Conditional Sentences
How to express hypothesis
Contidional Sentences
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.
Conditional sentences are usually made up of two
parts, a conditional clause and a main clause. The
conditional clause is the 'if' part of the sentence and
the main clause is the result, what happens.
Conditional Sentences:
Zero
Conditional(I)
For the condition given, the result is always true. Its a fact!
I get sick if I eat too much
The zero conditional form:
If + simple present, simple present
Example sentences:
Ice melts if you heat it. (general truth)
If I drink, I never drive.(fact)
Its bad luck if the groom sees the bride before the wedding!
(rule)
Every day I take the train to work. If I miss the train, I drive to
work.(habit)
Conditional Sentences:
Zero
Conditional(II)
Whencan be used instead ofif:
WhenI cook fish, the house always smells.
I always smokewhenI drink..
Other tenses: If +present tense, simple present
When Im reading, my cat sits on my lap.
I listen to my ipod when Im jogging.
Links:
https://elt.oup.com/student/solutions1stedition/pr
eint_unit_page/unit6/grammar/exercise2?mode=hub&cc
=global&selLanguage=en
http://www.allthingsgrammar.com/uploads/2/3/2/9/232
90220/atg-worksheet-zerocon3.pdf
Conditional Sentences (Type
I)
We use the first conditional to talk about something that will happen (the
result), if a particular condition (which is likely to happen) is met.
If + present simple, will + base verb
If Tim works in the stockroom, he will get an interview.
If you do this for me, you'll have a chance of promotion.
You can also usemodalsin theresultclause:
Icantdrive if I dont have my glasses.
If you want to go to university, youmuststudy hard.
You can also use theimperativein theresultclause
If you drink,dont drive.
Pleasedont disturbme if I am asleep!
If youre hungry,eatsomething!
Conditional Sentences (Type
I)
The first conditional - If and if not:
In conditional sentences, you don't always use 'if' or 'if not'.
You can use 'provided that' or 'so long as' instead of 'if'.
For example:
If you put down the gun, I won't call the police. =
So long as you put down the gun, I won't call the police. =
Provided thatyou put down the gun I won't call the police. =
(Provided that is more formal than if. )
You can use 'unless' instead of 'if not'.
For example:
If you don't put the gun down, I'll call the police. =
Unless you put the gun down, I'll call the police.
Links:
https://elt.oup.com/student/solutions1stedition/preint_u
nit_page/unit7/grammar/exercise2?cc=global&selLanguage=e
n
http://www.esl-library.com/pdf/lessons/636.type1.pdf
Conditional Sentences (Type
II)
The second conditional - meaning
We use the second conditional to talk about imaginary,
hypothetical or unreal situations. We use it to talk about the
result of this imaginary situation.
The second conditional does not refer to past time. We often
use it when we imagine a different present or when we are not
making a direct reference to time.
Conditional Sentences (Type
II)
The second conditional - form
In the condition we usually use the past simple of the verb (was,
had). In the consequence we use would + infinitive without to
(would speak, would go):
Examples:
If there was a problem with his room, he would speak to the
manager.
If I had the money and also the time, I would go to New York.
We always separate the consequence and the condition with a
comma, when we begin the sentence with the condition. When
we begin the sentence with the consequence, we usually dont
use a comma.
Example: I would go to New York if I had the money and also the
time.
Conditional Sentences (Type
II)
It is possible, in the condition, to say both 'If I were you ...'
and 'If I was you ...' 'If I were you ...' is the traditional and
more formal form, but 'If I was you ...' is very common
nowadays.
http://www.esl-library.com/pdf/lessons/637.type1.pdf
Conditional Sentences (Type
III)
The3rd conditionalsentence structure is also called thepast
unreal conditional. It is used toimaginea different past than
the one that happened. It expresses an impossible condition
If I hadnt eaten so much, I wouldnt have got so fat.
Theifclause isunreal. It did not happen. Theresultis
whatwould havehappened IF theifclause were real:
If I hadnt eaten so much,
Did I eat a lot? Yes, I did. However, Im imagining whatwould
have happened ifI hadnt eaten so much.
What would have happened if I hadnt eaten so much?
Theresult:
I wouldnt have got so fat.
Conditional Sentences (Type
III)
The3rd conditionalform:
If + past perfect, would have + past participle
If I had known that you needed help, I would have come!
Othermodal verbscan be used in the result clause:
might have + past participle = maybe
If I had known you would be at the party, Imight have gone.
If I had known about his police record, Imight not have datedhim.
could have + past participle = possibility or ability
Icould have beena world-class swimmer if I had practiced more when I was younger.
Links:
http://www.esl-lounge.com/student/grammar/4g8-third-conditional-
exercise.php
http://wiki.zirve.edu.tr/sandbox/users/yusuf.polat/weblog/963e0/attachm
ents/b4be7/Third-conditional.pdf?
sessionID=b59eb7eaffc1c89a281a9c6f34e978cacf640cc9
Conditional Sentences (Mixed
Type)
Mixed Conditional
Compare these two sentences:
1.If you hadnt lied to her, she wouldnt have been angry.(It refers to the past).
2.If you hadnt lied to her, she wouldnt be angry now.(It refers to the present).
The change of meaning is expressed by using a different tense in the result
clause. In the first sentence, we have used the 3rd conditional whereas in the
second one we have used a mix of the 3rd conditional.
Reference:
http://www.mailxmail.com/curso-grammar-business-
english-gramatica-ingles/conditionals-condicionalesingles
Wish and If only
wish + infinitive
We sometimes usewish + infinitiveas aformalalternative towant
orwould likewith reference to present and future wish situations:
I wish to make a complaint and would like to see the manager.
I do not wish to renew my subscription and would be grateful
if my name could be deleted from your database.
I don't ever wish to see you again! she said and stormed out of the
restaurant.
I don't wish to seem ungrateful, but I already have all the T-shirts I
need.
NOTE: Note thatwished to + infinitiveis not so often used to
describepast wishes. Instead, we would normally usewanted
to + infinitivefor this purpose
Wish and If only
Wishand If only are both used to talk about regrets things
that we would like to change either about the past or the present.
Talking about the present
If only I didnt have so much homework I could go to the concert
tonight. She has a lot of homework and she cant go to the
concert.
I wish you didnt live so far away.
I wish I knew what to do.
When we talk about present regrets, bothwishandif onlyare
followed by thepast simple tense. The past tense emphasises
that we are talking about something unreal, but, anyway,
possible
http://www.ispilledthebeans.com /exercises/PDF/exerciseswish.pdf
Wish and If only
Talking about the past
I wish Id studied harder when I was at school. He
didnt study harder when he was at school.
I wish I hadnt eaten all that chocolate. I feel sick.
If only Id known you were coming.
Bothwishandif onlyare followed by thepast
perfect tensewhen we talk about past regrets.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish
/radio/specials/922_gramchallenge5/page2.shtml
Wish and If only
Wish/if only and would
We usewish + wouldto talk about something in the present
that we would like to change usually something that we find
annoying.
I wish you wouldnt borrow my clothes without asking.
I wish it would rain. The garden really needs some water.
I wish youd give up smoking. its really bad for you.
http://www.grammarnet.com/ghtml
/exercise12/oct2012.pdf
EXERCISES
1 I didn't go to Helen's party because she didn't invite me.
2 We'll go to the beach unless it rains.
3 Ann can't buy a new car because she hasn't got enough
money.
4 You can get access to the Intranet only by having a
password.
5 She feels lonely since she hasn't got any friends.
6 Carlos Sainz didn't win the Monte Carlo Rally because his
car broke down.
7 Jim missed the plane because he arrived late at the airport.
8 I don't have a modem, so I can't e-mail you.
9 I didn't send them a postcard because I didn't know their
new address.
10 I'm too busy to go to the pub.
