CONDITIONALS AND IF SENTENCES

Types of conditional sentences

Conditional sentences are usually divided into three basic types referred to as Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3. Each has its own variations, but the elements are as follows:

Type 1: if + simple present + ll future

IF clause main clause

present tenses future

If I lose my job, Ill go abroad.

2. present tenses modal

If its fine tomorrow, we can/could/may/might/should/ought to/must go out.

If she has arrived, she must phone me.

3. should imperative

If you should see him, tell him Ill be back soon.

If + should instead of if + present makes the condition more doubtful. The main clause is not necessarily always an imperative:

If I should see him, Ill ask him to ring you.

4. imperative conjunction shall/will future

Fail to pay and theyll cut off the electricity. (comment)

Tell us what to do and well get on with it. (request)

Stop eating sweets, or you wont get any dinner. (threat)

Take a taxi, otherwise youll miss the train. (advice)

Note the difference between imperative + or and imperative + and in threats:

Drop that gun, or Ill shoot you. (i.e. if you dont drop it)

Drop that parcel, and Ill kill you. (i.e. if you do drop it)

Type 2: if + simple past + would/should

IF clause main clause

1. simple past would

If you went by train, you would get there earlier.

If you didnt stay up so late every evening, you wouldnt feel so sleepy in the morning.

2. were/was would/should

If I was/were qualified, Id apply for the job.

Were is preferable in purely imaginary statements:

If I were you (Jane)/in your (Janes) position, Id walk out on him.

3. past tense modal

If John were here, he could help us.

If she were here now, she could be helping us.

If he was in New York, he could have met my sister.

4. were to/was to would/should

If Sue were to make an effort, she could do better.

If you were to ask him, he might help you.

Type 3: if + past perfect + would have/should have

1. past perfect would have/should have

If he had worked harder at school, hed have got a better job.

If I hadnt been wearing a raincoat, I would have got wet.

If I had been you, I would have walked out on him years ago.

2. past perfect modal

If she had been here, she could have met my sister.

Supplementary explanations

I.           Basic contrasts

What is always true: present + present

Both present simple and continuous are possible after if meaning when.

If I work late, I get tired.

If the water is boiling, it means the food is nearly ready.

What was always true: past + past

Both past simple and continuous are possible after if meaning when.

We went home early if it was foggy.

If it was snowing, we stayed at home.

Real situations: present + will

Here we think that the outcome is really possible.

If you keep driving like that, youll have an accident.

Hypothetical situations: past + would

These are imaginary situations.

If I knew the answer, Id tell you.

The verb be usually takes the form were for all persons in these sentences, though was is used in everyday speech. Note that in the first person it is possible to use should instead of would.

If I left home, I think I should be lonely.

Hypothetical past situations: past perfect + would have

These refer to past events.

If I had known you were coming, I would have met you at the station.

With modals

Possible situations in the present

If you get wet, you should change your clothes immediately.

If you come early, we can discuss the problem together.

Hypothetical situations

If I had the money, I could help you.

Hypothetical past situations

If you hadnt reminded me, I might have forgotten.

If only

This adds emphasis to hypothetical situations. With past events it adds a sense of regret. The second part of the sentence is often left out.

If only I had enough time!

If only I hadnt drunk too much, this wouldnt have happened!

Unless and other alternatives to if

Unless means only if not. Not all negative if sentences can be transformed into unless sentences.

If he wasnt told by Jane, he couldnt have known.

Unless he was told by Jane, he couldnt have known. (can be changed)

If Mr Smith doesnt come back, hell phone you. (cannot be changed)

If one situation depends on another, if can be replaced by as/as long as, provided or only if.

Ill do what you say provided the police are not informed.

Even if describes how something will happen whatever the condition.

Even if it rains, well still go for a picnic.

Past events with results in the present: past perfect + would

If Jim hadnt missed the plane, he would be here by now.

I.           Other tenses in conditional sentences

Going to

Going to can replace will.

If you fall, youre going to hurt yourself.

It can also be used to mean intend to after if.

If youre going to make trouble, well call the police.

Present perfect

This can be used to emphasize completion after if.

If youve finished, then well go.

It is also possible in both parts of the sentence.

If Ive told you once, Ive told you a hundred times!

Doubt and uncertainty

An additional not can be added in formal expressions involving doubt. This emphasizes the uncertainty and does not add a negative meaning.

I wouldnt be surprised if it didnt rain. (I think it will rain.)

Should

After if, this makes the possibility of an event seem unlikely.

If you should see Ann, could you ask her to call me?

This implies that I do not expect you to see Ann.

Were to

This also makes an event seem more hypothetical.

If I were to ask you to marry me, what would you say?

Happen to

This emphasizes chance possibilities. It is often used with should.

If you happen to see Helen, could you ask her to call me?

If you should happen to be passing, drop in for a cup of tea.

If it were not for/If it hadnt been for

This describes how one event depends on another.

If it werent for Jim, this company would be in a mess.

If it hadnt been for their goalkeeper, United would have lost.

Will and would: politeness and emphasis

These can be used as polite forms.

If you will/would wait here, Ill see if Mrs Green is free.

Will can also be used for emphasis, meaning insist on doing.

If you will stay out late, no wonder you are tired!

II.        Other ways of making a conditional sentence

Supposing, otherwise

Supposing or suppose can replace if, mainly in everyday speech.

Supposing you won, what would you do?

Otherwise means or if not. It can go at the beginning or end of the sentence.

If you hadnt given us directions, we wouldnt have found the house.

Thanks for your directions to the house. We wouldnt have found it otherwise.

But for

This can replace if not. It is used in formal language, and must be followed by a noun form.

If you hadnt helped us, we would have been in trouble.

But for your help, we would have been in trouble.

If so/If not

These can refer to a sentence understood but not stated.

There is a possibility that Jack will be late. If so, I will take his place.

Colloquial omission of if

An imperative can be used instead of an if clause in everyday speech.

Sit down, and Ill make us a cup of tea. (If you sit down)

If and adjectives

In expressions such as if it is necessary/possible it is possible to omit the verb be.

If interested, apply within. If necessary, take a taxi.

Formally if can mean although, usually as if + adjective.

The room was well-furnished, if a little badly decorated.

Activities

Put each verb in brackets into an appropriate tense:

a)           Now were lost! If you had written down (write down) Marys directions, this (not happen).

b)          Why dont we emigrate? If we (live) in Australia, at least the weather (be) better!

c)           Im afraid that Smith is a hardened criminal. If we (not punish) him this time, he (only commit) more crimes.

d)          Thanks to Dr Jones, Im still alive! If it (not be) for her, I (be) dead for certain!

e)           Im sorry I cant lend you any money. You know that if I (have) it, I (lend) it to you.

f)            Dont be afraid. If you (touch) the dog, it (not bite).

g)          In those days, if you (have) a job, you (be) lucky.

h)          Its always the same! If I (decide) to leave the office early, my boss (call) me after Ive left!

i)            What a terrible thing to happen! Just think, if we (not miss) the plane, we (be killed) in the crash.

j)            Did you enjoy your meal? If you (finish) eating, I (clear away) the plates

Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word in capitals.

a)           If you do have any time free, could you give me a ring? SHOULD

b)          We dont go away if the weather is bad. UNLESS

c)           I didnt have the money so I didnt buy a new suit. WOULD

d)          I regret not studying hard last term. ONLY

e)           If you hurry up, you wont be late. GOING

f)            If they offered you the job, would you accept? WERE

g)          If you are in London by any chance, come and see me. HAPPEN

h)          Without you, I would have given up years ago. BEEN

i)            If you insist on doing everything yourself, of course you feel tired. WILL

j)            Please take a seat, and Ill inquire for you. WILL

Complete each sentence with a suitable word or phrase.

a)           That was a narrow escape! If I had fallen, I would have broken my leg.

b)          If it hadnt , gone out for a walk.

c)           If you , then Id like it back please.

d)          I .. if Harry didnt win the competition!

e)           Unless Brenda lost the race.

f)            If you see Mary, give her my love.

g)          I wouldnt accept the job, even to me.

h)          If I were . loved you, what would you say?

i)            Thanks for your help with the garden. I .. otherwise.

j)            But for Sally, Jim .. drowned.

Rewrite each sentence, beginning as shown, so that the meaning stays the same.

a)           Working so much will make you tired.

If you work so much, you will get tired.

b)          I regret drinking so much last night!

If only ..

c)           What would you do if there was an earthquake?

Supposing .

d)          If you do the shopping, Ill cook lunch.

You .

e)           What would you do if you found some buried treasure?

If you were

f)            If Pauline hadnt been interested, the project would have been abandoned.

But for

g)          If by any chance you find my wallet, could you let me know?

If you happen

h)          I might be late. If so, start without me.

If I ..

i)            The fire was brought under control thanks to the night-watchman.

If it hadnt ..

j)            Dick is in prison because a detective recognised him

If a detective ..

Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word in capitals.

a)           Dont take this job if you dont really want it. UNLESS

Dont take this job unless you really want it.

b)          I wasnt tall enough to reach the shelf. TALLER

c)           I wont sell the painting, not even for $1000. IF

d)          If the ship sank, what would you do? WERE

e)           If you should notice whats on the cinema, let me know. HAPPEN

f)            If you hadnt encouraged me, I would have given up. BUT

g)          Although it is a good car, it is expensive. IF

h)          If you insist on smoking so much, of course you feel ill. WILL

i)            I dont have any scissors so I cant lend you any. IF

j)            But for Helen, the play would be a flop. WERE

Rewrite each sentence, beginning as shown, so that the meaning stays the same.

a)           Its a pity your parents cant be here too.

If only your parents could be here too.

b)          If Jane hadnt refused to work overtime, she would have got promotion.

If it hadnt

c)           If you left out that chapter, you cant really say you read the whole book.

Unless ..

d)          If you want my advice, Id think twice about buying a car like that.

If I

e)           It wont make any difference if City score first, United will still win.

United will still win .

f)            If the painting is finished by Saturday, well pay you extra.

Finish

g)          Provided your voice is audible, the audience will get the point of this scene.

As long as the audience .

h)          If you refuse to stop eating sweets, you cant expect to lose weight easily.

If you wont

i)            Without your help, I wouldnt have found the house.

If you .

j)            Getting up early makes me feel hungry.

If

Complete each sentence with a suitable word or phrase.

a)           If you had really wanted to come, you could have left a few hours earlier.

b)          Ill lend you my radio as .. you bring it back before Saturday.

c)           the phone bill today, the phone will be cut off.

d)          I shall call off the sale to pay me the whole amount in cash.

e)           If I your tools, I wouldnt have been able to fix the car.

f)            If youd told me you were coming, I something to eat.

g)          If you took more time over your work so many mistakes in it.

h)          Those wires look a bit dangerous; I were you.

i)            If youve finished home.

j)            If Sue had known her sister wasnt coming, she to such trouble.