2. 3 MAIN TYPES:3 MAIN TYPES:
First, second and third
conditional
3. First ConditionalFirst 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.
4. Second ConditionalSecond Conditional
(Hypothetical)(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…?
5. Third ConditionalThird Conditional
If sheIf she had workedhad worked harder, sheharder, she would have passedwould have passed her exams.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…?
6. The zero conditionalThe zero conditional
(factual)(factual)
What happens if…?What happens if…?
If IIf I staystay out late, I alwaysout late, I always taketake a taxi home.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.
7. Conditional Sentences:Conditional Sentences:
Variations in tensesVariations in tenses
First ConditionalFirst Conditional:: The if clause is usually in the presentThe if clause is usually in the present
simple. However, we can also use:simple. However, we can also use:
Present continuousPresent continuous::
If he's stillIf he's still waitingwaiting for you, he'll be very angry.for you, he'll be very angry.
Present perfect simple:Present perfect simple:
If Rob'sIf Rob's receivedreceived your letter, he'll phone you.your letter, he'll phone you.
Present perfect continuousPresent perfect continuous::
If it'sIf it's been rainingbeen raining all night, you'll have to wear boots.all night, you'll have to wear boots.
Can:Can: If IIf I can finishcan finish work early, I'll help you.work early, I'll help you.
ShouldShould:: If IIf I should seeshould see him, I'll tell him the news.him, I'll tell him the news.
8. The main clause usually has the verbThe main clause usually has the verb will / shall.will / shall.
But we can also use:But we can also use:
Going to:Going to:
If Helen passes her exams, I'mIf Helen passes her exams, I'm goinggoing to buy her a present.to buy her a present.
Future continuous:Future continuous:
If we book this holiday, weIf we book this holiday, we'll'll be lyingbe lying on the beach in two weeks` time.on the beach in two weeks` time.
Future perfectFuture perfect::
If they win the next match, they'If they win the next match, they'll have wonll have won every match in the season.every match in the season.
Imperative:Imperative:
If you need me,If you need me, call me.call me.
Can / could, may / might, should / ought to,Can / could, may / might, should / ought to,
mustmust
If you don't eat your dinner, youIf you don't eat your dinner, you can'tcan't have an ice cream.have an ice cream.
9. Tense variations inTense variations in
conditional 2conditional 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.
CouldCould
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.
10. The main clause usually has the modal wouldThe main clause usually has the modal would
+ infinitive. However, the modals+ infinitive. However, the modals couldcould andand
mightmight are also used and the infinitive canare also used and the infinitive can
be in the continuous form:be in the continuous form:
If we had more money, weIf we had more money, we wouldn`t be livingwouldn`t be living
here.here.
If we had more money, weIf we had more money, we could gocould go out more.out more.
If you asked Tony, heIf you asked Tony, he might domight do it for you.it for you.
11. Tense variations inTense variations in
conditional 3conditional 3
The if clause is usually in the past perfect simple.The if clause is usually in the past perfect simple.
However, we can also use theHowever, we can also use the past perfectpast perfect
continuouscontinuous oror could + perfect infinitive.could + perfect infinitive.
If heIf he had been travellinghad been travelling in the car, he would havein the car, he would have
been killed too.been killed too.
If weIf we could havecould have got a taxi, we would have comegot a taxi, we would have come
round to see you.round to see you.
12. The main clause usually has the modalThe main clause usually has the modal
would + perfect infinitive. However, we canwould + perfect infinitive. However, we can
also use the modalsalso use the modals couldcould andand mightmight ++
perfect infinitive.perfect infinitive.
If I had known there was no more work to do,If I had known there was no more work to do,
II could have stayedcould have stayed in bed.in bed.
If the ambulance had come sooner, heIf the ambulance had come sooner, he mightmight
have been saved.have been saved.
13. 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 sheIf she had workedhad worked harderharder
at university,at university,
SheShe would havewould have a degreea degree
now.now.
Type 2Type 2
(she didn`t work hard at(she didn`t work hard at
universityuniversity
so she doesn`t have aso she doesn`t have a
degree now. )degree now. )
Type 2Type 2 If IIf I werewere faster,faster, II would havewould have won thewon 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.)
Type2Type2 If theyIf they were studyingwere studying allall
morning,morning,
theythey will bewill be tired now.tired now. Type 1Type 1
(they were studying(they were studying so they are tired now.)so they are tired now.)
14. Words other than if
UnlessUnless I won`t go out unless he comes too.I won`t go out unless he comes too.
Even ifEven if Even if it rains, we`ll go to the match.Even if it rains, we`ll go to the match.
If onlyIf 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 ofYou can use the car as long as you take care of
it.it.
On conditionOn condition
(that)(that)
I`ll lend you the car on condition that you takeI`ll lend you the car on condition that you take
care of it.care of it.
Provided /Provided /
providingproviding
(that)(that)
I`ll lend you the car provided that you take careI`ll lend you the car provided that you take care
of itof it..
AssumingAssuming
(that)(that)
Assuming that you take care of the car, I`ll lendAssuming that you take care of the car, I`ll lend
it to you.it to you.
15. Suppose /Suppose /
supposing (that)supposing (that)
Suppose you had a lot ofSuppose you had a lot of
money, would you give upmoney, would you give up
work?work?
What ifWhat if What if you had a lot ofWhat if you had a lot of
money, would you give upmoney, would you give up
work?work?
ImagineImagine Imagine you had a lot ofImagine you had a lot of
money, would you give upmoney, would you give up
work?work?
In questions….
16. 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.
17. InversionInversion
If the first verb in a conditionalIf the first verb in a conditional if clauseif clause isis
should, wereshould, were oror had,had, we can leave outwe can leave out ifif andand
put the verb at the start of the clause. We doput the verb at the start of the clause. We do
this particularly in formal or literary English.this particularly in formal or literary English.
ShouldShould any of this cost you anything, send me theany of this cost you anything, send me the
bill (If any of this should…)bill (If any of this should…)
It would be embarrassingIt would be embarrassing werewere sheshe to find outto find out thethe
truth. (… if she were to find out…)truth. (… if she were to find out…)
HadHad theythey not rushednot rushed to hospital, Dan would haveto hospital, Dan would have
died. (If they hadn`t rushed…)died. (If they hadn`t rushed…)
18. We useWe use if it was / were not for + nounif it was / were not for + noun to sayto say
that one situation is dependent on anotherthat one situation is dependent on another
situation.situation.
If itIf it wasn`t / weren`t for the firemanwasn`t / weren`t for the fireman, my dog would, my dog would
have died in the fire.have died in the fire.
If it hadn`t been for my parentsIf it hadn`t been for my parents, I wouldn`t have gone to, I wouldn`t have gone to
university.university.
We also useWe also use but for + nounbut for + noun with a similarwith a similar
meaning:meaning:
But for Jim`s supportBut for Jim`s support, I wouldn`t have got the, I wouldn`t have got the
job.job.
19. In real conditional sentence, we useIn real conditional sentence, we use
If… happen to,If… happen to,
If … should,If … should,
If … should happen toIf … should happen to
to talk about something that may be possibleto talk about something that may be possible
but is not very likely:but is not very likely:
If you happen to be in our area, drop in and seeIf you happen to be in our area, drop in and see
us.us.
If you should be in our area, …If you should be in our area, …
If you should happen to be in our area, …If you should happen to be in our area, …
20. Polite requestsPolite requests
We can useWe can use if… willif… will in requests:in requests:
o If you will takeIf you will take your seats, ladies and gentlemen,your seats, ladies and gentlemen,
we can begin the meeting.we can begin the meeting.
if you want to make a request more polite,if you want to make a request more polite,
you can useyou can use if…would:if…would:
o If you would takeIf you would take your seats, …your seats, …
