CONDITIONAL

SENTENCES

3 MAIN TYPES:
First, second and third
conditional

First Conditional
If I see Andrew at the meeting, I'll give him your message.
PRESENT SIMPLE

FUTURE SIMPLE

USE: To talk about something that is quite likely

to happen in the future. It is very possible that I
will see Andrew at the meeting, in which case I'll
give him your message. The condition is quite
likely to be fulfilled. For presenting future plans,
real possibilities, steps in an argument, points in a
procedure, predictable consequences,
instructions.

Second Conditional

(Hypothetical)

What would happen if?

If my parents were alive, they would be very proud of me now.
PAST SIMPLE

WOULD + INFINITIVE

USE: To talk about a present situation which is impossible, a hypothetical

situation. The situation cannot be fulfilled because my parents are not
alive.

If she changed her job, she'd be much happier.

USE: To talk about a future event which is unlikely to happen. The
speaker doesn`t expect her to change her job. That is, it is unlikely that
the condition will be fulfilled.

Third Conditional
What would have happened if?
If she had worked harder, she would have passed her exams.

PAST PERFECT

WOULD + PERFECT INFINITIVE

USE: To talk about something that might have happened

in the past, but didn`t. She didn`t work hard enough and,
consequently, she didn`t pass her exams.
It also expresses excuses, regrets and blame for past
events.

The zero conditional

(factual)
What happens if?
If I stay out late, I always take a taxi home.
PRESENT SIMPLE

PRESENT SIMPLE

USE: To describe something that is generally true. The use of if here

is very similar to when. ( If = not sure // When = sure)For presenting
habits, general truths, rules, typical patterns, correlations.

We can also use the past simple in the two clauses.

If I stayed out late, I always got a taxi home.

Conditional Sentences:
Variations in tenses
First Conditional: The if clause is usually in the present
simple. However, we can also use:

Present continuous:
If he's still waiting for you, he'll be very angry.

Present perfect simple:

If Rob's received your letter, he'll phone you.

Present perfect continuous:

If it's been raining all night, you'll have to wear boots.

Can: If I can finish work early, I'll help you.

Should: If I should see him, I'll tell him the news.

The main clause usually has the verb will / shall.

But we can also use:
Going to:
If Helen passes her exams, I'm going to buy her a present.

Future continuous:
If we book this holiday, we'll be lying on the beach in two weeks` time.

Future perfect:
If they win the next match, they'll have won every match in the season.

Imperative:
If you need me, call me.

Can / could, may / might, should / ought to,

must
If you don't eat your dinner, you can't have an ice cream.

Tense variations in conditional 2

The if clause usually takes the past simple. However, it
is also possible to use:
Past continuous:
If you were coming with me, I`d give you a lift.

Could
If I could have the day off, I`d go with you.

Were / was to:

If you were to ask Steve, I`m sure he would do it.

Tense variations in conditional 3

The if clause is usually in the past perfect simple.
However, we can also use the past perfect
continuous or could + perfect infinitive.
If he had been travelling in the car, he would have
been killed too.
If we could have got a taxi, we would have come
round to see you.

Words other than if

Unless
Even if
If only
As/so long as

I won`t go out unless he comes too.

Even if it rains, we`ll go to the match.

On condition
(that)
Provided /
providing
(that)
Assuming
(that)

I`ll lend you the car on condition that you take

care of it.

If only I had money, I would go out more.

You can use the car as long as you take care of
it.

I`ll lend you the car provided that you take care
of it.
Assuming that you take care of the car, I`ll lend
it to you.

In questions.
Suppose /
supposing (that)
What if

Imagine

Suppose you had a lot of

money, would you give up
work?
What if you had a lot of money,
would you give up work?
Imagine you had a lot of
money, would you give up
work?

Now let's keep

working on
conditionals!