Inversion in Conditional Clauses

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 cost...)
It would be embarrassing, were she to find out the truth. (= ...if she were to find out...)
Had they not rushed Dan to hospital, he would have died. (= If they hadn't rushed Dan...)
First Conditional Alternate Forms
Changes in the result clause:
1. If + present modal verbs
If the fog gets thicker the plane may / might be diverted. (possibility)
If your documents are in order you may / can leave at once. (permission)
If you don't want have a heart attack you'd better do some exercise.(advice)
2. If + present present (to express automatic or habitual results)
If you heat ice it turns to water.
3. If + present going to (to emphasize a certain result)
If you apply to that school with your excellent marks, you're going to be accepted!
4. If + present imperative (to give a general instruction)
If you want to lose weight, eat less.
Changes in the subordinate clause (if-clause)
1. If + present continous will + infinitive (to indicate a present action or a future
arrangement)
If you're waiting (=present action) for a bus you'd better join the queue.
If you're staying for another night (=future arrangement) I'll ask the manager to give you
a better room.
2. If + present perfect will + infinitive to focus on the completion of the action.
We'll meet for lunch if you've finished your work (=only if the job is done)
3. If + will + infinitive will + infinitive (to express willingness in polite requests
or insistent behaviour)
If you will take a seat, Mr Jones will be with you in a moment. (=polite request)
If you will smoke so much, it's not surprising you can't get rid of your cough.
(=characteristic behaviour)
4. If + should + infinitive will + infinitive (to express that something is
improbable)
If this machine should fail, ring the bell and wait. (=I don't think it's probable)

Second Conditional Alternate Forms

Changes in the result clause:

1. If + past could / might + infinitive (to indicate hypothetic possibilities)
If you were more serious about your work, you would find a new job (certain result)
If you were more serious about your work, you could find a new job (possible result)
Changes in the subordinate clause (if-clause)
1. If + past continuous would + infinitive (an action in progress)
(We're going by air and) I hate flying. If we were going by boat I'd feel much better.
2. If + would + infinitive would + infinitive (in polite requests)
I would be very grateful if you would make arrangements with me.
3. If + were to + infinitive would + infinitive (to emphasize hypothesis)
If I were to offer me the job, I'd turn it down.

Third Conditional Alternate Forms

Changes in the result clause:
1. If + past perfect could / might + infinitive (to indicate ability, permission,
possibility)
If Ihad found him earlier I could have saved his life (ability)
If our documents had been in order we could have left at once (permission)
Changes in the subordinate clause (if-clause)
1. If + past perfect continuous would have + past participle (an action in
progress)
I was wearing I seat belt. If I hadn't been wearing one I'd have been seriously injured.
2. But for + noun (=if ... not) would have + past participle (FORMAL ENGLISH)
But for our savings, we wouldn't have been able to make the payments. (=If we hadn't had
our savings....)
3. If It hadn't been for + noun would have + past participle (to emphasize a
person or a thing)
If it hadn't been for Jack I would have failed