If Clauses

Type 1 Real Conditions Very probable +++If + Present + Future(will+Inf.) + Present (can/may)

Os verbos dados aparecem no Imperativo e/ou Futuro.Usa-se:- threats (ameaas) - promises (promessas)- warnings (aviso)- advice (conselho)Type 2 wishes Probability ++

If + Past + Conditional (would + Inf.) + could/should

Os verbos aparecem no presente. Se aparecer negativa faz-se afirmativa e vice-versa.Type 3 Probability 0 (zero)

If + Past Perfect (had+3c.) + Conditional Perfect (would have+3c.) + Could have + 3c.

Usa-se:- regrets (lamentos)- sorrous (arrependimentos)

1 He is so lazy. Thats why his marks are bad.2 She knows about this so she can help us.3 I didnt sleep well. Thats why I came late.4 Dont do that! Your mother can punish you.5 Stay with him! He wont be afraid.6 The word changed because technology revolutionised everything.7 Sophocles lived in quiet times so he thought time was something gentle.8 Teenagers dont smoke so much because they have a mobile phone.9 He felt so badly. Thats why he went home.10 She was there. Tahts why she saw the crime.11 He has many problems. So he feels depressed.12 They went to the party; thats why they saw him.13 The man only stopped bacause a car passed by.14 Space exploration lifts the national spirit; tahts why Americans choose it.15 They were disappointed because they met dishonest people.16 She loves him. Thats why she wants to marry him.17 He lost his money. He didnt by anything.18 He became really depressed because his online love turned into a nightmare.1 If he wasnt/werent so lazy, his marks wouldnt be bad.2 If she didnt know about this, she couldnt/wouldnt help us.3 If I had slept well, I wouldnt have come.4 If you do that, your mother can punish you.5 If you stay with him, he wont be afraid.6 If technology had not revolutionised everything, the world wouldnt have changed.7 If Sophocles hasnt lived in quiet times, he wouldnt have thought time was something gentle.8 If teenagers didnt have a mobile phones, they would smoke very much (more).9 If he hadnt felt so badly, he wouldnt have gone home.10 If she hadnt been there, she wouldnt have seen the crime.11 If he didnt have many problems, he wouldnt feel depressed.12 If they hadnt gone to the party, they wouldnt have seen him.13 If a car hadnt passed by, the man wouldnt have stopped.14 If Space exploration didnt lift the national spirit, Americans wouldnt choose it.15 If they hadnt met dishonest people, they wouldnt have been disappointed.16 If she didnt love him, she wouldnt want to marry him.17 If he hadnt lost his money, he would have bought something.18 If his online love hadnt turned into a nightmare, he wouldnt have become really depressed.Conditional sentences

The conditional sentences are sometimes confusing for learners of English.

Watch out:

1) Which type of the conditional sentences is used?

2) Where is the if-clause (e.g. at the beginning or at the end of the conditional sentence)?

There are three types of the if-clauses.

typecondition

Icondition possible to fulfill

IIcondition in theory possible to fulfill

IIIcondition not possible to fulfill (too late)

Formtypeif clausemain clause

ISimple Presentwill-future (or Modal + infinitive)

IISimple Pastwould + infinitive *

IIIPast Perfectwould + have + past participle *

Examples (if-clause at the beginning)typeif clausemain clause

IIf I study, I will pass the exam.

IIIf I studied,I would pass the exam.

IIIIf I had studied, I would have passed the exam.

Examples (if-clause at the end)typemain clauseif-clause

II will pass the examif I study.

III would pass the examif I studied.

IIII would have passed the examif I had studied.

Examples (affirmative and negative sentences)typeExamples

long formsshort/contracted forms

I+If I study, I will pass the exam.If I study, I'll pass the exam.

-If I study, I will not fail the exam.If I do not study, I will fail the exam.If I study, I won't fail the exam.If I don't study, I'll fail the exam.

II+If I studied, I would pass the exam.If I studied, I'd pass the exam.

-If I studied, I would not fail the exam.If I did not study, I would fail the exam.If I studied, I wouldn't fail the exam.If I didn't study, I'd fail the exam.

III+If I had studied, I would have passed the exam.If I'd studied, I'd have passed the exam.

-If I had studied, I would not have failed the exam.If I had not studied, I would have failed the exam.If I'd studied, I wouldn't have failed the exam.If I hadn't studied, I'd have failed the exam.

* We can substitute could or might for would (should, may or must are sometimes possible, too).

I would pass the exam.

I could pass the exam.

I might pass the exam.

I may pass the exam.

I should pass the exam.

I must pass the exam.

Conditional sentences - type I

Use

It is possible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.

Form

if clausemain clause

Simple Presentwill-future orinfinitive orModal + infinitive

ExamplesIf I study,I will pass the exams.

If you see John tonight,tell him to e-mail me.

If Ben gets up early,he can catch the bus.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence.

If I study,I will pass the exams.

I will pass the examsif I study.

Conditional sentences - type II

Use

It is theoretically possible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.

Form


Simple Pastwould + infinitive orcould + infinitive ormight + infinitive

ExamplesIf I studied,I would pass the exams.

If I studied,I could pass the exams.

If I studied,I might pass the exams.


If I studied,I would pass the exams.

I would pass the examsif I studied.

Conditional sentences - type IIIUse

It is impossible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.

Form


Past Perfectwould + have + past participle orcould + have + past participle ormight + have + past participle

ExamplesIf I had studied,I would have passed the exams.

If I had studied,I could have passed the exams.

If I had studied,I might have passed the exams.


If I had studied,I would have passed the exams.

I would have passed the examsif I had studied.

Documents

If Clauses