Conditional SentencesConditional Sentences

Type 1 or Type 1 or futurefuture conditional conditional

If it gets colder tonight, I’ll turn on the heating. He’ll get here early if he catches the fast train.

Persuasion: I’ll take the children to the party if you collect them from school.

Warning: If you try to get a short cut, you’ll get lost. Threat: If you open that box, you’ll be out of the project.

IMPERATIVE Advice or instructions: If you go to the supermarket, bring

back a carton of milk please.

Type 1: Other tenses & variantsType 1: Other tenses & variants

We’re staying at home on Tuesday if the transport strike goes ahead. (plan)

They’re going to take their mother to the old house if she remembers where it is. (intention)

If it hasn’t rained by the weekend, we’ll have to water the garden. (time lapse)

If they’re watching TV, they won’t hear you. (action in progress)

We can use may, might and could in the main clause:

◦ I can bring something to eat if you want.

◦ If you listen to me carefully, you may learn something useful

Type 2: hypothetical or unrealType 2: hypothetical or unreal

Use to speculate about something that is (or that we perceive to be) impossible or contrary to fact.

Present:◦ If he didn’t annoy me so much, I’d spent more time in his office.

Future:◦ If I got an invitation, I’d go there right away.

Difference between type 1 & 2:◦ 1: If it gets colder tonight , I’ll turn on the heating.

◦ 2: If it got colder tonight, I’d turn on the heating.

Type 2: Other tenses & variantsType 2: Other tenses & variants

If I were you, I’d make an appointment to see the doctor. (advice)

I should be grateful for an early response to the letter. (official or commercial correspondence)

If the river were to rise, there would be nothing we could do to save the city. (more hypothetical, more polite)

Were he really ill, I might feel more sympathetic.

Were you to accept my offer, I’d personally oversee the arrangement.

We can use might and could in the main clause

Type 3: past eventsType 3: past events

Reproach or regret:

◦ If you hadn’t driven so fast, you would never have had the accident.

◦ I wouldn’t have left my job if I had known how difficult it is to find another one.

Make excuses:

◦ If there hadn’t been an accident on the motorway, I would have been here in really good time for the meeting.

VARIANT:

◦ Had I known he was ill, I’d never have shouted at him.

◦ Might and could can be used instead of would

Zero conditional sentencesZero conditional sentences

General truths:

◦ If you want to change money on a Sunday, you have to go to one of the big railway stations.

◦ Most cats purr if you tickle them under the chin

We can use modal verbs in either or both clauses:

◦ I have a ticket you can go through now.

◦ You should wear glasses if you can’t see.

Mixed conditional sentencesMixed conditional sentences

If you hadn’t wasted so much money last week, we’d be able to afford a better holiday

If I weren’t so busy, I could have taken off a few days last week.

Other conjuctionsOther conjuctions

Supposing: imagination

◦ Where will you go supposing you manage to have a holiday?

Provided, as long as, on condition: reservation, the speaker imposes the condition

◦ I would help him as long as he asked me nicely.

Unless: If…not, stronger reservation

◦ I won’t come round unless you phone. (I’ll ONLY come)

In case: the need to be ready for something

◦ Take an umbrella in case it rains.

Other conjuctionsOther conjuctions

Supposing: imagination

◦ Where will you go supposing you manage to have a holiday?

Provided, as long as, on condition: reservation, the speaker imposes the condition

◦ I would help him as long as he asked me nicely.

Unless: If…not, stronger reservation

◦ I won’t come round unless you phone. (I’ll ONLY come)

In case: the need to be ready for something

◦ Take an umbrella in case it rains.