IF CLAUSE

Conditional Sentences
Structure :
A conditional sentence is composed of 2 parts :
If-clause + Main Clause
Example :
If it rains tomorrow, we will not come.
If-clause Main Clause
IF CLAUSE
Conditional Sentences
Types :
There are 4 types of conditional sentences.
They are classified according to their specific
implications.
Each type of conditional sentences uses
different tenses to show the difference in
their implications.
IF CLAUSE
Conditional Sentences
Type 0 :
Use :
Talk about universal truth.
Tense :
Present tense in both clauses
Example :
If you heat water to 100C, it boils.
Present Tense
Present Tense
If you pour oil into water, it floats.
IF CLAUSE ELIZABETH VALENZUELA
Conditional Sentences
Type 1
Use : Talk about a present or future probable case.
Tense :
If-clause ~ Present Tense
Main Clause ~ Future Tense
Example :
If I feel sick, I will not go to school.
Present Tense
Future Tense
If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.
IF CLAUSE
Exercise One
1. If you ___________________ (not come),

You ________________ (miss ) the show.
do not come
will miss
2. John __________________ (buy)a car if he

_____________ (get)a job.
will buy
gets
3. Mary ________________(get) a toothache if

she_________________ (eat) too many sweets.
gets
eats
IF CLAUSE
Conditional Sentences
Type 2 (Present Subjunctive)
Use :
Talk about a present or future improbable
case. (A case that is unlikely to happen)
Tense :
If-clause ~ Past Tense
Main Clause ~ would + an infinitive
Example :
If he were a bird, he would fly across the harbour.
Past Tense
Would + infinitive
If I had $200,000 now, I would buy a car.
IF CLAUSE
Conditional Sentences
Type 3 (Past Subjunctive)
Use :
Talk about a past, impossible case
Tense : If-clause ~ Past Perfect Tense
Main Clause ~ Would + Present Perfect Form
Example :
If I had had enough money, I would have bought the
camera yesterday.
Past Perfect Tense Would + Present Perfect Form
If I had come home earlier, I woud not have missed the
programme. l
IF CLAUSE
Exercise Two
1. If I ________________ (be) four years old, I

________________ (learn) to play the piano.
were
would learn
2. If I ________________ (not fail) in the
examination, my mother_______________ (buy)
me a new computer.
had not failed
would have bought
3. We ________________________ (finish) if we

________________ (have) better preparation.
would have finished
had had
IF CLAUSE ELIZABETH VALENZUELA
Conditional Sentences
Variations:
Type 1 :
If you see John, ask him to come and see me.
Should you see John, ask him to come and see me.
SHOULD may
replace IF in type 1
Type 2 :
If I were an aeroplane, I could fly in the sky.
Were I an aeroplane, I could fly in the sky.
COULD or MIGHT may
replace WOULD
WERE may replace IF in an inversion
IF CLAUSE
Conditional Sentences
Type 3 :
If I had come home earlier, I would not have
missed the programme.
Had I come home earlier, I would not have missed
the programme.
HAD may replace IF in an
inversion
IF CLAUSE ELIZABETH VALENZUELA
Conditional Sentences
Type 2 & Type 3 :
If it were not for the rain, we would go to Shatin. (Type 2)
But for the rain, we would go to Shatin.
But for+ a noun may
replace `If it were not for
If it had not been for the traffic jam, we would have
arrived on time. (Type 3)
But for the traffic jam, we would have arrived on time.
But for + a noun may replace
`If it had not been for
IF CLAUSE
The Subjunctive Mood
Other sentences than the conditional may bear the
subjunctive mood.
a. Wish (v)
I wish I were a king. (But I am not!)
I wish she had left last night. (But she didnt!)
Type 2 Type 3
* Non-subjunctive use of wish
I wish to travel to Europe next year
We wish you a happy birthday.
IF CLAUSE
The Subjunctive Mood
b. If only
If only I were you!
If only he were born in the USA! (He was not born
in USA)
If only she had left last night! (She did not leave
last night)
Type 2
Type 2
Type 3
IF CLAUSE
The Subjunctive Mood
b. Would rather
I would rather you came earlier. (But you come
late.)
Type 2
I would rather he had told me the secret.
(But he
didnt.)
Type 3
* Non-subjunctive use of would rather
A : Do you want to go fishing today?
B : I would rather stay at home and take some rest.
(B prefers staying at home to going fishing)
IF CLAUSE
The Subjunctive Mood
d. Lest (Conjunction)
He put the money in the safe lest someone
should / might steal it.
e. It is (high) time
It is (high) time you studied hard.
(You have not studied hard. Now the examination
is near, so you have to study very hard.)
Past Tense
It is time for you to leave
(non-subjunctive)
IF CLAUSE
END