1. Conditional Clauses
By Mª Mercedes Sánchez
Year 2012- 13

2. What is a conditional ?
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A conditional sentence has two clauses:the
condition and the result or main clause.
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EX. If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
The if-clause can come before or after the result
clause. If it comes before, it is separated by a
comma. If it comes after, no comma is needed.
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EX. You will pass the exam if you study hard.

3. Present or zero conditional
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If + simple present, simple present
It is used to describe real situations that
can happen at any time or an event that
always follows another. If can be replaced
by when.
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EX. When/If you heat ice, it melts.
When/If I eat spicy food, I always get stomachache.

4. First Conditional (future or
real conditional)
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If + present simple, will+ bare infinitive.
When you think something is likely to happen or you
want to talk about the results of a possible future
condition.
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EX. If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
The If-clause refers to the future but using a present
tense.
You can also use the present continuous in the if-clause,
and a modal or an imperative in the main clause.
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EX. If it’s raining tomorrow, they might not go for a picnic.
EX. If you arrive late, don’t call me.

5. Alternatives to if
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UNLESS (=if…not)
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EX. Unless you study hard, you won’t pass the exam.
(If you don’t study hard)
IN CASE(= precautions, things we do in
advance)
EX. Take the umbrella in case it rains.
(It might/ might not rain but you will be prepared)
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EVEN IF/ THOUGH (=emphasis)
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EX. Even if/though I become a millionaire, I will
always be a socialist.
PROVIDED/ PROVIDING/AS LONG AS
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Ex. You can borrow my bike providing/provided you
bring it back at 11:00. (=you must give it back by
11:00)

6. Second Conditional (Unreal,
hypothetical)
If +simple past, would+bare infinitive.
We use the second conditional for:
 Future situations that are possible but unlikely.
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Also, for present situations that are unreal.
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EX. If I won the lotto, I would buy a Ferrari.
EX. If we had the key, we would open the door.
And to give some advice, we use the expression:If I were you, …
Were is used with the first and the third person singular, although was is
also used in spoken English
 If I were you, I would go to the doctor
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Could or might can be used in the main clause instead of would.
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EX. If they were friends, they could go out together.

7. Alternatives to if
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We can also introduce unreal conditional
clauses with:
UNLESS (for unlikely conditions but not
unreal conditions)
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I wouldn’t ask you for help unless I needed it.
IMAGINE/ SUPPOSE (to ask about
imaginary situations)
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Imagine you were a fairy, what would you do?
Suppose you had the opportunity, would you give her
away?

8. Third Conditional (Impossible)
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If + past perfect, would have+ p. participle.
We use the third conditional to imagine situations or
actions in the past that we know are the opposite of the
facts.
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Or talk about regrets from our past (often with could have)
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EX. If I had known that you were in hospital, I would have visited
you. =(that’s impossible now)
EX.If I had studied harder, I could have passed the exam. (=I
should have done it, but I didn’t)
Could/ might +have + p. participle can be used in the
main clause instead of would have+ p. participle.
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EX.If I hadn’t broken my leg skiing, I could/ might have been a
footballer.

9. Mixed Conditionals
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Mixed past to present conditional : we use them to talk about present results of a
hypothetical past action
If +3rd, 2nd
If +past perfect, would/could/might+bare infinitive .
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Mixed present to past conditional : We use them to talk about a hypothetical present
condition and a past result.
If +2nd, 3rd
If + past simple, would/could/might + have+p.participle .
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EX. If I had missed the train, I wouldn’t be here now.(= I didn’t miss the train, so I am here now)
Ex. If I had learnt German, I could be working for Siemens!
EX. If I had a mobile phone, I would have called you last night.(= I don’t have a mobile so I didn’t call you
last night)
EX. If you were a better student, you could have gone to university.
Mixed past to future conditional : we use them to talk about results of past action
If +2nd, 1st
If + past simple, will+ infinitive / be going to
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EX. If the plane took off at nine, they will be here by eleven.