CONDITIONAL CONDITIONAL SENTENCESSENTENCES

3 MAIN TYPES: 3 MAIN TYPES:

First, second and third conditional

First Conditional First Conditional

If I see Andrew at the meeting, I'll give him your message.

PRESENT SIMPLE FUTURE SIMPLE

USE: To talk about something 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 Second Conditional (Hypothetical)(Hypothetical)

If my parents were alive, they would be very proud of me now.

PAST SIMPLE WOULD + INFINITIVE

USE: To talk about a present situation which is impossible, a hypothetical situation. The situation cannot be fulfilled because my parents are not alive.

If she changed her job, she'd 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.

What would happen if…?

Third ConditionalThird Conditional

If she If she had workedhad worked harder, she harder, she would have passedwould have passed her exams. her exams.

PAST PERFECT WOULD + PERFECT INFINITIVE

USEUSE: 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.

What would have happened if…?

The zero conditional The zero conditional (factual) (factual)

What happens if…? What happens if…?

If I If I staystay out late, I always out late, I always taketake a taxi home. 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: Conditional Sentences: Variations in tensesVariations in tenses

First ConditionalFirst Conditional: : The if clause is usually in the present The if clause is usually in the present simple. However, we can also use: simple. However, we can also use:

Present continuousPresent continuous:: If he's still If he's still waiting waiting for you, he'll be very angry. for you, he'll be very angry.

Present perfect simple:Present perfect simple:If Rob's If Rob's received received your letter, he'll phone you. your letter, he'll phone you.

Present perfect continuousPresent perfect continuous: : If it's If it's been rainingbeen raining all night, you'll have to wear boots. all night, you'll have to wear boots.

Can:Can: If I If I can finishcan finish work early, I'll help you. work early, I'll help you.

ShouldShould:: If I If I should seeshould see him, I'll tell him the news. him, I'll tell him the news.

The main clause usually has the verb The main clause usually has the verb will / shall. will / shall. But we can also use: But we can also use:

Going to:Going to:If Helen passes her exams, I'm If Helen passes her exams, I'm goinggoing to buy her a present. to buy her a present.

Future continuous: Future continuous: If we book this holiday, weIf we book this holiday, we'll'll be lyingbe lying on the beach in two weeks` time. on the beach in two weeks` time.

Future perfectFuture perfect: : If they win the next match, they'If they win the next match, they'll have wonll have won every match in the season. every match in the season.

Imperative: Imperative: If you need me, If you need me, call me.call me.

Can / could, may / might, should / ought to, Can / could, may / might, should / ought to, must must

If you don't eat your dinner, you If you don't eat your dinner, you can't can't have an ice cream. have an ice cream.

Tense variations in conditional Tense variations in conditional 22

The if clause usually takes the past simple. However, it is also possible to use:

Past continuous: 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.

Could Could If I could have the day off, I`d go with you.If I could have the day off, I`d go with you.

Were / was to: Were / was to: If you were to ask Steve, I`m sure he would do it. If you were to ask Steve, I`m sure he would do it.

The main clause usually has the modal would The main clause usually has the modal would + infinitive. However, the modals + infinitive. However, the modals could could and and might might are also used and the infinitive can are also used and the infinitive can be in the continuous form: be in the continuous form:

If we had more money, we If we had more money, we wouldn`t be livingwouldn`t be living here. here.

If we had more money, we If we had more money, we could gocould go out more. out more. If you asked Tony, he If you asked Tony, he might domight do it for you. it for you.

Tense variations in conditional Tense variations in conditional 33

The if clause is usually in the past perfect simple. The if clause is usually in the past perfect simple. However, we can also use the However, we can also use the past perfect past perfect continuouscontinuous or or could + perfect infinitive. could + perfect infinitive.

If he If he had been travellinghad been travelling in the car, he would have in the car, he would have been killed too. been killed too.

If we If we could havecould have got a taxi, we would have come got a taxi, we would have come round to see you. round to see you.

The main clause usually has the modal would The main clause usually has the modal would + perfect infinitive. However, we can also + perfect infinitive. However, we can also use the modals use the modals couldcould and and mightmight + perfect + perfect infinitive. infinitive.

If I had known there was no more work to do, If I had known there was no more work to do, I I could have stayedcould have stayed in bed. in bed.

If the ambulance had come sooner, he If the ambulance had come sooner, he might might have been saved. have been saved.

MIXED CMIXED CONDITIONALS If-clauses can be mixed provided that they make sense within a context.

If-clause Main clauseMain clause

Type 3Type 3 If she If she had workedhad worked harder harder at university, at university,

She She would havewould have a degree a degree now. now.

Type 2Type 2

(she didn`t work hard at (she didn`t work hard at university university

so she doesn`t have a so she doesn`t have a degree now. )degree now. )

Type 2Type 2 If I If I were were faster, faster, I I would havewould have won the won the race.race.

Type 3Type 3

(I´m not fast(I´m not fast so I didn´t win the race.)so I didn´t win the race.)

Type2 Type2

If they If they were studyingwere studying all all morning, morning,

they they will bewill be tired now. tired now. Type 1 Type 1

(they were studying(they were studying so they are tired now.)so they are tired now.)

Words other than if

Unless Unless I won`t go out unless he comes too. I won`t go out unless he comes too.

Even if Even if Even if it rains, we`ll go to the match. Even if it rains, we`ll go to the match.

If only If only If only I had money, I would go out more. If only I had money, I would go out more.

As/so long asAs/so long as You can use the car as long as you take care of You can use the car as long as you take care of it. it.

On condition On condition (that) (that)

I`ll lend you the car on condition that you take I`ll lend you the car on condition that you take care of it. care of it.

Provided / Provided / providing providing (that) (that)

I`ll lend you the car provided that you take care I`ll lend you the car provided that you take care

of itof it. .

Assuming Assuming (that) (that)

Assuming that you take care of the car, I`ll lend Assuming that you take care of the car, I`ll lend it to you. it to you.

Suppose / Suppose / supposing (that) supposing (that)

Suppose you had a lot of Suppose you had a lot of money, would you give up money, would you give up work? work?

What if What if What if you had a lot of What if you had a lot of money, would you give up money, would you give up work? work?

Imagine Imagine Imagine you had a lot of Imagine you had a lot of money, would you give up money, would you give up work? work?

In questions….

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).

He committed the crime, otherwise he wouldn’t have been arrested. (implied conditional)

If he hadn’t committed the crime, he wouldn’t have been arrested.

I would have stayed longer, but he didn’t ask me to. (implied conditional)

I would have stayed longer if he had asked me to.

Inversion Inversion If the first verb in a conditional If the first verb in a conditional if clauseif clause is is

should, wereshould, were or or had, had, we can leave out we can leave out if if and and put the verb at the start of the clause. We do put the verb at the start of the clause. We do this particularly in formal or literary English. this particularly in formal or literary English.

Should Should any of this cost you anything, send me the any of this cost you anything, send me the bill (If any of this should…) bill (If any of this should…)

It would be embarrassing It would be embarrassing werewere she she to find outto find out the the truth. (… if she were to find out…) truth. (… if she were to find out…)

HadHad they they not rushednot rushed to hospital, Dan would have to hospital, Dan would have died. (If they hadn`t rushed…) died. (If they hadn`t rushed…)

We use We use if it was / were not for + nounif it was / were not for + noun to say to say that one situation is dependent on another that one situation is dependent on another situation. situation.

If itIf it wasn`t / weren`t for the firemanwasn`t / weren`t for the fireman, my dog would , my dog would have died in the fire. have died in the fire.

If it hadn`t been for my parentsIf it hadn`t been for my parents, I wouldn`t have gone to , I wouldn`t have gone to university. university.

We also use We also use but for + nounbut for + noun with a similar with a similar meaning:meaning:

But for Jim`s supportBut for Jim`s support, I wouldn`t have got the , I wouldn`t have got the

job. job.

In real conditional sentence, we use In real conditional sentence, we use

If… happen to, If… happen to,

If … should, If … should,

If … should happen toIf … should happen to

to talk about something that may be possible to talk about something that may be possible but is not very likely: but is not very likely:

If you happen to be in our area, drop in and see If you happen to be in our area, drop in and see us. us.

If you should be in our area, …If you should be in our area, … If you should happen to be in our area, …If you should happen to be in our area, …

Polite requests Polite requests

We can use We can use if… willif… will in requests: in requests:o If you will takeIf you will take your seats, ladies and gentlemen, your seats, ladies and gentlemen,

we can begin the meeting. we can begin the meeting.

if you want to make a request more polite, if you want to make a request more polite, you can use you can use if…would: if…would:

o If you would take If you would take your seats, …your seats, …

Now let's sing Now let's sing some conditionals! some conditionals!