Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Guiding questions
• Which if-sentence is not a conditional sentence?
• When is a tense unreal?
• How can we mix conditional sentences?
• What modals can be used in conditionals?
• What is the similarity between conditionals and sentences starting with I wish…/If only…?
• What happens to conditional sentences in indirect speech?
The unreal (or hypothetical) tenses have the form of the Past Simple or the Past Perfect but they refer to
present or past time, respectively. They are used in subordinate clauses which hypothesise an imaginary
present or an impossible past situation.
I wish you were here. (an imaginary present situation, because you are not here)
If I had gone to bed earlier, I wouldn’t have overslept. (an impossible past situation, because I didn’t go
to bed earlier)
This applies to the subordinate clauses in the second and third conditionals, wish/if only, as if/as though,
it’s (high) time, would rather/would sooner, etc. sentences. These structures are discussed in details in
this chapter.
Note the punctuation rule for all kinds of if-sentences: there is a comma between the two clauses if the if-
clause is first. If not, there is no comma.
As we have mentioned above, this type of if-sentence does not imply a condition, but rather it expresses
that something is or was always true. Here the linking word if means when. Note that in the other
conditional sentences we cannot replace if with when.
This type describes a real situation with reference to the future. If the condition is fulfilled, the action in
the main clause is likely to happen.
The use of present tenses in the if-clause of the first conditional is similar to that in time clauses discussed
in 2.5.2.
Borbás Tibor – Simon Péter: Use of English Unit 4: Conditionals and… Page 3 of 14
4.1.2.1
If one event depends on the completion of another, we can use the Present Perfect in the if-clause.
4.1.2.2
The Present Continuous is also possible in the if-clause.
If you are looking for Lucy, you’ll find her in the bathroom. (referring to a present action)
If you are staying for the weekend, we’ll go and see the film Mulholland Drive again. (referring to a
future arrangement)
4.1.2.3
Going to is possible in both clauses (cf. 2.5.3).
If you keep acting in such a selfish way, you are going to lose all your friends. (prediction)
If you are going to hurt me, I’ll leave. (intention)
4.1.2.4
We can also use imperatives.
NOTE
The difference between the zero and the first conditional is that while the zero conditional expresses a
general present or past situation, the first conditional refers to a specific future event.
If you drink too much, you have a hangover the next day.
You is a general subject here expressing one, anybody or people and the sentence expresses a general
truth.
You in this second sentence is the second person singular pronoun and the sentence expresses a warning.
This type usually describes an unreal situation with reference to the present. We imagine a hypothetical
situation, which is in contrast with the real situation in the present.
Note that here it is only the form of the Past Simple or Continuous that we use. Remember the phrase If I
were you…, where were is obviously not the past form of be in the first person singular. Were in this case
is the past subjunctive form of be (cf. later in this book). Although this is what prescriptive grammar
dictates, for many native speakers of English, nowadays, it is becoming common to use was instead of
were in the first and third person singular. Note that were sounds more formal.
If the Third World War broke out, it would mean the end of humankind.
Some sentences may look like a second conditional but in fact are not.
This is actually a zero conditional (cf. 4.1.1), where would in the main clause expresses a past habit (cf.
2.2.5) and if means when or whenever.
The third type describes an unreal situation with reference to the past. We hypothesise a past situation
which did not happen and cannot happen any more. It is also called the impossible condition.
If he had been more careful, he wouldn't have been killed in the accident.
The second and third conditionals can be mixed in the following ways.
If Mr Douglas had a moustache, Ms Zeta Jones would probably not have married him.
If I were smarter, I would have been able to answer.
Borbás Tibor – Simon Péter: Use of English Unit 4: Conditionals and… Page 5 of 14
Compare:
If I were smarter, I would have been able to answer. (I am dumb.) (mixed conditional)
If I had been smarter, I would have been able to answer. (It wasn't my day.) (third conditional)
Instead of will we can use may/might (certainty/uncertainty), may (permission), can (permission or
ability) or must/should (obligation).
4.1.6.1.2 If-clause
In the if-clause we can use should (to express that the condition is less likely; cf. 4.1.8.1), can (permission
or ability), will or would (politeness and emphasis), must (obligation) or may (permission).
If you can speak English, you may apply for this position.
If you must cry, cry.
If you should see Kate, could you ask her about my CD?
Will and would in the if-clause can express politeness and emphasis.
Politeness
If you will/would wait here (, I’ll see if the boss is in). (request; would is more polite)
If you’d just fill in this form. (request; e.g. in a hotel)
Since in these cases the result is obvious or not important, the main clause can be omitted.
If he will walk around in a T-shirt at this time of the year, he will surely catch a cold. (if he insists
on walking...)
If she won’t greet me, I won’t greet her either. (if she refuses to greet me...)
Note that in these two sentences the auxiliaries will and won’t in the if-clause are always stressed in
speech and cannot be contracted with the subject:
*If he’ll walk around in a T-shirt in the winter, no wonder he catches colds.
Instead of would we can use could (permission or ability), might (certainty/uncertainty) or should
(obligation).
4.1.6.2.2 If-clause
Instead of would it is possible to use could (ability or possibility), should (obligation) or might
(possibility).
George could have won the race if his shoelace hadn’t come undone.
4.1.6.3.2 If-clause
If he could have got to the airport on time, he would not have missed the flight.
4.1.7.1 Even if
Even if emphasises that something will happen whatever the condition is. It is possible in all types of
conditionals.
Borbás Tibor – Simon Péter: Use of English Unit 4: Conditionals and… Page 7 of 14
I will wear my red shirt even if you don’t like the idea.
4.1.7.2 Only if
Only if can be used to connect the main clause and the if-clause to express a more restrictive condition.
It is possible in all types of conditionals. Note that if the sentence starts with the condition, the main
clause is inverted (cf. 9.2.1.2).
4.1.7.5 Unless
Unless means if…not, therefore negation is not possible after it.
My leg's broken. I can't stand up unless you help me. (not: *…unless you don't help me.)
To make a condition less likely you can use phrases (for example, by any chance) or the following
structures.
Borbás Tibor – Simon Péter: Use of English Unit 4: Conditionals and… Page 8 of 14
4.1.8.1 First conditional
If you happen to see Kate, could you ask her about my CD?
If you should see Kate, could you ask her about my CD?
If you should happen to see Kate, could you ask her about my CD?
Were to
The first sentence expresses an unlikely present situation, while the second one refers to an uncertain
future.
If + subject + auxiliary can be replaced in formal English, or for dramatic effect, by the inversion of the
auxiliary and the subject with if omitted.
NOTE
1
If it were not for/if it hadn’t been for, but for
These expressions have the meaning of “without”. They are used in the second and third conditionals, in
formal language and must be followed by a noun form.
If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t know what to do now. ( = Without me, … / If I weren't so smart, …)
If it hadn’t been for your foolishness, we wouldn’t have been caught. ( = If you hadn't been such a fool,
…)
But for your help, I would have been in big trouble. ( = If you hadn’t helped me, …)
2
If so/if not can refer to a sentence implied but not stated.
There is a possibility that he will be late. If so, we’ll start without him. ( = If he is late, …)
There is a possibility that he will be late. If not, we will start together. ( = If he is not late, …)
3
If and adjectives
In expressions like if it is necessary or if it is possible we can omit the verb be.
4
In case and if
In case is followed by a present or past tense or modal auxiliaries. In case gives a reason for the action in
the main clause, while if defines a condition.
You might have noticed the similarities between the subordinate clauses of the conditional sentences in
point 4.1 and the ones mentioned above. Actually, if you complete the sentences above, you will get
conditional sentences.
We use the structure above when there is a chance that something may happen or somebody (but not the
person who wishes) may change their (annoying) habit or behaviour.
This sentence refers to present time and it implies that perhaps it is already too late.
We can use this structure in the past tense too, however, the unreal tense in the second clause will not
change.
But:
It's time (for me) to go.
He looks as if he knows the answer. ( = He seems to know the answer, and he probably does.)
He looks as if he knew the answer. ( = He seems to know the answer, but he doesn't.)
In the past tense both sentences will read as follows. Mind that knew in the second sentence does not
change into had known.
The meaning of this sentence, therefore, can only be deduced from the context.
If we talk about a hypothetical past situation, the Past Perfect tense is used.
You seem as if you hadn’t slept for three days. (= You seem not to have slept for three days, but I know
you have.)
He grinned as though he’d been drinking for hours.
I would rather not go to the opera tonight. (I don’t want to go to the opera.)
Note that *I would not rather go... is not possible in this case.
If we delete the word rather in the sentences in 4.5.1, we get the main clauses of the second and third
conditional.
I would rather you didn’t smoke in my office. ( = I don’t want you to smoke in my office.)
Tim would sooner I returned his camera. ( = Tim would like me to return his camera.)
Where would you rather I slept? ( = Where would you prefer me to sleep?)
Would you rather my sister dated your brother? ( = Would you be happy if my sister dated your brother?)
4.6.1
4.6.2
I’d prefer tea to coffee. ( = I would rather have tea than coffee.)
Borbás Tibor – Simon Péter: Use of English Unit 4: Conditionals and… Page 13 of 14
4.6.3
PREFER + TO + INFINITIVE
I prefer to go to the dentist every year. ( = I like to go to the dentist because I think it’s essential, not
because I enjoy it.)
4.6.4
Note the difference between the sentence above and this one:
I would have preferred to go by tram. ( = I would have liked to go by tram. / I would have been happier if
I had gone by tram. (cf. 4.1.4))
4.6.5
(Cf. 5.2.3)
4.6.6
PREFER + IT + IF-CLAUSE