Marina Miloevi, 2011

Conditionals

Conditional sentences usually have an if-clause (condition) and another clause (result):
If a large comet hit the Earth (condition), humans would very soon die out (result).
The if-clause can come either before or after the result clause.

The Zero Conditional

Form:
If + present tense / past tense
If I work late,
If the water is boiling,
If the water has boiled,
If it was foggy,
If it was snowing,

present tense / past tense

I get up tired.
it means the food is nearly ready.
it means the food is nearly ready.
we went home early.
we stayed at home.

Describes sth that is or was generally true.

If means whenever in zero conditional.
The imperative is often used with zero conditional: Tell her about the party if you see her.

The First Conditional

Form:
If + present tense
If it rains,
If you keep driving like that,
If you are going shopping,
If she has had enough,

will + infinitive / future

I wont go out
you are going to have an accident.
will you buy me some milk?
he will stop.

The present simple, present continuous, present perfect simple and present perfect
continuous (not will) can be used to talk about the future in the if clause.
Describes real of probable future situation. When we think that the outcome is really
possible.
When and as soon as can replace if in a first conditional sentence:
When / As soon as I see her, I will tell her.
Will can be replaced to show that something is less certain:
If I go now, you may / might see her.
If I pass my exam, we can / could celebrate.
In spoken English be going to in the if clause is used to suggest a previous arrangement:
If your sister is going to be there, I will definitely go.

Marina Miloevi, 2011

The Second Conditional

Form:
If + past tense
If I knew the answer,
If I was having a party,

would + infinitive
I would tell you.
I wouldnt invite Anna.

Hypothetical situations. These are unreal or imaginary situations.

In a more formal style, we use were, not was, after if:
If I were you, I would apply for the job.
If he were here, what do you think he would do?
Would can be replaced to make the situation in the result clause less certain:
If I went to Africa, I might see wild elephants.
If I had enough money, I could go around the world.
If I left home, I think I should be lonely.
Conditionals are not always stated. Some sentenced do not include an if clause: it is just
suggested:
I would love to meet your brother. (If you let me.)

The Third Conditional

Form:
If + past perfect
If I hadnt gone to Italy,
If I had known you were coming,

Would / might / could have + past participle

I wouldnt have met my husband.
I would have met you at the station.

Hypothetical past situations. These refer to past events.

It describes possibilities in the past that did not happen. We can make these possibilities
less certain by adding might or could instead of would.
The if clause can come either before of after the possibility clause. When the would clause
begins the sentence, we do not use a comma:
I wouldnt have met my husband if I hadnt gone to Italy.

Variations:

IF ONLY
If only I had enough time!
If only I hadnt drunk too much, this wouldnt have happened!
Adds emphasis to hypothetical situations.
With past events it adds a sense of regret.
The second part of the sentence is often left out.
UNLESS
Means only if not.
Only for the 1st and the 2nd conditional.
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Marina Miloevi, 2011

Come tomorrow unless I phone you. (= If I dont phone you, come tomorrow.)
I will take the job unless the pay is too low. (= If the pay isnt so low, I will take t job)
I will go ahead and get the tickets unless you call me this afternoon.
This means if one situation depends on another, if can be replaces by: AS LONG AS,
SO LONG AS, PROVIDED / PROVIDING, ONLY IF:
I do what you say provided the police are not informed.
EVEN IF describes how sth will happen:
Even if it rains, we will still go for a picnic.
SHOULD After if, this makes the possibility of an even seen unlikely. Should is possible
to replace with BY ANY CHANCE.
If you should/by any chance see Ann, could you ask her to call me?
(this implies that I do not expect you to see Ann.)
WERE TO makes an event seem more hypothetical:
If I were to ask you to marry m, what would you say?
HAPPEN TO emphasizes chance possibilities. It is often used with should:
If you happen to see Helen,, could you ask her to call me?
If you should happen to be passing, drop in for a cup of tea.
IF IT WERE NOT FOR / IF IT HADNT BEEN FOR
If it werent for Jim, this company would be in a mess.
If it hadnt been for their goalkeeper, United would have lost.
WILL and WOULD for politeness
If you will / would wait her, I will se if Mrs. Green is free.

Other ways of making conditional sentences:

SUPPOSING:
Supposing you won the football polls, what would you do?
OTHERWISE:
If you hadnt given us directions, we wouldnt have found this house.
Thanks for your directions to the house. We wouldnt have found it otherwise.
BUT FOR:
If you hadnt helped us, we would have been in trouble.
But for your help, we would have been in trouble.
IF SO / IF NOT:
There is a possibility that Jack will be late. If so, I will take his place.
COLLOQUIAL OMISSION OF IF an imperative can be used instead of if clause:
Sit down I will make us a coup of tea.

Mixed conditionals:
1. I and III
If I am as clever as you think, I should have been rich by now.
2. II and III
If you knew me better, you wouldnt have said that.
3. III and II
If I hadnt gone to Italy, I wouldnt be married now.
(past possibility)
(present result)
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Marina Miloevi, 2011

4. II and I
If he missed the bus, we wont be there on time.