Conditionals

CONDITIONALS IF...

TYPE 1 Probable
IF + PRESENT SIMPLE ... WILL/WON’T + VERB
If he wakes up early, we will go for a walk

First conditionals and future time clauses
In the main clause the verb form is usually will + INF, but we can also use may, might, can, could, shall, should, ought to, have to, or an imperative , depending on the meaning.
If you have a birthday party, you might get loads of cool presents.
If you decide to have a birthday party, tell me.
Future time clauses (begining with when, as soon as, etc.) are followed by a present tense although they actually refer to the future.
Until he arrives , I will read a book.
They will make a cake before they go .

TYPE 2 Imaginary situations in the present/future
IF + PAST SIMPLE ... WOULD/WOULDN’T + VERB
If he woke up early, we would go for a walk

Special rules for second conditionals
If he/she/it was … or If he/she/it were …
We can use could or might in the main clause instead of would , to mean would perhaps .
If I really needed the money, I might keep it.
ADVICE :
If I were / was you, I would think very carefully about my future.

TYPE 3 Imaginary situations in the past
IF + PAST PERFECT ... WOULD + HAVE + VERB
If he had woken up early, we would have gone for a walk.

Special rules for third conditionals
We can use could , might or should in the main clause to mean would perhaps .
If I had done some revision, I might / could / should have passed the exam.

Alternatives for IF
Unless = if not
Unless we finish soon, we will miss the train.
If we don’t finish soon, we will miss the train.
Provided / Providing, As long as = only if (this happens)
He can come with us, provided he pays for his own meals.
As long as you can come by six, I'll be here.

Assuming = accepting that something is true
Assuming your calculations are correct, we should travel northeast.
Imagine, Suppose / supposing (Alternatives for IF in questions)
Look, suppose you lost your job tomorrow, what would you do?

EXERCISE
Finish the following sentences
People would be surprised if...
If I didn’t have a TV...
If I hadn’t lost my passport...
I wouldn’t have met my wife if…
If we had been born in Australia...

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Conditionals

by laurajim21 on Jan 20, 2011

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