CONDITIONAL CLAUSE.

• OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson students

will be able to:
• Describe kinds of conditional sentences.
• Analyze probable condition, improbable
condition, impossible condition and zero
condition.
• Describe wish clause.
 Definition
• Condition clause is a type of adverbial that states
hypothesis or condition, real or imagined.
• There are four main kinds of conditional sentences.
-Probable(likely) condition.
-Improbable (unlikely) condition.
-Impossible ( rejected) condition.
-Zero condition.
Notice: Each type of conditional clause has two clauses.
These clauses are main- clause( independent- clause) and
if-clause( dependent- clause.)
 1.PROBABLE(LIKELY) CONDITION
• The probable conditional is used to talk about something that is
probable to happen in the present or future. The simple present
tense is used in the if-clause of the probable condition. The simple
future tense is normally used in the main clause of this conditional
sentence.
• It is also called likely condition.
• It is possible and also very likely that condition will be fulfilled.
• It is used when when we want to discuss possible future
occurrence.
• Time: it refers either to present or future.
• Form: If- clause= simple present.
main- clause= simple future.
 FORM
If-clause(simple present) Main-clause( simple future)
If it rains, I won’t go to the stadium.
If she studies hard, She will pass the exam.
If they meet him, They will solve the problem.
 NOTICE 1.
• We can use present continuous ( eg. Are doing) or the present perfect (e.g. have done)
in the clause.
Examples:
If we are expecting visitors, the filat will need a good clean.
If you have finished with computer, I will put it away.
NOTICE 2.
( Modals verbs ( can , might, should, may,…) can be used instead of will in the main –clause
of probable condition.
EXAMPLES:
If it is fine tomorrow, we may go swimming.
If you haven’t got a television, you can’t watch it, can you?
If she jogs regularly, she might lose weight.
If Daniel is going to a job interview, he should have a tie.
If it is fine tomorrow, we might go out ( it is possible)
If it is fine tomorrow, we must go out. ( it is necessary)
If it is fine tomorrow we should go out (it is advisable)
 NOTICE 3:

CONDITIONAL TYPE 1 can be used in offers and suggestion

EXAMPLES:
If you need a ticket, I can get you one. (offer)
If you feel like seeing the sights, we can take a bus tour.
(suggestion)
NOTICE 4
We can also use conditional type 1 in warnings and threats
EXAMPLES:

If you go on like this, you will make yourself ill(threats)

if you don’t apologize, I will never speak to you again. (warnings)
 Notice 5:
An if- clause can come at the beginning or at the end of the sentence without any change in meaning.
If- clause, + main- clause.
Main-clause+ if-clause.
Use a comma when the if-clause begins a sentence. Don’t use a comma when the main- clause begins a
sentence.
COMPARE:
-If I see her, I will tell her your problem.(comma)
- I will tell her your problem if I see her.(no comma)
- If I have a mobile, I will call you everyday.( comma)
- I will call you everyday if I have a mobile( no comma)
*note:
I will tell you if I will get any news.( wrong)
I will tell you if I get any news. (correct)
*exception:
we can use will (if + will) when we make a request
EXAMPLE:
if you will just wait a moment ,I will find someone to help you.
(=please wait a moment)
 A. Advice suggestion/command/requests
can also be used wit probable condition

‘Will’ in this situation is also dropped. Instead we use auxiliary

verbs such as should, must or imperative verb with the word
please.
EXAMPLES:
-If you want to know more , read several books.
-If you want to learn a musical instrument, you have to practice
( not… will practice.)
- If you see a little boy on the street, please help him. ( not….
Will help…)
- If you se a thief breaking in to house, you should call the
police.
IMPERATIVE WITH FIRST CONDITIONAL
• We can use the imperative in place of an if- clause, to comment, threat, request
IMPERATIVE + CONJUNCTION + CLAUSE
1. We follow the imperative with ‘ and’ in place of an if-clause in the affirmative
Examples:
If you fail to pay, they will cut off the electricity.
(fail to pay and they will cut off the electricity)
2. We follow the imperative with ‘or’ in place of an if-clause in the negative.
EXAMPLES:
If you don’t stop borrowing money, you will be in trouble.
(stop borrowing money, or you will be in trouble.)
3.IMPERATIVE WITH ‘ OTHERWISE’
EXAMPLES
If you don’t take a taxi, you will miss your train.
(take a taxi, otherwise you will miss your train)
NOTE: IMPERATIVE can also be used in ordinary conditional type 1
EXAMPLE:
Cancel the math if it rains.
(if it rains, cancel the match.)
 B. When and if
• Notice: use when instead of if to say that we are sure that something will happen.
• Use if to say that we are not sure whether something will happen.
Examples:
- I will see you in august if I come to Addis Ababa.(= perhaps I will come to Addis Ababa;
perhaps I won’t.)
- I will see you in august when I come to Addis Ababa.(= I am sure I will come to Addis Ababa.)
- When it gets dark, I will come. ( I’m sure it will get dark)
- If I make a lot of money, I will start some business. ( perhaps I’ll make a lot of money;
perhaps I won’t
But we use both if and when to talk about things that always happen. There is no much
difference of meaning.
Examples:
-If you heat ice, it turns into water.
-When you heat ice , it turns into water.
 C.UNLESS (=IF …NOT)

Very often, we can use unless to mean if.. Not

If.. Not= if + subject + not
-If I don’t phone, come tomorrow.( unless I phone come tomorrow)
-I take the job if the pay is not too low.( unless the pay is too low, I take
the job.)
NOTICE: use affirmative word after unless, ( not negative.)
Don’t say : unless you don’t come, I will stay here.
Say : unless you come I will stay here.

PATTERN:
UNLESS + AFFIRMATIVE VERB
IF + NEGATIVE VERB
 Be careful with!
• We cannot always use unless instead of if not. It depends on
the sense.
A. The sentence says ‘x will happen because y doesn’t stop it’.
We can use if not or unless.
-I will come back tomorrow if there is not a plane strike. ( or…
unless there is the plane strike.)
B. The sentence says ‘ x will happen because y doesn’t happen.’
we can use if not but not unless.
-I will be glad if she doesn’t come this evening. ( not: I will be glad
unless she comes this evening.)
-she would be pretty if she didn’t wear so much make- up.( not:
she would be pretty unless she wore so much make-up.)
 D. Providing/provided that: suppose/
supposing that…)
• These conjunctions are sometimes used in place of “ if”
-Provided that you work hard today, you will gain much tomorrow( proving that= if)
-Supposing that we miss the train, what shall we do? ( suppose that= if)
-They will lend us their flat on condition that we look after it. ( on the condition that= if)
-As/ so long as you clear your desk by this evening, you can have tomorrow off. ( you will be free by
tomorrow.) as/ so long as= if)

E. Even if/ what if/ if so/ if not.

Even if meaning ‘although’
-I will finish this report even if it kills me.
What if meaning ‘ what will happen if/ what will you do if?
- What if you miss a train to school?( what will you do if you miss a train../ what will happen if you miss
a train…)
If so and if not : we use these expressions instead of repeating a verb that has already been mentioned.
- Are you free this evening? If so, let’s go out for a meal? (= if you are free this evening, let’s go…)
- I might see you tonight. If not, then it will be tomorrow.) (= if I don’t see you tonight, then it will
be…)
 2. ZERO CONDITION
Zero condition is used to talk about general truth/ scientific facts.
-The tense in both clauses( if-clause and main- clause) is simple
present tense.
-‘Will is not always used’
Examples:
If you heat, ice it melts.
If you heat water, it boils.
If you add oil in water, it floats.
The temperature decreases if we go up/high.
If iron rusts, it gets wet.
Notice: the situations in the above examples are always true. ( they
are unalterable/ unchangeable.)
 3. IMPROBABLE CONDITION.
• It is also called unlikely/ unreal condition.
• It is used to talk about things which are very
unlikely, unreal or improbable.
• Time: present.( the form is in past, but the
meaning is present/ future.
• FORM If- clause ( simple past) Main- clause( present
conditional)

If I were a bird, I would fly

If I had a million birr, I would buy a car
If I knew the answer, I would tell you
 notice
The past tense form doesn’t refer to past time b ( the past tense in the if-clause in not a true past but a subjunctive which
indicates unreality)
USE OF IMPROBABLE CONDITION
1. When the supposition is contrary t o know facts.
EXAMPLES
If I lived near my office , I would be in time for work.(=But I don’t expect I live near my office)
If I were you, I would plant some trees round the house.
(=But I am not you)
2.When we don’t expect the action in the if-clause to take place
EXAMPLES
If a burglar come into my room at night, I would scream.
(= But I don’t expect a burglar to come in)
If I dyed my hair blue, everyone would laugh at me.
(=But I don’t intend to dye it)
3 we can use improbable condition(type2) in place of probable condition (type 1)to describe something that is reasonably
possible (here the past tense doesn’t refer to a past time)
EXAMPLES
if you go by train, you will get there earlier.
( type 1: reasonably possible)
If you went by train, you would get there earlier.
(type 2: more tentative)
 4.When we describe what is totally
‘impossible’
EXAMPLES
If you had longer legs, you would be able to run
faster. (But you don’t have longer legs/ it is
impossible to have)
If you could run fast, you would be an olympic
champion. ( But you can’t run fast)
NOTE: if you could run= if you were able to run
‘if + could’ is also possible to mean ‘was/ were
able to’
 Another ways of expressing type 2
conditional
A. IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD…
*We can use were in place of was after if in all persons. ‘were’ is
formal.
*We also prefer were when expressing doubt or imagining
something.
COMPARE
If I was better qualified, I would apply for the job. (if I was: less
formal)
If I were better qualified , I would apply for a job.
(if I were : more formal)
B. If it were not for/ were it not for ( NOT: WAS)
This expression explains why something has or hasn’t happened.
 EXAMPLES

If it were not for your help, I would still be homeless.

Note: in formal contexts, if it were not for can be expressed as: were it not for, with the
negative in full( NOT: weren’t it)
Note: ‘if it were not for’ and ‘were it not for’ are always followed by ‘the fact that
EXAMPLES:
Were it not for the fact that you helped, I would be homeless
C. ‘ IF+ WERE TO/ WAS TO + WOULD’
COMPARE
A. If I asked him, I’m sure he would help us.
B. Do you think he would?
A Well, if I were to ask him nicely
NOTE: we can use would in the if-clause (if +would) when we make a request
Example
If you would like to come this way, the doctor will see you now. ( please come this way=
request)
 4. IMPOSSIBLE CONDITION
• It is impossible that the condition will be
fulfilled because it refers to the past. Something
which didn’t happen and impossible past
condition.
• It is used also to express consequences which
didn’t and couldn’t ever happen.
• Nature: rejected/ desired condition.
• Time: past.(unfulfilled condition
If-clause( past perfect) Mainin–clause(perfect
past.)
conditional)
form If you had asked me, I would have asked you
If I had had enough money, I would have bought laptop.
 Note
If-clause can use could have + V3 instead of had +V3 and the
main-clause to mean ‘ would have been able to’
EXAMPLES
Samiya: how was your camping holiday?
Aziza: Well, it would have been all right if it hadn’t rained all
the time.
Eman: if we had gone two weeks earlier, we could have had
better weather.
Note : if it hadn’t rained and if we had gone two weeks
earlier are imaginary situation in the past. It did rain
And they didn’t go two weeks earlier.
 Possible variations of impossible
conditional
A. We can use could or might in place of would.
EXAMPLES
If he had known the facts, he might have told us what to do. ( it was possible) possibility
If he had known the facts, he could have told us what to do. ( he would have been able to)
If our documents had been in order, we could have left us at once. (ability/ permission)
If we had found him earlier, we might have saved his life. ( possibility)
Note :
Would have + V3= when we feel certain/ nearly certain.
Could / might( + have + V3)= when we don’t feel certain.
B. The progressive/ continuous forms are possible in the if-clause and/ or main-clause
EXAMPLES:
If it had been raining this morning, we would have stayed at home.
If I had not got married, I would still have been living abroad.
If I hadn’t been wearing one, I would have been seriously injured.

*
 Impossible condition is mainly used to

A. express ‘regret’
EXAMPLE
If I had had any sense, I wouldn’t have bought a second- hand car(= But I didn’t
have any sense about)
B. To refer to a complete impossible situation
EXAMPLE
If I had lived in the stone Age, I would have been a hunter(= completely
impossible to live then)
*if it hadn’t been for

We often use this expression to explain why something didn’t happen in the past
EXAMPLE
If it hadn’t been for the rain, we would have had a good harvest.
Inversion in type 2 and type 3 conditionals
A. Inversion in type 2 conditional
1.‘Were I you’
(Were + subject + object)
Inversion is , using a verb before a subject instead of ‘if’
‘were’ not ‘was’, is used when the auxiliary is placed first.(= we begin a sentence with were, not
was)
EXAMPLES
Were I Ahmed, I would refuse the offer.
(if I were Ahmed, I would refuse the offer.
Were the government to cut value added tax, price would fail. (were the government= if the
government were)
Were Elham to make an effort, she could do better.
(were Elham to make…= if Elham were to make
2. ‘Had I’

Had I a villa house, I would be happy. ( had I = if I had)

Had she much money, she would buy a car( had she much money= if she had much money)
 INVERSION WITH ‘HAD’ IN TYPE 3 CONDITIONAL

Had + subj+ V3
Had I had’
EXAMPLE
Had I had my lunch earlier, I wouldn’t have been tired.( had I
had= if I had had
Had he known the fact, he wouldn’t have married her. ( had he
known= if he had known
Note the negative inversion is possible with the full verb
EXAMPLE
Had it not been for the usually bad weather, the recue part would
have been able to save the stranded climber. ( NOT: HADN’T)
 Implied conditionals
• Conditionals can be implied.
i.e. not directly introduced by if in a variety of ways.
In type 1.
EXAMPLE
With luck, we will be there tomorrow.
(with luck= if we are lucky)
Given time, they will probably agree.
( if we give them time)

In type 2.
Example
To hear him talk, you would think he was prime minister.
(to hear him talk= if you could hear him talk)
I would write to her, but I don’t know her address.
(if I knew her address)

IN TYPE 3
EXAMPLE
Without your help, I couldn’t have done it.
(= if you hadn’t helped me)
In different circumstances, I would have said ‘yes’
(= if circumstances had been different)
 Conjunctions that can sometimes be used
in place of ‘if’
A. ‘What if/ ‘say’

What if/ say can be used in the sense of ‘let us suppose’

With type 1.
What if= what will happen if?
Example
What if he gets home before us and can’t get in?
Say he gets home before us and can’t get in.
(what if/ say= what will he do then?)
What if the train is late?
Say the train is late ( let us suppose)
(What if= what will happen if?)
What if she loses the way before entering Addis Ababa?
(what if= what will she do if…?)
 With type 2
What if = what would happen if?
Example
What if/ say you were to run out of money?
( What if= what would you do if?)
What if you failed your entrance exam?
( what if= what would you do if…?
What if she didn’t marry you?
( what would you if…?)

With type 3
What if = what would have happened if?
Example
What it you hadn’t reached bus station before 1 o’clock?
(what if = what would have happened if?)
 B. ‘ IF SO’/ ‘IF NOT’
• We can abbreviate a condition if we begin a new sentence with ‘if so or if not,
or if we continue with ‘in which case’.
• If so = in that case
Example
Are you free this evening? If so, let’s go out for a meal.
(if so=if you are free)
I might see you tomorrow. If not, then It will be Sunday.
(if not =if I don’t see you…)
He may be busy. If so,( in that case,) I will call later.
(if so= if he is busy.)
I will call later. If not, can I see him now?
(if not= if I don’t call later)
Note : ‘if so and ‘if not’ are used instead of repeating a verb that has already
been mentioned.
 C. ‘ BUT FOR’
*We often use but for +noun to mean: if it were not for/ if it hadn’t
been for
Example
He would have played but for a knee injury.
(but for a knee injury= if his knee hadn’t been injured)
But for my brother’s support, I wouldn’t have got a job.
(but for= if it hadn’t been for my brother’s
But for the weather, we would go for a picnic.
( we are not going for a picnic)
*but for the fact that +clause
Example
But for the fact that the weather was bad, we would go for a picnic)
 WISH CLAUSE( I WISH…)
We can express wish with different tenses( present and past.)
A. PRESENT.
*To express present wish, we use a past form with present meaning.
Form: I wish+ subject+ past tense.
EXAMPLES:
-I cant play guitar. I wish I could play it.
-I don’t like milk. But I wish I liked.
-I am poor. I wish I weren’t.
Note: never use present tense after wish.
don’t say: I wish am happy, but I wish I were happy.
B. PAST WISH.
*To express past wish, we use past perfect with past meaning.
Form: I wish + subject + had +V3(past participle)
EXAMPLES:
-She didn’t go with me. I wish she had gone with me.
- I didn’t watch that film. I wish I had watched it.
 Expressing ‘regret and wish’
If only and I wish
If only… and I wish can be used with would and past tense. These structures express regrets
and wishes for unlikely or impossible things.
EXAMPLES:
If only I knew more people.(= But I don’t know)
I wish I knew more people.(=But I don’t know)
I wish I was better looking.(=But I am not)
A. WISH… WOULD

Wish/if only… would express a wish for something to happen, or to stop happening, or
change in some way.
EXAMPLES
I wish you would those shelves up soon.
James wishes his neighbors wouldn’t make so much noise.
If only you would try to keep the place tidy.
I wish you wouldn’t have your hair cut so short.
 B. WISH… PAST

WISH/IF ONLY with a past tense verb express a

wish for things to be different
PRESENT WISH= PAST FORM
(FUTURE WISH)= WOULD/ WOULDN’T
EXAMPLES
I wish I lived in a big city. It is so boring in the
country.
(=But I don’t live in the big city)
I wish I could sing (= But I can’t)
 C. Wish … the past perfect

• We use wish and if only with the past perfect to express a wish about a past
• Past wish= past perfect form
EXAMPLES
I wish I had studied harder for the test.
(if only I had studied harder for the test)
(But I didn’t study harder)- regret

NOTE 1: We don’t use would have for the past. But we can use could have.
EXAMPLE
I wish I could have been at the wedding, but I was in Hawassa.

NOTE 2: We use if only in the same way as wish to express regrets/ wishes. But ‘if only’ is stronger
and more emphatic than wish.
Were is always used instead of was. It is more formal.
EXAMPLES
I wish I were taller. (But I am not)
If only I were taller (But I am not)
 Compare wish with would and with the
past
I wish something exciting would happen
(I wish for an action in the future)
I wish my life were more interesting.
(my life is not interesting)
GENERALLY:
IF ONLY/ WISH… WOULD
EXAMPLE: Somebody will not stop talking. (future)
(i wish/ if only he would stop talking.)
IF ONLY/ WISH…PAST TENSE

EXAMPLE: my brother didn’t pass the interview. (Past)

(I wish/ if only he had passed the interview.)
Our English teacher transferred to another school ( past)
( I wish/ if only he hadn’t transferred.
 The main differences between type 1, 2
and type 3 conditionals
• Look at the following facts
*The difference between, for example, if I go…
and if I went or I speak… and if I spoke… is not a
difference of time. They can both refer to the
present or future.
*The past tense ( + would) usually suggest that
the speaker thinks the situation is less probable,
or less definite, or impossible, or imaginary.
 Compare
If I become president, I will reduce corruption.
( said by a candidate in an election)
If I became president, I would reduce corruption.
(said by a school boy)
If I win the race, I believe that I will earn much money.
(said by the fastest runner)
If I won the race, I believe that I would earn much money.
(said by the slowest runner)

NOTE: In the examples above

If I become and if I win , are more likely to happen

(there will be a great chance)

If I became and if I won, are less likely to happen

(there will be less chance)

if I had become president , I would have reduced corruption.

(impossible to become) –I didn’t become
If I had won the race, I would have earned much money.
(impossible to win) –I didn’t win.
 REVIEW EXERCISE.
• Choose the letter which contains the correct answer.
1. My friend gave me this ring. She ___ very upset if I lost it.
A. Would be. B. Will be C. Can be. D. Is.
2.If we don’t harry to the rail way station, we__ the train to Nairobi.
B. Would miss. B. Will miss. C. Are miss. C. Do miss.
3.If water freezes, it ______.
C. Is expanding. B. Expanded. C. Would expand. D. Expands.
4.______ this button, will it start to record?
D. If I will press. B. If I would press. C. If I press. D. If I pressed.
5._______ we leave now, we will be late.
E. Unless. B. Unless don’t. C. If not. D. If don’t.
6.You are not allowed in the club____ you are a member.
F. If. B. Unless. C. When. D. Provided that.
7. You can borrow my book _____ you promise not to lost it.
G. As long as. B. Providing that. C. Supposing that. D. All are correct.
8.If it rains tonight, I ______ office early.
H. Would leave. B. Have left. C. Will leave. D. Leave.
9. If anyone_____ for me, please tell them I will be back in the office at 4 o’clock.
I. Rang. B. Ring. C. Rings. D. Will ring.
10.If iron rusts, it______ wet.
A. Will get. B. Get. C. Is getting. D. Gets.
 Review exercise
• Choose the letter which contains the correct answer.
1.____ I you, I would ask a lawyer for some advice.
A. Were
B. Had
C. Am
D. Been
2._______ a motorbike, I would reach before lunch.
E. If I had
F. Had I
G. If I have
H. A and B
3.______ hungry, I would have eaten something.
I. If I had been
J. Had I been
K. Were I
L. A and B
4._______ the rain we could go to the match.
M. If only
N. But for
O. What if
P. I wish
5.If only I had done my home work last night.
= This is the same as:
Q. I don’t do my homework
R. I don’t want to do my homework
S. I wouldn’t do my homework
T. I didn’t do my homework
 REVIEW EXERCISE
6.I can’t play a musical instrument. But I wish____
A. I can
B. I could
C. I did
D. I would
7._____ you win DV lottery?
A . I wish
B. If
C. What if
D. But for
8.______ , I would have accepted their offer.
E. If I had been you
F. Had I been you
G. If I had been in your position
H. All
9.Is the teacher coming? _______ let’s get ready for lesson
I. If so
J. What if
K. If only
L. I wish
10. Please , contact me soon.________, you won’t get me
M. If so
N. Then
O. But for
P. If not
 Review exercise

21.If I had studied had, I wouldn’t have failed the exam.

The other way to express the clauses above is:
A. I failed the exam because I didn’t study harder
B. I wish I had studied harder
C. If only I had studied harder
D. All are correct
Put I ‘ were I , Had I had, But for, What if, if so, if not, if only/ I wish; where necessary
22.______ me lived in the same town
23_________rich, I would help the poor
24________ the war breaks out in your village?
25_________my jacket, I would have felt cold
26 would you like some food?_____ let go for kitifo
27_________my breakfast on time, I would have felt stronger.
28have you got your lunch yet?_______ I will get you soon.
29.Had they sought assistance, we ______sent out life savers. We don’t understand why they choose to keep silent
E. Had
F. Have
G. Will have
H. Would have
30. She ________ if that happened to her again.
I. Cries
J. Will cry
K. Would cry
L. Would have cried