CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

3 Main Type of Conditional

First, second and third conditional

First Conditional

The formula : If + simple present + simple futureExamples :

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.

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 (Hypothetical)

PAST SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE PAST FUTUREPAST FUTURE

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

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

‘What would happen if…?’

The formula : If + simple past + past future

Third Conditional

The formula : If + Past Perfect + Past Future Perfect

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

PAST PERFECT PAST FUTURE PERFECT

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.

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 (factual)

‘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.

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: Variations 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Going to:If Helen passes her exams, I'm going to buy her a present. Future continuous: If we book this holiday, we'll be lying on the beach in two weeks`

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

season.

Imperative: If you need me, call me. Can / could, may / might, should / ought to, must If you don't eat your dinner, you can't have an ice cream.

Variations of Conditional 2The 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 would give you a If you were coming with me, I would give you a lift. lift.

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

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

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

• If we had more money, we could go out more.

• If you asked Tony, he might do it for you.

Tense Variations of Conditional 3

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

Examples: If he had been travelling in the car, he would have

been killed 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.

Examples :If I had known there was no more work to do,

I could have stayed in bed.

If the ambulance had come sooner, he might 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 Even if it rains, we`ll go to the match. 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 As/so long asas

You can use the car as long as you take You can use the car as long as you take care of it. care of it.

On On condition condition (that) (that)

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

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

I`ll lend you the car provided that you I`ll lend you the car provided that you take care of ittake care of it. .

Assuming Assuming (that) (that)

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

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

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

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 hospital, Dan would have died. (If they hadn`t rushed…)

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

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

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

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

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

• In real conditional sentence, we use If… happen to, If … should, If … should happen toto talk about something that may be possible but

is not very likely: If you happen to be in our area, drop in and

see us. If you should be in our area, … If you should happen to be in our area, …

Polite requests

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

gentlemen, we can begin the meeting.

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

o If you would take your money now , we can buy the JYJ’s concert

Thank you so much