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Conditionals

sentences contain two clauses:the condition clause (if clause)

andthe result clause

Conditional sentences show a relationship between a condition and a result of the

condition

1) factual conditionalsexpress general truths, habits, and logical

possibilities. Present or past in both clauses

If I have money, I spend it

If a bird is happy, it sings.You see a lot of bears if you live in

Montana.My cat moves her tail a lot if she’s nervous.

If I needed help, she gave it to me.

2) future conditionals

Express conditions and results in the future. The if clause is in the present and the result clause is

in the future with will or be going to.If it rains tomorrow, we won’t go to the pool.

Future conditionals express what will happen in the future if certain conditions

occur. They are often used to make predictions, plans, offers, suggestions

requests.

If you study, you’ll pass the test.If you go to New York next week, you’ll

see the show.

3) Present unreal conditionals

Are used to talk about conditions that are not true in the present

and about the imagined results of these conditions.

Present unreal conditionals have a past form of the verb in the if clause and

would/could/might + base formin the result clause.

If we had a car, we would drive to the mall.

Were is used for all persons of be in the if clause.

(I, you, she, he, we, they were)

If I were the teacher, I’d give a lot less homework.

The if clause expresses a condition that is not true at the present time.

The condition might be highly unlikely or impossible.

The result clause tells what would happen if this untrue condition were true. It expresses the imagined result of an

imagined condition.

If I were a cat, I would sleep all day.If I had time, I would study another

language.If I had a lot of money, …..

If I were you, I wouldn’t worry.

4) Past unreal conditionals

Are used to talk about conditions that were not true in the past

and They express the imagined result of an imagined

condition in the past

Past unreal conditionals have a past perfect form of verb in the If clause

andwould/could/might + have + past participle

of the verb in the result clause

The if clause of the past unreal conditional expresses a condition that was not true in

the past.

The result clause tells what would have happened if the untrue condition had

been true.

Factual

If the temperature falls below 32 degrees F., water freezes

future

If it continues to rain, there will be a flood.

Present unreal

If I were you, I would watch the weather forecast.

Past unreal

If I had studied, I would have passed the test.

In present unreal conditionals, the condition and result are sometimes highly

unlikely but possible.

In past conditionals, the condition and therefore the result is never possible

If you were coming tonight, we could go to a movie (highly unlikely, but possible)

If you had come last night, we could have gone to a movie. (impossible; you didn’t

come last night.)

Other forms of conditionals

“mixed conditionals”conditions in one time can relate to results

in another time

If I had studied something practical, I could be making more money now.

Inverted conditionals (more formal)

The if is omitted and were, should, or had is moved before the subject.

If I were happy = Were I happyIf he should call = should he call

If I had known = had I known

If so, if not The condition is clear from a previous

sentence. It is not necessary to repeat the entire condition

I should pass all my courses this semester. If not, I’ll enroll in summer school.

Hopeis about what is possible (like factual and

future conditionals)

I hope I can come to the picnic.

Wish

Wishis about what is not likely or not possible.

Wish about the present or future:wish + past form of verb or would or could

+ base formHe wishes he had more money. Wish

about the past: wish + past perfectWe wish you had been here.

Alternatives to IF

In the event, providing, provided, as long as, whether or not, even if, only

if, unless

I will pass my exam only if I study.I will fail my exam unless I study.

Only if it rains, will we cancel the picnic.Only if he asks do I help her .

Whether I pass or not, I am going to Columbia in June.

As long as he ‘s going to be there, I’ll be there too.

Implied conditions

With, without, or else, otherwise

With proper identification, you can board the plane.

Without proper documentation, you can’t take the test.

He will go or I won’t stay.He will go. Otherwise, I am leaving.