WHEN WANTING TO ADD EMPHASIS OR FORMALITY TO A CONDITIONAL SENTENCE, YOU CAN INVERT THE

ORDER OF THE SUBJECT AND OMIT “ IF” .

WERE, HAD AND SHOULD CAN BE USED WITHOUT  IF  BY MOVING THE AUXILIARY VERB IN FRONT OF THE

SUBJECT

LET US SEE HOW!

Inversion in conditional sentences

Type 1 if-clauses, or real conditionals

In real conditions, modal verb should is to be used:

If you need more information, please read our pamphlet.

= Should you need more information, please read our pamphlet.

If you change your mind about going to the ball, I’d be happy to escort you.

= Should you change your mind about going to the ball, I’d be happy to escort yoi.

Type 2 if clauses, or improbable future

Although possible, in this case inversion is less common:

If you were to marry her, your friends wouldn’t come to the wedding

= Were you to marry her, your friends wouldn’t come to the wedding.

If I won the lottery, I would quit my job.=Were I to win the lottery, I would quit my job.

Type 3 if-clauses, or unreal situations

If I had read your report, I would have acted sooner.

= Had I read your report, I would have acted sooner.

If she had known about your accident, she would have visited you in the hospital.

= Had she known about your accident, she would have visited you in the hospital.