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Conditionals

This document discusses different types of conditional sentences in English, including types 0-3 and mixed conditionals. It explains the structures and tenses used in each type of conditional clause. For example, a type 1 conditional uses "if + simple present + will verb" to describe likely present or future events. It also covers wish clauses and how they are used to express regret or desire, such as using "wish + past perfect" to express a wish about the past. Several examples and exercises are provided to illustrate the different conditional and wish clause structures.

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Diego Agreda
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72 views32 pages

Conditionals

This document discusses different types of conditional sentences in English, including types 0-3 and mixed conditionals. It explains the structures and tenses used in each type of conditional clause. For example, a type 1 conditional uses "if + simple present + will verb" to describe likely present or future events. It also covers wish clauses and how they are used to express regret or desire, such as using "wish + past perfect" to express a wish about the past. Several examples and exercises are provided to illustrate the different conditional and wish clause structures.

Uploaded by

Diego Agreda
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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If – Wish Clause

IF CLAUSES
 Conditional sentences describe situations that
occur (or do not occur) because of certain
conditions.

 In conditional sentences, the clauses can come in


either order.We place a comma after the if clause
if it is comes first.We don’t generally place a
comma after the result clause if it comes first.
There are five types of if clause:

Type 0
Type 1
Type 2
Type 3
Mixed Type
Type 0
We use this type of condition to express a
universal truth.

*** If + simple present + simple present

e.g. If you freeze water, it becomes ice.


If you heat snow, it melts.
Type 1
This type of condition is used for present or
future activities which are likely to happen.
*** If + simple present + will verb1

e.g. If he doesn’t hurry, he will be late.


If we go by train, it will be cheaper.
Type 2
The condition is used for present or future
activities which are unlikely or impossible
to happen.
*** If + simple past + would verb1

e.g. If I had enough money, I would lend you.


If he was a bird, he would fly everywhere.
Type 3
This is the only type of condition which deals
with past situations. The action mentioned
did not really happen.
*** If + past perfect + would have verb3

e.g. If it had rained yesterday, I would have


stayed at home.
Basic structures used in conditional sentences
Situation If Clause Main Clause
True in the present / Simple present Simple present
future Simple future

Untrue in the present / Simple past Would + verb 1


future

Untrue in the past Past perfect Would + have verb 3


EXERCISES
1. If I ___(be) stronger, I'd help you carry the piano.

2. If we'd seen you, we ___(stop).

3.If we ___(meet) him tomorrow, we'll say hello.

4.He would have repaired the car himself if he


___(have) the tools.
5.If you drop the vase, it ___(break).

6.If you hadn’t studied, I ___(not pass) the exam.

7.I wouldn’t go to school by bus, if I ___(have) a


driving licence.

8.If she ___(not see) him everyday, she’d be


lovesick.

Answers: 1)were 2)would have stopped 3)meet 4)had had 5)will


break 6)would not have passed 7)had 8)didn’t see
Mixed Type
The times of the if clause and the result
clause are sometimes different.Present
unreal and past conditional forms can be
“mixed” in the same sentence.

e.g. If I hadn’t gone to college, I’d still be


working at the hardware store.
Examples:
 If Sam were coming, he would have
arrived by now.
 If you had planned things at the start,
we wouldn’t get into a mess.
If you hadn’t left all these dirty dishes,
the place would look a bit tidier.
If Jack was more sensible, he would
have worn a suit to the interview.
Actual situations Conditionals
If Clause Result Clause
He didn’t have past present
children, so he is alone. If he had had he wouldn’t be
children, alone.
His memory is not present past
good, so he didn’t
buyhis medicine. If his memory he would have
were good, bought his
medicine.
EXERCISES

1.Come before lunchtime if it ___ you.


a)suits
b)will suit
c)suited
d)was to suit
e)had suited

2.If we ___ double glazing on our windows, we ___


on our heating bills.
a)had / would save
b)have / are saving
c)had had / save
d)are having /saved
e)will have / can save
3.If he ___ how serious the situation is, he ___ around
like that.
a)should realize / hasn’t been fooling
b)had realized / hasn’t fooled
c)realized / wouldn’t be fooling
d)could realize / wasn’t fooling
e)realizes / wouldn’t have fooled

4.If a replacement kidney ___ soon, the patient ___ .


a)won’t have been found /dies
b)wasn’t found / had died
c)hadn’t been found / was dying
d)wouldn’t have been found / died
e)isn’t found / will die
5.A lot of people ___ in the explosion if the medical men
___ so promptly.
a)are being killed / don’t act
b)were being killed / haven’t been acting
c)should have killed / didn’t act
d)might have been killed / hadn’t acted
e)must be killing / aren’t acting

6.What things ___ you ___ with you if you ___ stranded
on a desert island?
a)might / take / have been
b)would / take / were to be
c)could / take / will be
d)will / have taken / were
e)did / take / could be

Answers: 1A-2A-3C-4E-5D-6B
WISHES
We often use unreal conditionals to
express regret or sadness. In a similar
way, we use wish + noun clause to
express sadness or a desire for different
situation.

e.g. I wish (that) I had a better job.


(If I had a better job, I’d earn more.)
a) wish + would / could
To express a wish about the future.

e.g. I wish you would change your mind about


buying that house.
I wish she could visit us.
b) wish + simple past
To express a wish about the present.

e.g. My wife wishes I helped her with the house


work.
I wish I lived in a big city.
c) wish + past perfect
To express a wish about the past.

e.g. My son wishes he hadn’t taken that job.


I wish you had told me about the dance.
Be careful!
Don’t confuse wish and hope. Use wish to
express regrets about things that are unlikely or
impossible to change. Use hope to express a
desire about events that are possible.
e.g. I wish she would accept my proposal.
(I don’t think she will.)
I hope she will accept my proposal.
(It’s possible that she will.)
** If only has a meaning similar to that of wish. If only
is followed by a noun clause without that.
e.g. I wish (that) I were good at sports.
If only I were good at sports.

** Use simple past after if only to express a wish


about something that is contrary to fact at present.
e.g. If only we weren’t so busy.

** Use past perfect after if only to express a wish that


something had happened differently in the past.
e.g. If only I hadn’t said that.
Be careful!
Don’t confuse if only with only if.

e.g. If only Jerry studied more.


( = I wish he would study more.)
Only if Jerry studied more would he have a
chance of passing.
( = This would be the only way for him to
pass.)
Basic Structures Used in Wish Clauses
situation main clause
A wish about would + verb1
the future
A wish about Subject + wish verb2
the present
A wish about verb3
the past
EXERCISES
1.What a beautiful view! I wish I (bring) ___ my
camera with me.

2.If only Mr. Blake (not, interrupt) ___ the speaker


all the time, the presentation would have been
enjoyable.

3.I quite like this flat, but I wish the people above
us (not, be) ___ so noisy.

4.If only I (have) ___ better eyesight.I can’t read


anything now without my glasses.
5.I really wish you (stop) ___ whistling.It’s getting
on my nerves.

6.I wish you (can, be) ___ at the party last


night.You really enjoyed yourself.

7.I wish you (can, see) ___ the look on my


husband’s face yesterday when he saw the colour
I had painted the living room.

Answers: 1)brought - 2)wouldn’t interrupt - 3)weren’t - 4)had -


5)Stopped - 6)could have been - 7)could have seen
EXERCISES
1.Everybody would have drowned if the boat ---- the quayside
when it sank.
A) must not have approached
B) didn't approach
C) hadn't been approaching
D) hasn't approached
E) wouldn't be approaching

2.My brother is sitting by the telephone wishing his girlfriend --


-- him.
A) calls
B) has called
C) will call
D) would call
E) is calling
3.I know Sibel wishes she ---- the horses with her friends, but
she is too young.
A) could ride
B) would ride
C) will be riding
D) would have ridden
E) has ridden

4.One day I ---- to visit my cousin in Australia if I can get three


weeks off work.
A) have liked
B) had liked
C) would like
D) liked
E) were to like
5.Later on today, I ---- a cake for tea if we---- all of the necessary
ingredients , of course.
A) would bake/were having
B) will bake/have
C) could have baked/had
D) will have baked/have had
E) were to have baked/would have

6.If people ---- any opium-related drug often enough, they ----
physically dependent, or addicted, to the drug.
A) take/become
B) took/became
C) would take/had become
D) were taking/may become
E) are taking/have become

Answers: 1C-2D-3A-4C-5B-6A
The End

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