This document discusses different types of conditional sentences in English. It describes type 1 and future conditional sentences which use "if" to refer to possible or likely events. Type 2 sentences use "if" to refer to hypothetical or unlikely events. Type 3 sentences use "if" with the past tense to talk about regrets or excuses about past events. Zero conditional sentences describe general truths using "if". The document also discusses mixed conditional sentences and the use of conjunctions like "supposing", "provided", and "unless".

1. Conditional SentencesConditional Sentences

2. Type 1 orType 1 or futurefuture conditionalconditional
 If it gets colder tonight, I’ll turn on the heating.
 He’ll get here early if he catches the fast train.
 Persuasion: I’ll take the children to the party if you collect
them from school.
 Warning: If you try to get a short cut, you’ll get lost.
 Threat: If you open that box, you’ll be out of the project.
 IMPERATIVE
 Advice or instructions: If you go to the supermarket, bring
back a carton of milk please.

3. Type 1: Other tenses & variantsType 1: Other tenses & variants
 We’re staying at home on Tuesday if the transport strike goes
ahead. (plan)
 They’re going to take their mother to the old house if she
remembers where it is. (intention)
 If it hasn’t rained by the weekend, we’ll have to water the
garden. (time lapse)
 If they’re watching TV, they won’t hear you. (action in
progress)
 We can use may, might and could in the main clause:
◦ I can bring something to eat if you want.
◦ If you listen to me carefully, you may learn something useful

4. Type 2: hypothetical or unrealType 2: hypothetical or unreal
 Use to speculate about something that is (or that we
perceive to be) impossible or contrary to fact.
 Present:
◦ If he didn’t annoy me so much, I’d spent more time in his office.
 Future:
◦ If I got an invitation, I’d go there right away.
 Difference between type 1 & 2:
◦ 1: If it gets colder tonight , I’ll turn on the heating.
◦ 2: If it got colder tonight, I’d turn on the heating.

5. Type 2: Other tenses & variantsType 2: Other tenses & variants
 If I were you, I’d make an appointment to see the doctor.
(advice)
 I should be grateful for an early response to the letter.
(official or commercial correspondence)
 If the river were to rise, there would be nothing we could
do to save the city. (more hypothetical, more polite)
 Were he really ill, I might feel more sympathetic.
 Were you to accept my offer, I’d personally oversee the
arrangement.
 We can use might and could in the main clause

6. Type 3: past eventsType 3: past events
 Reproach or regret:
◦ If you hadn’t driven so fast, you would never have had the accident.
◦ I wouldn’t have left my job if I had known how difficult it is to find
another one.
 Make excuses:
◦ If there hadn’t been an accident on the motorway, I would have been
here in really good time for the meeting.
 VARIANT:
◦ Had I known he was ill, I’d never have shouted at him.
◦ Might and could can be used instead of would

7. Zero conditional sentencesZero conditional sentences
 General truths:
◦ If you want to change money on a Sunday, you have to go to one of
the big railway stations.
◦ Most cats purr if you tickle them under the chin
 We can use modal verbs in either or both clauses:
◦ I have a ticket you can go through now.
◦ You should wear glasses if you can’t see.

8. Mixed conditional sentencesMixed conditional sentences
 If you hadn’t wasted so much money last week, we’d be
able to afford a better holiday
 If I weren’t so busy, I could have taken off a few days last
week.

9. Other conjuctionsOther conjuctions
 Supposing: imagination
◦ Where will you go supposing you manage to have a holiday?
 Provided, as long as, on condition: reservation, the
speaker imposes the condition
◦ I would help him as long as he asked me nicely.
 Unless: If…not, stronger reservation
◦ I won’t come round unless you phone. (I’ll ONLY come)
 In case: the need to be ready for something
◦ Take an umbrella in case it rains.

10. Other conjuctionsOther conjuctions
 Supposing: imagination
◦ Where will you go supposing you manage to have a holiday?
 Provided, as long as, on condition: reservation, the
speaker imposes the condition
◦ I would help him as long as he asked me nicely.
 Unless: If…not, stronger reservation
◦ I won’t come round unless you phone. (I’ll ONLY come)
 In case: the need to be ready for something
◦ Take an umbrella in case it rains.