Conditional sentences

First Conditional 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.

Second Conditional (Hypothetical)

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

PAST SIMPLE WOULD + INFINITIVE

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

If she changed her job, she'd be much happier.

USE: To talk about a future event which is unlikely to happen. The speaker doesn`t expect her to change her job. That is, it is unlikely that the condition will be fulfilled.

What would happen if…?

Third ConditionalIf she had worked harder, she would have passed her exams.

PAST PERFECT WOULD + PERFECT INFINITIVE

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.

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.

Tense variations in conditional 2 The 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`d give you a lift. If you were coming with me, I`d give you a lift.

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

Were / was to: Were / was to: If you were to ask Steve, I`m sure he would do it. If you were to ask Steve, I`m sure he would do 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 in conditional 3The if clause is usually in the past perfect simple.

However, we can also use the past perfect continuous or could + perfect infinitive.

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.

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 match. Even if it rains, we`ll go to the 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 asAs/so long as You can use the car as long as you take care of You can use the car as long as you take care of it. it.

On condition On condition (that) (that)

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

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

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

Assuming Assuming (that) (that)

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

IMPLIED CONDITIONALS

Conditions are not always expressed in the form of conditional clauses, particularly in spoken English.

They can be expressed in another way or they may be evident from the context. The rules for the verb usage are still followed in the result clause

(main clause).

He committed the crime, otherwise he wouldn’t have been arrested. (implied conditional)

If he hadn’t committed the crime, he wouldn’t have been arrested.

I would have stayed longer, but he didn’t ask me to. (implied conditional)

I would have stayed longer if he had asked me to.

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 seats, …

You are alone in the forest at night without a phone.

Mixed exercises What would you do in these situations

You met the genie.

If I were alone in the forest I would try to use the stars.

If I met the genie, I would ask him for my three wishes.

One day you read in a newspaper an article about you. The article was telling about your private life.

Mixed exercises What would you do in these situations

Your favourite singer wrote a song for you.

If I read an article about my private life, I’d look for a lawyer.

If my fauvorite singer wrote a song for me, I’d be excited.

You are going to a date. But suddenly a bird made your jacket dirty.

Mixed exercises What would you do in these situations

You enter the classroom and suddenly realize that you’ve forgotten to dress your trousers.

If a bird made my jacket dirty, I’d run to buy other. If I forgot to dress my trousers,

I’d try to invent some explanation.

Third Conditional story

Look at this photo story.

Third Conditional story• Write what happened in each picture.

He went to a party

He arrived home very late.

He overslept.

Third Conditional story• Write what happened in each picture.

He missed the bus He was late for work and his boss was very angry.

Third Conditional story• Write what happened in each picture.

His boss was angry and he was dismissed He went for a walk.

Third Conditional story• Write what happened in each picture.

He met a girl and they fell in love.

They got married.

Now they have three children.

Third Conditional story• Write what would have happened if….

If he hadn’t gone to a party….. If he hadn’t arrived home very late…..

he wouldn’t have arrived home late.

he wouldn’t have overslept.

Third Conditional story• Write what would have happened if….

If he hadn’t missed the bus…..

If he hadn’t overslept….. he wouldn’t have missed the bus.

he wouldn’t have been late for work.

Third Conditional story• Write what would have happened if….

If he hadn’t been late for work,……If he hadn’t been dismissed…..

his boss wouldn’t have got angry.he wouldn’t have gone to the park.

Third Conditional story• Write what would have happened if….

If he hadn’t gone to the park,….. If he hadn’t met the girl…..

he wouldn’t have met a girl.he wouldn’t have got married

and wouldn’t have had three children.

Third Conditional story• Therefore ….

If he hadn’t gone to the party,…..

he wouldn’t have got married.