UNIT 4 - CONDITIONALS

type 0 linker if-clause main clause

If (=whenever) present simple present simple

Zero Conditionals refer to general truths:

If you mix yellow and blue, you get green.
(=Whenever you mix yellow and blue, you get green.)
If flowers don't get any water, they die. If he asks me, I always help him.

type 1 linker if-clause main clause

If present simple will (shall) + infinitive

Unless present continuous modal verbs: can, could, may,
(=if… not) present perfect might, must, have to, should…
Providing (that) would like (=want) imperative
(=as long as)

First Conditionals are used when there is a possibility that the situation in the if-clause is
true in the present or will happen in the future.
If you are hungry, I'll make you something to eat. (Are you hungry?)
If it rains, I'll stay at home. (Will it rain?)
If you see Maria, give her a message for me.
If we have enough time, we can/ may/ must… write.
If you want to lose weight, you should eat less.
If you're working now, I'll come back later.
Unless it has stopped raining, I won't go for a walk.
If you'd like to come, I'll get a ticket for you.
You can stay providing that you don't make a noise. We can also use "should" when we are
less sure: If I should see Maria, I'll tell her.

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type linker if-clause main clause
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If past simple would (should) + infinitive could (=would
Providing (that) be able to) might (=would perhaps)
past continuous
Supposing

Second Conditionals refer to hypothetical present or future situations.

• If I had a lot of money, I'd travel around the world. (But I haven't got any.)
• If I were you, I'd apply for the job. (giving advice)
If I had the right tools, I could repair the car. (=…, I would be able to repair…)
If I won a lot of money, I might stop working. (=…, I would perhaps stop…)
Supposing you won a lot of money, what would you do?

type 3 linker if-clause main clause

would have + p. participle
If past perfect simple could have (=would have been able)
Supposing past perfect continuous might have (=would perhaps have)

Third Conditionals refer to a situation in past time which cannot be changed.

If you had taken plenty of vitamin C, you wouldn't have caught my cold.
If I had had the right tools, I could have repaired the car.
(=…, I would have been able to repair the car. )
If I had won a lot of money, I might have stopped working.
(=…, I would perhaps have stopped working.)

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STUDY THE FOLLOWING

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PRACTICE

PRACTICE
A. Rephrase the sentences using unless.
1 If you don't wear your coat, you'll be cold.
……………………………………………………………………………………
2 We'll play tennis tomorrow if it doesn't rain.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
3 He won't receive the letter tomorrow if you don't post it before 1 o'clock today.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
4 If I don't get a pay rise at work, I'll start looking for another job.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
5 I won't lend you the car if you don't promise to drive carefully.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
6 Your cough won't be better if you don't stop smoking.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
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B. Rewrite the sentences in a different way without changing the meaning.
1 You didn't tell me we had run out of bread, so I didn't buy any.
If you …………………………………………………………………………………………
2 We only came by bus because there were no taxis.
If there…………………………………………………………………………………………
3 I didn't know the ice was thin, so I was walking on it quite confidently.
If I'd …………………………………………………………………………………………
4 He smokes too much. That's why he can't get rid of his cough.
If he smoked ……………………………………………………………………………
5 The shops don't deliver now, which makes life difficult.
If the …………………………………………………………………………………………
6 You work too fast; that's why you make so many mistakes.
If you …………………………………………………………………………………………
7 I used the dictionary. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known the answers.
If I …………………………………………………………………………………………
8 I'm very stubborn. I can't admit I was wrong.
I could …………………………………………………………………………………………
9 I couldn't visit my grandparents because I didn't have time.
If …………………………………………………………………………………………
10 You must eat only fresh fruit and vegetables in that country. Otherwise, you may get
food poisoning.
Providing ………………………………………………………………………………
11 He is well-known because he has starred in successful films.
If …………………………………………………………………………………………
12 You feel bad because you didn't apologise to her last night.
If you …………………………………………………………………………………………
13 He wrote the message in code in order to avoid being discovered.
If …………………………………………………………………………………………
14 We could control pollution by making strict laws.
If………………………………………………………………………………………………
15 My friend advised me to sell it.
My friend said, "If………………………………………………………. "

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C. Rewrite the sentences in a different way without changing the meaning.
1 I don't want to leave my present job. I can't find another one.
Unless …………………………………………………………………………………………
2 In case of fire, press the alarm.
If ………………………………………………………………………………………………
3 I haven't got a map so I can't lend you one.
If I ……………………………………………………………………………………………
4 She was late for school because she wasn't in time for the 8.20 bus.
If she …………………………………………………………………………………………
5 If you don't start at once, you'll be late.
Unless ………………………………………………………………………………………
6 I didn't understand the joke, so I didn't laugh.
If …………………………………………………………………………………………
7 You can't be truly happy unless you learn to laugh at things.
If ………………………………………………………………………………………
8 If you don't pay your phone bill, you'll be cut off.
Unless …………………………………………………………………………………………
9 In your place, I'd go straight to a hospital.
If I ………………………………………………………………………………………………
10 If you want my advice, don't carry too much cash around!
If I ……………………………………………………………………………………………
11 In my opinion, you should go and see that film.
If I ………………………………………………………………………………………………
12 My advice is: take the train.
If I ……………………………………………………………………………………………
D. Rewrite the sentences in a different way without changing the meaning.
1 Go to Britain and you'll be able to speak English all day long.
If ………………………………………………………………………………………………
2 You won't find any accommodation if you don't book it in advance.
Unless …………………………………………………………………………………………
3 I didn't enjoy my holiday there and so I'm not going back.
If ……………………………………………………………………………………………
4 I couldn't get in touch because you didn't tell me where you were.
If ………………………………………………………………………………………………

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5 Why don't you come on holiday with us - you'll enjoy it.
If ………………………………………………………………………………………………
6 She didn't write, so he forgot her.
If ………………………………………………………………………………………………
7 If he gets 60 per cent of the answers correct he'll get a certificate.
Unless …………………………………………………………………………………………
8 He doesn't like his job, so he isn't happy.
If ………………………………………………………………………………………………
9 We must go or we'll be late.
If ………………………………………………………………………………………………
10 He'll miss the train if he doesn't hurry.
Unless …………………………………………………………………………………………
11 She doesn't do her homework, so she doesn't get good marks.
If ………………………………………………………………………………………………
12 They didn't follow the map, so they got lost.
If ………………………………………………………………………………………………
MIXED CONDITIONALS

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Using Mixed Type 1: ( TYPE 3 + TYPE 2 )
Examples:
▪ If he as a president had built a subway system, people wouldn’t lose much time in the
traffic today.
▪ If she had passed the exam, she wouldn’t have to study now.
▪ If I had been born in England, I could speak English very well.
▪ If we hadn’t sold our house, we wouldn’t have to sit in a rental house now.
▪ If she had stayed with her mother, she would not feel so lonely.
▪ If Billy had called me, I would talk to him now.
▪ If the passenger had hurried, he would catch the train now.
Using Mixed Type 2: (TYPE 2+ TYPE 3)
Examples:
▪ If he were my real friend, he would have called me yesterday.
▪ If we saw him again, we would have told him the truth.
▪ If I had a lot of money, I wouldn’t have walked too much and I will take a taxi to the
office.
▪ If you were intelligent, you would have won the university exam last year.
▪ If she trusted him, she would have married with him.
▪ If you weren’t afraid of me, you wouldn’t have tried to lie to me.
▪ If Marry liked Susan, she would have gone to the birthday party last night.

PRACTICE

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STUDY THE FOLLOWING

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PRACTICE

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