Conditional sentences

Mixed conditionals• if+past tense, would have + past participle

e.g. If it wasn’t so expensive, we would have opened many more safari parks around the country.

(= it is very expensive, so we didn’t open any more)

• if+past perfect, would + bare infinitive

e.g. If game reserves had been set up earlies, there would now be fewer animals in danger of extinction.

(= game reserves were not set up earlies, so more animals are in danger of extinction)

Mixed conditionals

• In formal context we can use were instead of was in the if-clause.

e.g. If it were not for zoos, most people would never seen wild animals. or less formaly ... was not for ...

• We prefer to use were in expressions If I were you ...

Mixed conditionals

• We can use if ...were + to-infinitive rather than if + past simple to talk about imaginary future situations:

e.g. If the government were to ban zoos, it would put captive breeding programmes at risk. or

If the government banned zoos.

* We don’t usually use this pattern with state verbs (e.g. belong, doubt, know, understand)

e.g. If we understood more about animal behaviour we would be in a better position to protect them. (*not-if we were to understand more about ...)

Other conditional expressions

• I’m all in favour of safari parks provided (that) / providing (that) the animals are well looked after.

• So /As long as developed countries put money into these reserves, species will be preserved.

• I’m willing to suppport the proposal on condition that animals are kept in large enclosures.

• In the event of the alarm sounding, visitors should leave the zoo by the nearest exit.

Other conditional expressions

• An alarm will sound in case of animals escaping from the safari park.

• We must protect natural habitats, otherwise more animals will become extinct.

• But for the existance of zoos, many people would never have seen wild animals.

• Supposing the proposal is rejected, what will you do then?