If - Clause

By: M. Abdessalami

The conditional sentence in English can be seen in terms of three principal types.

Type I
We use this type to imply that it is likely that the action in the if-clause will be performed.
This kind is structured as follows:

If-clause Main clause

Verb in the present tense Verb in the future tense
If you work hard, you will succeed.
It is still probable that you will succeed if the condition (to work hard) is fulfilled.
N.B. The verb in the if-clause is never in the future.

Verb in the present tense verb in the imperative

If you want to take a photo, press this button.

Type II
This type however is used to indicate that the idea is improbable or unreal. The result
of the condition is imaginary. It is structured as follows:

If-clause main clause

Simple past tense (subjunctive) conditional tense (would do etc.)
If she had wings, she would fly.
N.B.: It is more a wish than anything probable to occur.

Type III
It is an impossible condition. The structure is as follows:

If-clause main clause

Past perfect tense perfect conditional
If + past perfect should / would have done
If she had been tall enough, she would have been recruited.
 If Clause

This implies that she was not tall enough that’s why she wasn’t recruited. It is impossible
because the sentence refers to past events that had already finished.

Type Zero

Some scholars add a fourth basic kind which they refer to as "Zero conditional" or
"Conditional type Zero", which I cannot recognize as such because its structure can in no way
be considered conditional. The conditional, roughly speaking, means the uncertain whereas
this type of conditional mostly deals with facts. The reasons if I have to name some are,

1. The result is always a fact. E.g. If you drop sugar into water, it melts.
2. It is used when there is no condition. And since there is no condition, what does it do
here? E.g. If you don't water the plants, they die.
3. The “if” can simply be replaced by "when" or "whenever" in this form only.
4. Its structure is, [If + present simple, present simple] whereas, the conditional, in
academic grammar, is put under modals (will, would, should) have to be there.
5. It is used normally to describe facts or to explain how things work. E.g. If you pedal,
the bike moves. As the answer is always true, therefore the conditional clause is no
conditional at all.

In brief there is no condition in this type because it is not predictive. Compare these examples
and see the difference:

- If you throw a piece of wood in the sea, it floats. (This is true and it is experimented)
- If you drop an egg down, it breaks. (This is true and it is experimented)

Here there is no condition because it is scientifically proven that wood never sinks no matter
what the water is, potable or salty.

- If you throw this chair in the sea, it will float. (it is probable only)
- If you drop this egg down, it will break. (The egg will break on condition you drop it down)

The chair will float only on condition you throw it into the sea, but if you don’t the whole
conditional is concealed. So the “if-clause” is the basic of the prediction (the result).

In this case, there is a condition as we can predict the result of the condition. We have
to take into consideration that it is probable that the wood in the chair could bear the iron and
it is likely that the chair floats. Another thing is also to be taken into consideration, namely the
density of salt in the water of the see.

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Practice

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 If Clause

• Choose the right type for each sentence:

1. If this wall fell down, many people would be hurt. Type I Type II Type III

2. If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. Type I Type II Type III

3. If you speak more slowly, everybody will understand you. Type I Type II Type III

4. She would have got a prize if she had done a good job. Type I Type II Type III

5. They will come if you invite them. Type I Type II Type III

6. If I were a singer, I'd sing for peace in the world. Type I Type II Type III

7. If I have time, I'll examine you. Type I Type II Type III

8. If you had left earlier, you wouldn't have missed the train. Type I Type II Type III

9. If the test had been easier, I'd have had a full mark. Type I Type II Type III

10. You won't learn much if you don't work harder. Type I Type II Type III

Conditional Type III

Have a look at these sentences and see the relationship between the two.

He didn’t contact us. He was busy

Obviously it is a cause and effect relationship. Well then

- which is the cause, and which is the effect?
Cause: He was busy
Effect: He didn’t contact us

Can you join them now using the appropriate linking words to show this relationship?
• He didn’t contact us because he was busy
• As He was busy, he didn’t contact us
• He didn’t contact us since he was busy
• He was busy; consequently, he didn’t contact us
• He was busy; as a consequence, he didn’t contact us
• He was busy; because of this, he didn’t contact us
• He was busy; that’s why, he didn’t contact us
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 If Clause

• He was busy; as a result, he didn’t contact us

• Due to his being busy, he didn’t contact us
• Owing to the fact that he was busy, he didn’t contact us
• etc

- Now in reality
He didn’t contact us, and that’s because he was busy
Ok, What if he hadn’t been busy, would he have contacted us?
- Maybe, so we suppose this

If he hadn’t been busy, he would have contacted us

Form
If+subj+ past perfect, subj + would(n’t) have + V3 (past participle)

Rules
He didn’t contact us because he was busy

1. Simple past turns to be the past perfect

2. Affirmative turns negative and vice-versa
3. The if-clause contains the cause, and the main clause the effect

He would have contacted us if he hadn’t been busy

If he hadn’t been busy, he would have contacted us

Examples

1. He didn’t revise their lesson; that’s why he didn’t succeed (negative / negative)
- If he had revised his lessons, he would have succeeded (affirmative / affirmative)

2. They ate all the food because they were hungry (affirmative / affirmative)
- If they hadn’t been hungry, they wouldn’t have eaten all the food (negative / negative)

3. She missed the bus; for this reason, she didn’t arrive on time (affirmative / negative)
- If she hadn’t missed the bus, she would have arrived on time (negative / affirmative)

4. He didn’t like the movie, so he left early (negative / affirmative)

- If he had liked the movie, he wouldn’t have left early (affirmative / negative)

This type of “If-clause” is used to express regret

See expressing Regret
(a separate paper)

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 If Clause

QUIZ

A What do they mean?

1. If Leila had been old enough, I would have married her

_________________________________________________________________

2. If the kid had been cautious, he wouldn’t have lost his Smartphone
_________________________________________________________________

3. If you had invited me to your party, I would have come

_________________________________________________________________

4. If the meal had been delicious, everybody would have enjoyed it

_________________________________________________________________

5. If the quiz hadn’t been difficult, I would have done it.

_________________________________________________________________

B Rewrite these sentences as indicated

1. Brahim drank too much coffee; so he didn't sleep comfortably.

If _______________________________________________________________

2. I knew about the tragedy because Samir told me.

If _______________________________________________________________

3. She was listening to music; that's why, she didn't hear the bell.
If _______________________________________________________________

4. He didn't take the plane because he didn't have enough money.

If _______________________________________________________________

5. She didn't get the loan consequently she didn't set up her business.
If _______________________________________________________________

6. Ali dropped out of school because his parents were poor.

If _______________________________________________________________

7. The students didn't understand the lesson because they didn't pay attention.
If _______________________________________________________________

8. The secretary didn't write the report because she didn't attend the meeting.
If _______________________________________________________________

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 If Clause

9. I didn't find the keys because they were not in the drawer.
If _______________________________________________________________

10. You didn't take their advice; that's why, you had a difficult situation.
If _______________________________________________________________

11. She went to bed early as she felt tired.

If _______________________________________________________________

12. I bought this car because George lent me the money.

If _______________________________________________________________

13. They didn’t shut the door; that’s why, the thief got into the house.
If _______________________________________________________________

14. You were in trouble because you didn’t listen to your parents.
If _______________________________________________________________

15. You didn’t close the stable; as a result, the horse was stolen
If _______________________________________________________________

16. I didn’t know her; that’s why, I didn’t talk to her.

If _______________________________________________________________

17. He was punished because he didn’t do his homework.

If _______________________________________________________________

18. Ali didn’t buy the laptop because he didn’t have enough money.
If _______________________________________________________________

19. They didn’t leave early, so they didn’t catch the train.
If _______________________________________________________________

20. I didn’t try again; therefore, I didn’t make it.

If _______________________________________________________________

KEY

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 If Clause

A What do they mean?

1. If Leila had been old enough, I would have married her

- I didn’t marry Leila because she was not old enough
- As Leila was not old enough, I didn’t marry her
- Leila was not old enough, so I didn’t marry her

2. If the kid had been cautious, he wouldn’t have lost his Smartphone
- The kid lost his Smartphone because he was not cautious
- The kid was not cautious; consequently, he lost his Smartphone

3. If you had invited me to your party, I would have come

-You didn’t invite me to your party; that’s why; I didn’t come
- I didn’t come to your party because you didn’t invite me

4. If the meal had been delicious, everybody would have enjoyed it

- Nobody enjoyed the meal because it was not delicious
- The meal was not delicious; as a result, nobody enjoyed it.

5. If the quiz hadn’t been difficult, I would have done it.

- The quiz was difficult, therefore I didn’t do it
- As the quiz was difficult, I didn’t do it.

B Rewrite these sentences as indicated

1. Brahim drank too much coffee; so he didn't sleep comfortably.

If Brahim hadn’t drunk too much coffee, he would have slept comfortably

2. I knew about the tragedy because Samir told me.

If Samir hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known about the tragedy

3. She was listening to music; that's why, she didn't hear the bell.
If she hadn’t been listening to music, she would have heard the bell

4. He didn't take the plane because he didn't have enough money.

If he had had enough money, he would have taken the plane

5. She didn't get the loan consequently she didn't set up her business.
If she had got(ten) the loan, she would have set up her business

6. Ali dropped out of school because his parents were poor.

If his parents hadn’t been poor, Ali wouldn’t have dropped out of school

7. The students didn't understand the lesson because they didn't pay attention.
If the students had paid attention, they would have understood the lesson

8. The secretary didn't write the report because she didn't attend the meeting.
If the secretary had attended the meeting, she would have written the report

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9. I didn't find the keys because they were not in the drawer.
If the keys had been in the drawer, I would have found them

10. You didn't take their advice; that's why, you had a difficult situation.
If you had taken their advice, you wouldn’t have had a difficult situation

11. She went to bed early as she felt tired.

If she hadn’t felt tired, she wouldn’t have gone to bed early

12. I bought this car because George lent me the money.

If George hadn’t lent me the money, I wouldn’t have bought this car

13. They didn’t shut the door; that’s why, the thief got into the house.
If they had shut the door, the thief wouldn’t have got(ten) into the house

14. You were in trouble because you didn’t listen to your parents.
If you had listened to your parents, you wouldn’t have been in trouble

15. You didn’t close the stable; as a result, the horse was stolen
If you had closed the stable, the horse wouldn’t have been stolen

16. I didn’t know her; that’s why, I didn’t talk to her.

If I had known her, I would have talked to her

17. He was punished because he didn’t do his homework.

If he had done his homework, he wouldn’t have been punished

18. Ali didn’t buy the laptop because he didn’t have enough money.
If he had had enough money, Ali would have bought the laptop

19. They didn’t leave early, so they didn’t catch the train.
If they had left early, they would have caught the train

20. I didn’t try again; therefore, I didn’t make it.

If I had tried again, I would have made it

















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