All About Conditionals

Types of Conditionals MAIN CLAUSE IF-CLAUSE TYPES TYPE 0 EXTRAS Click on the Type boxes to see the structure. Click on the blue words to see explanation and examples. Click on EXTRAS to see related structures. Click on PRACTICE to do some exercises. PRACTICE MAIN CLAUSE IF-CLAUSE TYPES TYPE 0 SIMPLE PRESENT SIMPLE PRESENT TYPE 1 SIMPLE PRESENT SIMPLE FUTURE TYPE 2 SIMPLE PAST WOULD V1 TYPE 3 PAST PERFECT WOULD HAVE V3 MIXED TYPE

BACK TYPE 0 I am nervous if I don’t sleep 8 hours. We refer to general truths, habitual actions. N.B.: The order of the two clauses is indifferent in each type. I am nervous if I don’t sleep 8 hours. If the temperature rises, the snow melts.

BACK Type 1 If you are naughty, you’ll be grounded. We refer to the future. In this case it is LIKELY that the condition will be fulfilled. Unless = if … not If you are naughty, you’ll be grounded. Unless you don’t move, I’ll hit the apple.

BACK Type 2 If he loved her, he would ask her to marry him. We refer to the present. In this case it is UNLIKELY that the condition will be fulfilled. In the IF- clause ‘WERE’ can be used instead of ‘was’.

BACK Type 3 If she had studied more, she would have passed the test. We refer to the past. In this case it is IMPOSSIBLE that the condition will be fulfilled.

BACK Mixed Type We combine two types: One clause refers to the past, the other to the present. One clause refers to the present, the other to the past. If he had called the doctor earlier, he wouldn’t be in hospital now. If I liked him, I would have given him my phone number last night.

remember If you ask your mom, she may buy you this backpack. If they went on holiday, they could practise their English. If she had had some free time, she might have travelled to Alaska. ‘Will’ can be replaced by: may can should ‘Would’ can be replaced by: might could

PRACTICE: Which is the correct answer? would have caught If you had left earlier, you ____________ your train. We will go sightseeing _____. Joe will get a car _______ his driving test. would catch would caught unless it doesn’t rain unless it wil rain unless it rains if he takes if he will take if he took

PRACTICE: Which is the correct answer? had driven She wouldn’t have had a crash if she ___________ more carefully. He would be rich if he _____________ to the casino last night. If only my friends ____________ me to join them. driven drives went hadn’t gone had went will ask had ask had asked

PRACTICE: Which is the correct answer? If my friends , they wouldn't be so fit. We __________ for a walk if it stops raining. If she did some sports regularly, she ________ much faster. won’t exercise didn’t exercise aren’t exercise would go went may go will run may run could run

PRACTICE: Which is the correct answer? Unless you _________ eating bread, you will put on weight. If I _____________ born an animal, I’d be a lion. stopped stop don’t stop were was had been

Reviewing things

Conditionals If clause Main clause Use If + Present form Type I Real present If + Present form Future / Imperative, can/must/should + bare inf., Present Simple Situation likely to happen in present or future If the weather is good, we can go for a walk. If you have finished, we ca go home. Type II unreal present If + Past Simple / Past Continuous Would/could/might + bare infinitive Situation unlikely to happen in present or future + used to give advice If I saw a ghost, I would run away. If I were you, I wouldn’t pay him. Type III unreal past If + Past Perfect / Past Perfect Continuous Would/could/might + past participle Unreal situation in the past + used to give regrets and criticism If he had behaved well, the teacher wouldn’t have punished him.

Mixed Conditionals II I III If clause Main clause If nobody told him He won’t come to the party. I If he spoke German He would have talked to her. III If he had sold the house He wouldn’t be searching for clients now.

Grammar inversion I type. (always with should) II type. III type. Is used for emphatization and in formal language. I type. (always with should) Should you not wish to sign the contract, you must let me know before the end of June. II type. Were I you, I wouldn’t do that. III type. Had I known the answer, I would have told you.

The End