Conditional Clauses (See also the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=h-Np7dmvw0U)

Conditional sentences have two parts: The if-clause and the main clause. It doesn’t matter which comes first.

First Conditional. Conditional Clauses Type I. Real/Likely situations. “Open” conditions.

If + Present + will If you fall, I won’t be able to catch you! This type of sentence implies that the action in
the if-clause is quite probable. It refers to the present or future

Other Variations:

Variations of the main clause

If + Present – going to (everyday speech) If it rains, we’re going to get wet

If + Present + Imperative : If you see John tell him I’m waiting for him

If + Present + may/might (possibility): If the fog gets thicker the plane may/might be diverted

If + Present + can (ability) If the cases are too heavy, I can help you

If + Present + may/can (permission): If your documents are in order you may/can leave at once

If + Present + must, should or any expression of command, request or advice:

If you want to lose weight you must/should/had better eat less bread

Variations of the if-clause

If + present continuous (For present actions or future arragements):

If you’re looking for Peter you’ll find him upstairs (present action)

If you’re staying for another night I’ll ask the manager to give you a better room (future
arragement)

If + present perfect If you have finished dinner I’ll ask the waiter for the bill

Others:

Imperative (quite common) Get me some cigarettes, and I’ll pay you later.

Should (meaning if by any chance and makes the action less likely)

Should you see John, can you give him a message?

Second Conditional. Conditional Clauses Type II. Unreal/Imaginary situations. “Hypothetical”

It refers to the present or future (the same as Type I). It indicates unreality or improbability

If + past – would If you fell, you would hurt yourself. (The situation and its result are imagined)

If + past – could/might If you became a millionaire, you might be unhappy (To describe a possible result)

Were: If I were taller, I’d join the basketball team (Impossibility in the present)
Advice: If I were you I should/I would/I’d paint it green (The “if I were you” is often omitted)

I’d paint it green

Inversion is also possible here: Were I in her shoes... = If I were in her shoes...

Were to: If they were to offer me the job, I’d turn it down. (We think something is unlikely. Rather formal).

Other Variations:

Variations of the main clause

If + Present + might/could (possibility, ability): If you tried again you might succeed

If I knew her number I could ring her up

Variations of the if-clause

If + past continuous We’re going by air and I hate flying. If we were going by boat I’d feel much happier If + past
perfect If he had taken my advice he would be a rich man now (Mixture Type II and III)

Third Conditional. Conditional Clauses Type III. Unreal/Imaginary past situations. “Impossible”
conditions.

The time is past and the condition cannot be fulfilled because the action in the if-clause didn’t happen.

If + past perfect – Would have + past participle

If John had studied more, he would have got better marks. (But he didin’t study)

If you had tried harder, you could/might have succeded (To describe something possible rather than definite)

Other Variations:

Variations of the main clause

If + past perfect + might/could (possibility, ability):

If we had found him earlier we might have saved his life (possibility)

If we had found him earlier we could have saved his life (ability)

Variations of the if-clause

If + past continuous We’re going by air and I hate flying. If we were going by boat I’d feel much happier If + past
perfect If he had taken my advice he would be a rich man now (Mixture Type II and III)

Mixed Conditions: (See also variations Type II)

For past events which have a result continuing in the present, it is possible to use the form of a third conditional
in the if-clause, and the form of a second conditional in the result clause.

If you had saved some money, you wouldn’t be so hard up now.

The plane I intended to catch crashed and everyone was killed. If I had caught that plane I would be dead now or
I would have been killed
If I had worked harder at school I would be sitting in a comfortable office now: I wouldn’t be sweeping the streets
( But I didn’t work at school and now I’m sweeping the streets

Had can be placed first and the if omitted

Had you obeyed orders the disaster would not have happened

Other if sentences:

If Present + Present (Also called Zero Conditional)

If can mean when in the sense of whenever

If/When/Whenever it rains, we play football indoors instead.

If can also mean if it is true that If (it is true that) you have a job like that, you are very lucky

If you heat up water it boils (Universal truths)

Other conditional linkers: Unless, whether, but for, otherwise, provided (that), providing (that), as long as,
suppose/supposing, what if, (just) in case, in case of, if only

Unless means If…not Unless you leave at once, I’ll call the police

If you don’t leave at once, I’ll call the police

But for means” If it were not for/if it hadn’t been for” The storm delayed us. But for the storm we would have
been in time.

Otherwise means “if this doesn’t happen/didn’t happen/hadn’t happened” Her father pays her fees; otherwise
she wouldn’t be here (If her father didn’t pay her fees she wouldn’t be here).

Provided (that), providing (that), as long as can replace if when there is a strong idea of limitation or restriction.
It is chiefly used with permission.

You can camp here provided (that), providing (that), as long as you leave no mess

Suppose/supposing, what if

Suppose the plane is late? = What will happen if the plane is late? = What if the plane is late?

In case is followed by a present or past tense or should. It is NOT the same as a conditional clause. It gives a
reason for the action in the main clause. Some cyclists carry repair outfits in case they have a puncture. (Some
cyclists carry repair outfits because they may have/it is possible that they will have a puncture).

Compare:1.Bill: I’ll come tomorrow in case Ann wants me

2.Tom: I’ll come tomorrow if Ann wants me

In 1., an in case-clause, perhaps Ann will want Bill, perhaps she won’t. But Bill will come anyway. His action
doesn’t depend on Ann’s. “In case Ann wants me” could be omitted without changing the meaning of the main
verb.

In 2., a conditional sentence, Tom will only come if Ann asks him. His actions depend on hers. We cannot remove
“If Ann wants me” without changing the meaning of the main verb.
In case of is always followed by a noun = if there is a/an + noun

In case of accident, call 112 = If there is an accident, call 112

If only: Only can be placed after if and indicates hope, a wish or regret according to the tense used with it.

If only + present expresses hope: If only he comes in time = We hope he will come in time

If only + past/past perfect expresses regret in the present and past ( = wish + past/past perfect):

If only he didn’t drive so fast = We wish he didn’t drive so fast = We are sorry he DRIVES so fast

If only you hadn’t said “Liar” = We wish you hadn’t said “Liar” = We are sorry you SAID “Liar”

If only + would expresses regret about a present action (= wish + would)

If only the rain would stop = We wish it would stop, but implies that we think it will go on.

Wishes and Related Forms

I wish I didn’t have so much work to do ( I do have a lot of work).

Wishes about the past I wish + the past perfect (The time referred to is past time)

I wish I had gone to your party last week (I did not go)

Wishes about the future I wish + could

To refer to a future event I wish Jane could meet me next week

I wish I didn’t have to get up early tomorrow

To refer to something that is generally difficult or impossible I wish I could drive

Wishes using would I wish + would

To complain about a past habit (dissatisfaction) I wish Peter wouldn’t chew gum all the time

To refer to something that we would like to happen I wish the police would do something about the traffic.

To express interest in the subject’s willingness/unwillingness to perform the action I wish he would write more
often (I’m sorry he isin’t willing to write more often)

Note: the subject of wish cannot be the same as the subject of would

Related forms: If only, It’s (high) time, I’d rather, Suppose and Imagine, Hope and Wish

If only: More emphatic or dramatic than wish If only I knew the answer to this question! (only is heavily
stressed) (See if only above).

It’s (high) time: It’s time I / you / we…. is followed by a past tense. The meaning is similar to a second
conditional. Sorry, but it’s time we went home (If I went home, it would be better)
 It’s high time you learned to look after yourself! (High gives extra emphasis)

It’s time can also be used with the infinitive. The meaning changes slightly

It’s time you started work! (You are being lazy and not working)

It’s time to start work (a simple statement of fact)

I’d rather: I’d rather I /you / we… is followed by a past tense. The meaning is similar to a second conditional.

I’d rather you didn’t tell John about this. (If you didn’t tell John about this, it would be better)

Suppose and Imagine: In informal speech we can use suppose and imagine in place of if.

Suppose/Imagine you lost your keys. What would you do?

Hope and Wish: I hope… can be used in a similar way to I wish… But I hope is used only for wishes that are
actually possible and it is usually used with a present or future verb form. Wish cannot be used in this way.

I hope you have a good time. There’s a lot to see. I hope you won’t be late

I hope to see you next week

EXERCISES