CONDITIONAL SENTENCESBACHILLERATO

✤ Subordinate clauses: two verbs.

✤ Two clauses: condition (if-clause) + result (main clause)

We’ll be late if we don’t leave now.

If we don’t leave now, we’ll be late.

✤ The condition clause usually starts with IF but there are also other possibilities: even if, unless, whether, as long as, providing that.

✤ If the sentence starts with the condition clause, there is a comma before the result (main clause).

Main ideas:

Conditional clauses

✤ They’ll let you in if you are older than 18.

✤ They won’t let you in unless you are older than 18.

✤ They’ll let you in as long as you are older than 18.

✤ They’ll let you in providing that you are older than 18.

✤ They’ll let you in whether you are older than 18 or not.

✤ They’ll let you in even if you are not older than 18.

If As long as = only if Unless = if not Providing that = only if Even if = not a real condition Whether… or not = no discussion

✤ FIRST CONDITIONAL (likely)

Possible future events + Promises and warnings

✤ SECOND CONDITIONAL (unlikely)

Imaginary present situations + improbable hypothesis

✤ THIRD CONDITIONAL (impossible)

Hypothetical past events which didn’t happen.

✤ 1st (likely - future) [If + present simple] , [will]

If we pass all our exams, we’ll have an awesome summer.

You’ll get a 20% discount if you buy the tickets in advance.

✤ 2nd (unlikely or imaginary - present) [If + past simple] , [would]

If I had a brother, I’d let him borrow all my stuff.

I don’t know what I would do if I lost my phone.

✤ 3rd (past events) [If + past perfect] , [would have + past participle]

If I hadn’t missed the penalty, we would have won the match.

If I had known you liked her, I wouldn’t have asked her out.

FIRST CONDITIONAL: both clauses.

✤ Result clause: should, can, must, have to, may, might.

If you’re interested in politics, you should vote.

✤ If-clause: can

If you can’t talk right now, I’ll call you later.

Modal verbs in conditional sentences

SECOND CONDITIONAL: both clauses.

✤ Result clause: might, could, should.

If I had the time, I might try to learn German.

✤ If-clause: could

If you could have any job, what would you do?

Modal verbs in conditional sentences

THIRD CONDITIONAL: both clauses.

✤ Result clause: might, could.

If I’d bought the ticket, I could have gone to the concert.

If I had applied for the scholarship, I might have got it.

✤ If-clause: could

If I could have voted, I would have voted for…

Modal verbs in conditional sentences

Wishes & Regrets: wish / if only✤ Regrets about the past: wish + past perfect

I wish I had told you the truth.

✤ A desire for the present: wish + could or past simple

I wish I could help you. (but I can’t)

I wish I knew what to say. (but I don’t)

I wish you were here. (but you aren’t)

✤ To complain about something that someone is doing at the moment (present): wish + would

I wish he would stop calling me.

✤ If only adds emphasis: If only you had told me!

Hope and Wish: not the same!

✤ I hope I get the job. (Hope: it’s possible)

✤ I wish I had a job. (I don’t have one)

✤ I wish you had got the job. (You didn’t get it)

✤ I wish he would stop complaining about his job. (He’s very annoying and I want him to stop talking about it)

[if/whenever + present], … present  or imperative

If has the same meaning as whenever. You can also use WHEN and EVERY TIME.

If Josie goes to a restaurant, she orders something she knows she likes.If the water is boiling/has boiled, it means the food is nearly ready.

You use a zero conditional to talk about what is always true, general truths, habits or routines:

          If you heat ice, it melts.          Whenever I go to the gym, I always have a shower.

Zero conditional

 The verb be usually takes the form were for all persons in these sentences, though was is used in everyday speech.

If I were rich, I would set up my own company.

If she were here, she would know what to do.

I don’t know what I would do if I were you.

2nd conditional: WAS or WERE

•SHOULD makes the possibility of an event seem very unlikely.If you should see Ann, could you ask her to call me?

(I do not expect you to see Ann)

•WERE TO also makes an event seem more hypothetical.If I were to ask you marry me, what would you say?

•HAPPEN TO emphasizes chance possibilities. It’s often used with should.If you happen to see Helen, could you ask her to call me?

If you should happen to be passing, drop in for a cup of tea.

•IF IT WERE NOT FOR / IF IT HADN’T BEEN FOR describes how one event depends on another.

If it weren’t for Jim, his company would be a mess.If it hadn’t been for their goalkeeper, United would have lost.

Advanced conditional sentences

Conditional sentences with inversion are much more formal than regular conditionals.

1) In REAL conditionals inversion is found with the modal verb SHOULD. Compare:If you need more information, call our office in Green Street.Formal: If you should require any further information, please contact us at our office…VERY formal: Should you require any further information, please contact us at our office…

2) In UNREAL conditionals it is common to find inversions in formal language.

If I had known about Mr Smith's behaviour sooner, I would have fired him immediately.VERY formal: Had I known about Mr Smith's behaviour sooner , I would have fired him…

If the negotiations fell through, it would bring about unforeseen problems. Formal: If the negotiations were to fall through, it would bring about unforeseen problems. VERY formal: Were the negotiations to fall through, it would bring about unforeseen…

*In negative clauses with inversion, we don't use contracted forms:Had the people not been informed, the situation would have been much worse.

Inversion in conditional sentences