This document discusses different types of conditional clauses in English. It explains that a conditional sentence has two clauses: the if-clause which states the condition and the main clause which states the result. There are three main types of conditional clauses: present/zero conditional for real situations, first conditional for likely future situations, and second conditional for unlikely or hypothetical situations. The third conditional expresses impossible past situations. Mixed conditionals combine different tenses. Other structures like "should you" and "had you" can also introduce conditional clauses.

1. Conditional
Clauses
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2. 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.
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3. 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.
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4. 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.
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5. 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)
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6. 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.
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7. 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?
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8. 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.
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9. 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.
Mª Mercedes Sánchez Villafranca. 2013

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
.
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11. Whether or if
0.Whether and if can both introduce indirect questions
Ex. I’m not sure whether/ if I’ll have time.
1.In informal style whether is preferred in a two-part question with or
Ex. The directors have not decided whether to buy Philips or
another company.
2. Prepositions:
After prepositions, only whether is posible.
Ex. There was a big argument about whether we should do this or
that.
3. Infinitives:
Whether but not if is used before to-infinitives.
Ex. They can’t decide whether to get married now or wait.
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12. The End
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