This document discusses different types of conditional clauses in English. It begins by defining a conditional sentence as having two clauses: a condition (if-clause) and a result (main clause). It then explains zero/present conditionals use the present tense, first conditionals use present/will future, second conditionals use past/would, and third conditionals use past perfect/would have. Mixed conditionals combine tenses. Alternatives to "if" are also discussed like "unless", "in case", and "even if". Formal conditional structures using "should", "had", and "if...were to" are also covered at the end.

1. Mª Mercedes Sánchez Villafranca.
2013
Conditional
Clauses

2. Mª Mercedes Sánchez Villafranca.
2013
What is a conditional ?
 A conditional sentence has two clauses:the
condition and the result or main clause.
 EX. If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
 The if-clause can come before or after the result
clause. If it comes before, it is separated by a
comma. If it comes after, no comma is needed.
 EX. You will pass the exam if you study hard.

3. Mª Mercedes Sánchez Villafranca.
2013
Present or zero conditional
 If + simple present, simple present
 Use: to describe real situations that can
happen at any time or an event that
always follows another. If can be replaced
by when.
 EX. When/If you heat ice, it melts.

4. Mª Mercedes Sánchez Villafranca.
2013
First Conditional (future or real
conditional)
 If + present simple, will+ bare infinitive.
 When you think something is likely to happen or you
want to talk about the results of a possible future
condition.
 EX. If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
 The If-clause refers to the future but using a present
tense.
 You can also use the present continuous in the if-clause,
and a modal or an imperative in the main clause.
 EX. If it’s raining tomorrow, they might not go for a picnic.
 EX. If you arrive late, don’t call me.

5. Mª Mercedes Sánchez Villafranca.
2013
Alternatives to if
 UNLESS (=if…not)
 EX. Unless you study hard, you won’t pass the exam.(If
you don’t study hard)
 IN CASE
 EX. Take the umbrella in case it rains.
(It might/ might not rain but you will be prepared)
 EVEN IF/ THOUGH (=emphasis)
 EX. Even if/though I become a millionaire, I will always
be a socialist.
 PROVIDED/ PROVIDING/AS LONG AS
 Ex. You can borrow my bike providing/provided you
bring it back at 11:00. (=you must give it back by 11:00)

6. Mª Mercedes Sánchez Villafranca.
2013
Second Conditional (Unreal,
hypothetical)
 If +simple past, would+bare infinitive.
We use the second conditional for:
 Future situations that are possible but unlikely.
 EX. If I won the lotto, I would buy a Ferrari.
 Also, for present situations that are unreal.
 EX. If we had the key, we would open the door.
 And to give advice, we use the expression:If I were you, …
Were is used with the first and the third person singular, although was is
also used in spoken English
 Could or might can be used in the main clause instead of would.
 EX. If they were friends, they could go out together.

7. Mª Mercedes Sánchez Villafranca.
2013
Alternatives to if
 We can also introduce unreal conditional clauses with:
 UNLESS (for unlikely conditions but not unreal
conditions)
 I wouldn’t ask you for help unless I needed it.
 *I wouldn’t be more active unless I had artritis. (=it doesn’t
exist)
 IMAGINE/ SUPPOSE (to ask about imaginary
situations)
 Imagine you were a fairy, what would you do?
 Suppose you had the opportunity, would you give her away?

8. Mª Mercedes Sánchez Villafranca.
2013
Third Conditional (Impossible)
 If + past perfect, would have+ p. participle.
 We use the third conditional to imagine situations or
actions in the past that we know are the opposite of the
facts.
 EX. If I had known that you were in hospital, I would have
visited you. =(that’s impossible now)
 Or talk about regrets from our past (often with could have)
 EX.If I had studied harder, I could have passed the exam. (=I
should have done it, but I didn’t)
 Could/ might +have + p. participle can be used in the
main clause instead of would have+ p. participle.
 EX.If I hadn’t broken my leg skiing, I could/ might have been a
footballer.

9. Mª Mercedes Sánchez Villafranca.
2013
Mixed Conditionals
 Mixed past to present conditional: we use them to talk about present
results of an imagined past action
If +past perfect, would/could/might+bare infinitive.(If+3rd, 2nd)
 EX. If I had missed the train, I wouldn’t be here now.
 Mixed present to past conditional: We use them to talk about imagined
past results or a present situation.
If + past simple, would/could/might + have+p.participle.(If+ 2nd, 3rd)
 EX. If I didn’t study, I couldn’t have passed the exam.
 EX. If you were a better student, you could have gone to university.
 Mixed present to past conditional: We use them to talk about present
results of a past action.
If + past simple, will + bare infinitive.(If+2nd, 1st)
 EX. If nobody phoned him, he won’t come to the meeting.

10. OTHER FORMAL CONDITIONAL STRUCTURES
Should you (with inversion)
Should + subject+ verb
ex: Should you require any further information, please contact us at our office in
Green Street.
Had you (with inversion)
Had+subject+verb
ex: Had the people not been informed, the situation would have been much
worse.
.
If+were to
We use this in formal situations when we talk about things that
might happen but which we think are unlikely.
ex: f I were to draft a proposal on the environment or social policy that one
would be unacceptable
.
Mª Mercedes Sánchez Villafranca.
2013

11. Mª Mercedes Sánchez Villafranca.
2013
The End