Conditional clause

Conditional Sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If Clauses. They are used to express that the action in the main clause (without if) can only take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if) is fulfilled. There are three types of Conditional Sentences.

Conditional Sentence Type 1

It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled. Form: if + Simple Present, will-Future

Example: If I find her address, Ill send her an invitation.

more on Conditional Sentences Type I

Conditional Sentence Type 2

It is possible but very unlikely, that the condition will be fulfilled. Form: if + Simple Past, Conditional I (= would + Infinitive)

Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation.

more on Conditional Sentences Type II

Conditional Sentence Type 3

It is impossible that the condition will be fulfilled because it refers to the past. Form: if + Past Perfect, Conditional II (= would + have + Past Participle)

Example: If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.
more on Conditional Sentences Type III

Exceptions
Sometimes Conditional Sentences Type I, II and III can also be used with other tenses. more on Conditional Sentences used with other tenses

If Clause Type I
if + Simple Present, will-Future Type I indicates what will happen, provided that a certain situation is given.

Examples:

If you send your order by fax, we will deliver the goods immediately. If you invite me for lunch, I will help you with your presentation. If Clause Type II
if + Simple Past, would + infinitive Type II indicates what could happen if a present situation were different. Examples:

If we had more employees, we would work more efficiently. If we delivered poor quality, we would not be the leading company in our business. If Clause Type III
if + Past Perfect, would + have + past participle Type III indicates what could have happened in the past if a situation had been different then. Examples:

If you had read the paper, you would have seen the advertisement. If I had taken the bus, I would have been late.
Detailed Explanation and Exercises on If Clauses

Conditional Sentences Type I (likely)

Condition refers to: IF Clause
Future I future action Simple Present If the book is interesting, Imperative Modal Auxiliary Future I action going on now Present Progressive If he is snoring, Imperative Modal Auxiliary finished action Present Perfect If he has moved into his new Future I

Main Clause
I will buy it. buy it. you can buy it. I will wake him up. wake him up. you can wake him up. we will visit him.

Condition refers to:

IF Clause

Main Clause
Imperative flat, Modal Auxiliary Future I visit him. we can visit him. I will congratulate her. congratulate her. we can congratulate her. he is very nice.

improbable action

should + Infinitive

If she should win this race,

Imperative Modal Auxiliary

present facts

Simple Present If he gets what he wants, Simple Present

Conditional Sentences Type II (unlikely)

Condition refers to:
present / future event Simple Past consequence in the past Simple Past

IF Clause
If I had a lot of money, If I knew him, Conditional I Conditional II

Main Clause
I would travel around the world. I would have said hello.

Conditional Sentences Type II (impossible)

Condition refers to:
present past Past Perfect Past Perfect

IF Clause
If I had known it, If he had learned for the test,

Main Clause
Conditional I I would not be here now. Conditional II he would not have failed it.

Conditional Clause and Main Clause

If I have enough money, I will go to Japan. conditional clause main clause I will go to Japan, if I have enough money main clause conditional clause

First, Second, and Third Conditional

1. First conditional: 3. Third conditional: If I have enough money, I will go to Japan. If I had had enough money, I would have gone to Japan. 2. Second conditional: If I had enough money, I would go to Japan.

Conditional clause
1. If + Present Tense

Main clause
will + inf / present tense / imperative

a. If you help me with the dishes (if + pres), I will help you with your homework. (will + inf) b. If the sum of the digits of a number is divisible by three, the number is divisible by three (Pres. tense) c.If you see Mr Fox tonight, tell him I am ill. (imperative). 2. If + Past Tense 3. If + Past Perfect Tense would + inf would have + past participle

We do not normally use will or would in the conditional clause, only in the main clause.

Uses of the Conditional

1. First conditional
a. Nature: Open condition, what is said in the condition is possible. b. Time: This condition refers either to present or to future time. e.g. If he is late, we will have to go without him. If my mother knows about this, we are in serious trouble.

2.

Second conditional
a. Nature: unreal (impossible) or improbable situations. b. Time: present; the TENSE is past, but we are talking about the present, now. e.g. If I knew her name, I would tell you. If I were you, I would tell my father. Compare: If I become president, I will change the social security system. (Said by a presidential candidate) If I became president, I would change the social security system. (Said

by a schoolboy: improbable) If we win this match, we are qualified for the semifinals. If I won a million pounds, I would stop teaching. (improbable)

3.

Third conditional
a. Nature: unreal b. Time: Past (so we are talking about a situation that was not so in the past.) e.g. If you had warned me, I would not have told your father about that party.(But you didn't, and I have).

Remember!
1. The conditional construction does not normally use will or would in ifclauses. EXCEPTION: If will or would express willingness, as in requests, they can be used in if-clauses.
e.g. If you will come this way, the manager will see you now. I would be grateful if you would give me a little help. (= please, come this way; please, give me...)

2. For the second conditional, were replaces was:

If I were a rich man...

3. After if, we can either use "some(-one, -where...)" or "any(-one, -where...).

If I have some spare time next weekend....or : If I have any spare time...

4. Instead of if not, we can use unless.

e.g. I'll be back tomorrow unless there is a plane strike. He'll accept the job unless the salary is too low.

5.There is a "mixed type" as well, for the present results of an unreal condition in the past:
If + Past Perfect - would + inf. If you had warned me [then], I would not be in prison [now].

englisch
Use

It is possible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.

Form
if clause main clause will-future or infinitive or Modal + infinitive

Simple Present

Examples
If I study, If you see John tonight, If Ben gets up early, I will pass the exams. tell him to e-mail me. he can catch the bus.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. If I study, I will pass the exams

Use
It is theoretically possible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.

Form
if clause main clause would + infinitive or could + infinitive or might + infinitive

Simple Past

Examples
If I studied, If I studied, If I studied, I would pass the exams. I could pass the exams. I might pass the exams.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. If I studied, I would pass the exams I would pass the exams. if I studied.

Use
It is impossible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.

Form
if clause main clause would + have + past participle or could + have + past participle or might + have + past participle

Past Perfect

Examples
If I had studied, If I had studied, If I had studied, I would have passed the exams. I could have passed the exams. I might have passed the exams.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. If I had studied, I would have passed the exams I would have passed the exams. if I had studied.

Structure
If-clauses can be clause-initial (1), clause-medial (2) as well as clause-final (3). (1) (2) (3) If you like, we can catch a movie. We, if you like, can catch a movie. We can catch a movie if you like.

Types
Aside from the typical type I, II, III strucure, conditionals can be divided into two categories: real and unreal conditionals. Real Condition If I have money, I spend it. If I had money, I spent it. Present Real Conditional - type I Past Real Conditional - type I

If I have money, I will/am going to spend it.

Future Real Conditional - type I

Unreal Condition If I had had money, I would have spent it. If I had money, I would spend it. If I had money, I would spend it. I think about spending the money TODAY. I think about spending the money NEXT WEEK. Past unreal Conditional - type III

Present unreal Conditional - type II

Future unreal Conditional - type II

Special Features
Modal verbs Main clauses with real conditional tenses can have modal verbs. If I have money, I can spend it.

You can use could and might instead of would in unreal conditional clauses. If I had money, I could spend it. (I would be able to spend it.) If I had money, I might spend it. (I would possibly spend it.)

Mixed Conditionals
Unreal conditionals (type II + III) sometimes can be mixed, that is, the time of the if clause is different from the one of the main clause. Past --> Present If I had taken an aspirin, I wouldn't have a headache now.

Past --> Future If I had known that you are going to come by tomorrow, I would be in then.

Present --> Past If she had enough money, she could have done this trip to Hawaii.

Present --> Future If I were you, I would be spending my vacation in Seattle.

Future --> Past If I weren't flying to Detroit, I would have planned a trip to Vancouver.

Future --> Present If I were taking this exam next week, I would be high-strung. The word were in the phrase if I were you is special form. It is known as the subjunctive mood (from the grammatical point of view). Today you also find the phrase if I was you. Here the Simple Past form of be is used. But there are people who say that this phrase is incorrect and would never use it (mainly Americans). Others say that this phrase can be used. If I were you I would phone him. - subjunctive mood If I was you I would phone him. - Simple Past

will in if-clauses
When the situation or action depicted in the if-clause is a result of the main clause, the will future is used in the if-clause. He'll pay me $10 if I'll help him do the dishes. (Doing the dishes is the result of paying ten dollars.)

would in if-clauses
In polite requests would is possible in if-clauses. It would be nice if you would help me in the kitchen. (Are you ready to help me in the kitchen?)

Replacing if
If can be replaced by words or expressions with a similar meaning.

The most common are: as long as assuming (that) on condition (that) on the assumption (that) provided (that) supposing (that) unless with the condition (that)

Omitting if
Had I known... (instead of If I had known...) Were you my daughter,... (instead of: If you were my daughter,...) Should you need my advice,... (instead of: If you should need my advice,...)

if vs. when
if and when are interchangeable when the statement of the conditional clause is a fact or a general issue (also known as zero conditonal) If you heat ice, it melts. When you heat ice, it melts. if is used for something that, according to the speaker, might happen. We can spend the afternoon on the beach if the weather is fine. when is used for something that, according to the speaker, will happen. I will clean up the kitchen right away when I'm back from work.

in case vs. if
in case of can be used to shorten an if-clause as shown below: If there is a fire, leave the room. In case of fire, leave the room.

While if expresses a condition (1), in case is used to express a possibility (2). (1) (2) I need painkillers if I'm in severe pain. I need painkillers in case I'm in severe pain.

The expression just in case is used pretty much the same way. I got you a pizza just in case you were hungry. (I don't know whether you are hungry.)

Conditional sentences
The conditional sentences are sometimes confusing for learners of English. Watch out: 1) Which type of the conditional sentences is used? 2) Where is the if-clause (e.g. at the beginning or at the end of the conditional sentence)? There are three types of the if-clauses. type I II III condition condition possible to fulfill condition in theory possible to fulfill condition not possible to fulfill (too late)

Form
type I II III if clause Simple Present Simple Past Past Perfect main clause will-future (or Modal + infinitive) would + infinitive * would + have + past participle *

Examples (if-clause at the beginning)

type I II III if clause If I study, If I studied, If I had studied, main clause I will pass the exam. I would pass the exam. I would have passed the exam.

Examples (if-clause at the end)

type I II main clause I will pass the exam I would pass the exam if-clause if I study. if I studied.

III

I would have passed the exam

if I had studied.

Examples (affirmative and negative sentences)

type Examples long forms + If I study, I will pass the exam. I If I study, I will not fail the exam. If I do not study, I will fail the exam. short/contracted forms If I study, I'll pass the exam. If I study, I won't fail the exam. If I don't study, I'll fail the exam. If I studied, I'd pass the exam. If I studied, I wouldn't fail the exam. If I didn't study, I'd fail the exam.

+ If I studied, I would pass the exam. II + III If I studied, I would not fail the exam. If I did not study, I would fail the exam.

If I had studied, I would have passed the If I'd studied, I'd have passed the exam. exam. If I'd studied, I wouldn't have failed the exam. If I hadn't studied, I'd have failed the exam.

If I had studied, I would not have failedthe exam. If I had not studied, I would have failedthe exam.

* We can substitute could or might for would (should, may or must are sometimes possible, too). I would pass the exam. I could pass the exam. I might pass the exam. I may pass the exam. I should pass the exam. I must pass the exam. englisch

Exercise on If Clauses
Complete the sentences.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

If your conditions are competitive, we (place) If I had more time, I (do)

an order.

a course in business English.

If we had known more about their culture, negotiating (be) If you (customize) We (cancel)

easier.

your CV, your chances of getting a job will be better. our order if you don't deliver the goods by Friday. better English, she would apply for a job abroad.

If Brittany (speak)

7. 8. 9.
future.

If you (tell) I (let)

me about the problem, I would have helped you. you know if I weren't satisfied.

If you execute the order carelessly, they (place / not)

another order with you in the

10.

If I were you, I (worry / not)

about the presentation.