if. We will learn them later.

Remember:
The four words that NEVER (well, almost never) appear in the IF clause are: will, wont, would, wouldnt Example: If we will see it, we will be angry.

Conditional I (present/future possible)

When something is possible now or in the future Form: If (present) then will V. Example: If she studies, she will pass the geography test. (It is possible !!)

Unless
Unless = if not Example: If we dont finish soon, we will miss the train. Unless we finish soon, we will miss the train.

Temporals
Temporals are time expressions. (Examples: before, until, after, by the time, etc.) When they refer to the future, they are like Conditional I: Temporal (present), will V. Examples: Until he arrives, I will read a book. They will make a cake before they go.

Conditional II (present/future impossible)

When something is NOT possible now, or in the future. Form: If (past) then would V. Example: If he spoke Chinese, he would work as a guide in China. (Fact: He doesnt speak Chinese, so its impossible.)

The Great Wall of China With permission from www.adcsoft.com/bjigsawpictures.html

Special Rules for Conditional II

To be is always were Example: If he were here, he would do it. (Fact: Hes not here, so its impossible.) You can drop the if by moving the were to the front. Example: Were he here, he would do it.

wish + (past)
Unlike a hope (which is possible), a wish usually will not come true. In general, you wish for a miracle, something that is impossible. Examples: I wish I were in Costa Rica. (Im not there.) He wishes he spoke Chinese. (He doesnt.)

would rather
Would rather is like Conditional II, wishing for something that is probably impossible. Form: Subject 1 would rather subject 2 (past). Example: I would rather he came right now. (Fact: He probably wont.) would rather = d rather Example: Id rather he came right now.

Conditional III (past impossible)

Making believe about the past, assuming something that wasnt true Form: If had V3rd, then would have V3rd. Example: If we had studied, we would have passed the exam. (Fact: We didnt study and we didnt pass the exam.)

Where does the not go?

If the girl had not looked both ways when she crossed the street, a car would have hit her. (Fact: She did look both ways, so a car did not hit her.) If the boys had practiced more, they would not have lost the game. (Fact: They did not practice enough, so they lost the game.)

Special Rules for Conditional III

You can drop the if by moving the had to the front. Example: If he had been there, we would have done it. Had he been there, we would have done it. Be careful !! Although you are starting with a little verb, this is not a question !!

Good Luck !! Just remember to ask yourself:

1) Is the situation possible or impossible? 2) Is the situation in the past or in the present/future?

Remember !!
The four words that NEVER (well, almost never) appear in the IF clause are:

will, wont, would, wouldnt

The End