Lesson 3 : Conditional Questions

Conditional questions in business English play a crucial role in

communication and decision-making processes within the business
context. By incorporating conditional questions into business
discussions, professionals can navigate uncertainties, anticipate
challenges, and make more informed decisions, contributing to the
overall success and resilience of the business.

Compare between the sentences in the following boxes:

COLUMN 1 COLUMN 2
I will read if I have time I would read if I had more time.
tonight. If we hired more people, we’d need
If we hire more people, we’ll more space.
need more space. If she changed careers, it might be
If she changes careers, it might difficult at first.
be difficult at first.

…………………………………………………
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…………………………………………………
…………………………………………………
…..

The conditional tenses are those that start with an “if clause”. They start with a
condition and finish with a consequence/result.

Compare these sentences.

• If sales increase (generally), we make a profit. (Zero)

• If sales increase (next quarter), we‘ll make a profit. (First)
• If sales increased (next quarter), we would make a profit. (Second)
• If sales had increased (last quarter), we would have made a profit. (Third)

The If clause sets the condition (sales increase) and the second clause sets the
result (profit)

There are 4 English conditional tenses.

1/ ZERO CONDITIONAL

When we talk about things that are always or generally true, we use the zero conditional. In
other words, we’re looking at logical conclusions or results of our actions.
Structure: If/when + present tense, present tense

• if/when we sell more, we make a profit.

• if/when we receive more orders, we employ more staff.
• if /when interest rates rise, our borrowing costs more.
• if/when there’s a rail strike, I am always late for work.

It’s a fact.

2/ FIRST CONDITIONAL

When we talk about future events that will happen or has a real possibility of
happening we use the first conditional.

We often use this in business when we’re projecting the future. Imagine in a meeting,
you’re making plans and making certain assumptions about the result of the actions
you make or take as a business.

You’re forecasting.

Structure: If/when + present, future

• if our clients sign the contract this afternoon, we’ll give the go-ahead for the
press release.
• “If the product is successful in China, we will introduce it into other Asian
markets”
• “if the other side agrees to our terms, it’ll place us in a much stronger
position further up the line of the negotiations.
• If he agrees to all we’ve asked for, I’ll be stunned.

We also use the first conditional for situations where the possibility of something
happening is NOT high. Often when it’s ironic.

“If Simon manages to get this deal by the end of today, I’ll treat the entire team to a
five-course dinner at Chez Gavroche! (The chances of Simon getting the deal are
very small, so no danger of you spending a small fortune at Chez Gavroche!)”

3/ SECOND CONDITIONAL

With this tense, we refer to future events that are unlikely to happen or impossible.
We also call this the “imaginary future”. We use this tense to imagine and dream of a
future that’s different to our present.

Structure: If + past simple, would/could/might + verb (infinitive)

“What changes would you make to the way you work?”

You could start with any of these sentences:

• If it was/were up to me, I’d create more open plan spaces.

 • If I had more time, I’d …………..
• If money wasn’t an option, I’d………..
• If markets weren’t so volatile, we’d invest more.
• If I had to choose, I’d………..
• If cash flow wasn’t so tight, I’d invest more in the business.

We use this tense for our dreams, for the changes we want to make in our business,
our professional lives.

4/ THIRD CONDITIONAL

When we talk about past events that are different from what really happened we used
the third conditional. This is also known as the imaginary past. This is often used to
express regret and sometimes criticism.

Structure: If + past perfect, would + have + past participle

• if you had informed the client of the delay in time, he wouldn’t have cancelled
the order. (but you didn’t so he cancelled it)
• We wouldn’t have made that decision if we had known about the software
problems. (Reality: we didn’t know about the problems so made the decision)

• “If I had done an MBA, I would have had more opportunities in my

career.” (Reality: I didn’t do the MBA so I’ve had fewer opportunities)

• If you hadn’t taken so long making a decision, we could have bid for the
contract. (criticism)

The above examples are about two actions in the past. If the result clause is in the
present, we use would + infinitive:

The action you took in the past has a result that affects your present.

“If I had done an MBA, I would be on a higher salary now”.

• If you hadn’t messed up the negotiations, we would be making a profit by now.

• If he had only accepted the position of senior partner, he wouldn’t be begging
to keep his job now.

Formative Assessment

Activity 3.1.

Fill in the blanks to create first conditional sentences.

1. If I have time today, _______________________.

2. If there is a lot of traffic tonight, _________________________.

3. If my boss asks me to stay late, __________________________.

4. ______________________________, I’ll do it.

5. _______________________________, he’ll probably say yes.

6. People might get angry if __________________________________________.

7. I’ll be able to _____________, if _____________________.

8. I’ll have to _____________, if ______________________.

Notice that we can’t say “I’ll can” or “I’ll must.”

Activity 3.2.

Fill in the blanks to create second conditional sentences.

1. If I had my boss’s job, ________________________________________.

2. If we had fewer meetings, _____________________________________.

3. ________________________________________ if I could work from home.

4. ____________________________________ if I were a recent college graduate.

5. ______________________________________, I’d be more productive.

6. ____________________________________, I might start my own business.

7. ________________________________________, I could relax a little more.

8. If the retirement age were 70, _____________________________________.

9. _________________________________________________, I could retire.

10. If I took a career break, ______________________________________.