CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

Type 0

To express general truths or scientific facts. Instead of IF you can use WHEN

IF-clauseMAIN clause

If/When you mix black and white paint, you get grey.

Type 1 (real present)

Used to express a real or very probable situation in the present or future.

IF-clauseMAIN clause

If I finish work early tonight,I will go out with Tony

Present simpleFuture simple (or may, can etc)

If it rains,

we wont go. Type 2 (unreal present)

Used to express imaginary situations which are contrary to the facts in the present, and are therefore unlikely to happen in the present or future.

IF-clauseMAIN clause

If I knew how to do it, I would help.

If I were you,I would tell her the truth.

Past simpleWould/could/might+bare infinitive

Type 3 (unreal past)

Used to express imaginary situations which are contrary to facts in the past. They are also used to express CRITICISM or REGRETS.

IF-clauseMAIN clause

If they had asked me, I would have helped.

If I hadnt been working today,I would have gone to the beach.

Past perfect/past perfect continuousWould/could/might+have+III

MIXED CONDITIONALSType 3

If you hadnt given me a lift, Type 2

I would probably still be at the station!

Used for an imagined or actual event in the past with a result in the present.

Type 2

If you were polite,Type 3

you wouldnt have talked to him like that.

Used for a present state which has influenced past events.

Type 3

If he hadnt missed the bus,Type 2

he would be here now.

WISHES

Use WISH/IF ONLY to express a wish.

I wish I was on holiday now.

If only I were going with them.Past simple/continuous

I wish I had passed the exam.

If only she hadnt lied to me.Past perfect

I wish you WOULD stop talking.I wish it WOULD stop raining.Used to express: a polite imperative

a desire for a situation or persons behaviour to change

OTHER FORMS

Suppose/supposingSuppose/supposing he lied to you, what would you do?

Would ratherId rather you left now.

Its (about/high) timeIts time we left.

Had better give strong/urgent adviceYoud better ask for help.

Would rather = would prefer to, express preferenceI would rather tell you now.

I went out last night but Id rather have stayed in.

Would rather subject of would rather is different from the subject of the following form, we use: Id rather Ann worked with you.

Id rather we had left earlier, then we wouldnt have been caught in the rush hour traffic.

Provided/providing (that)

On the condition that You can go to the party, provided that you are home before 12.00.

You can go to the party, on the condition that you are home before 12.00.

FORMAL CONTEXTS.

Had you arrived earlier, we would have reached there on time. IF CLAUSE WITH WILL Describe the possible result of an offer Ill talk to your teacher, if that will stop you worrying so much. If is followed by emphasized will, meaning insist on or wont meaning refused to If you will wear such thin clothes, of course youll feel cold!

If you wont listen to common sense, theres no point in my talking to you.

If can be followed by will and would as polite request forms.

If youll just wait here, Ill tell Mr Brown that youve arrived.

If youd just fill in this form, Ill check the details. HW:

Examples

1. Type 0

2. Type 1

3. Type 2

4. Type 3

5. In case

6. Unless

7. Provided/As long as

8. Will in if-clause

9. Mixed conditional