Conditionals

CONDITIONALS
GRAMMATICAL EXPLANATION

There are three kinds of conditional sentences. With each type certain variations are possible.


Type 1 Probable or Real Conditionals (to talk about the present, the future or unchanging relationships). We use the first conditional either to describe possible future events or situations and their results or to talk about events or situations that canoccur at any time, and often occur more than once, and their results.

If + Present, will e.g. If he runs, he’ll get there in time.
, may / might e.g. If the fog gets thicker, the plane may / might be diverted.
If the regime can keep the loyalty of the army, they may retain power.
, must / should e.g. If you want to lose weight, you must/ should eat less bread.
, present e.g. if you heat ice, it turns to water.
If I eat dairy products, I get red spots on my skin.
, going to e.g. If the results of the survey are favourable, they are going to introduce a new range of products.
If + Pres. Cont., will, etc... e.g. If you are looking for Peter, you’ll find him upstairs.
If +Present Perfect, ... e.g. If you have finished dinner, I’ll ask the waiter for the bill.


Special uses / Omission of IF


If + should, ... (possible, but not likely)
If you should have any difficulty in getting spare parts, ring this number.
In this case, SHOULD can be placed first and IF omitted.
Should you have any difficulty...


Type 2 Improbable or Unreal Conditionals (to talk aboutthe present or future). It can describe an improbable future event or situation. The condition is unlikely to be fulfilled because the future event is unlikely to happen. It can also describe a hypothetical current situation or event, i.e. one which is contrary to known facts. It is therefore impossible to fulfil the condition.



If + Past , would e.g. If I had a map, I would lend it toyou.

, might /could e.g. If you tried again, you might / could succeed.
If + Subjunctive, would e.g. If I were you, I wouldn’t do it. (was is also possible)
If + Past cont., would... e.g. We’re going by air and I hate flying. If we were going by boat, I’d feel much happier.
If + Past Perfect (Mixed C.) e.g. If he had taken my advice, he would be a rich man now.





Special uses/ Omission of IF



If + were to + infinitive, would (formal, used to talk about imaginary future


situation)

e.g. It would be embarrassing if she were to find out the truth.
In this case inversion is possible:
It would be embarrassing, were she to find out the truth.


Type 3 Unreal in the past (To talk about something that might have happened in the past, but didn’t). Itdescribes a hypothetical situation or event in the past. The past situation or event is contrary to known facts, i.e. it is an unreal or impossible situation.

If + Past Perfect, would have + past participle
could have + p.p.
should have + p.p.
might have + p.p.
e.g. If I had known you were coming, I would have met you at the airport.
Ifwe had found him earlier, we could have saved his life.
Luckily I was wearing a seat belt. If I hadn’t been wearing one, I might have been injured.

Special uses / Omission of IF

Had can be placed first and the if omitted.
e.g. If you had obeyed his orders this disaster would not have happened ( Had you obeyed his orders this disaster would not have happened.


EXERCISE

Put theverbs in brackets into the correct tenses.

1. If I see him, I _______________ (give) him a lift.
2. If I had a typewriter, I _______________ (type) it myself.
3. If you read in bad light you _______________ (ruin) your eyes.
4. More tourists _______________ (come) to this country if it had a better climate.
5. If she _______________ (do) her hair differently she might look quite nice.
6....