English Grammar use of conditionals

1. IF Clauses

2. To express a consequence depending on a condition, we use the conditional, which consists
of an IF clause. The IF clause can precede or follow the main clause.
When the IF clause comes first, a comma is placed between the two clauses.
If clause (condition) Main clause (consequence)
If you book your holiday in advance, you generally obtain a discount.
Depending on the level of probability (certain, probable, possible or purely theoretical
conditions) different tenses are used in two parts of the conditional.
There are four types of conditional: type zero, one, two and three, which we are going to
explain.

3. TYPE ZERO

4. In the IF clause of the zero conditional, we describe a consequence that takes place regularly
and with certainty.
If clause: if + present simple Main clause: present simple
If I drink coffee in the evening, I don’t sleep well.
If clause: if + present simple Main clause: present simple
If unemployment rises, people stay in their jobs.
If clause: if + present simple Main clause: present simple
If you visit London, it’s nice to go on the London Eye.

5. The zero conditional is used to:
• express general truths, scientific and mathematical laws, technical procedures, instructions.
The days become longer if you travel north.
If you press this key, the display lights up.
• give advice. In this case, the present form of imperative or modal (can or may) is used in
the main clause
Go/You can go to bed if you feel tired.

6. TYPE ONE

7. In the first conditional, we describe a real possibility. We talk about facts that, given certain
conditions, probably or possibly will take place in the future.
In this case, the verb tenses are usually:
If clause: if + present simple Main clause: will/’ll/won’t + base
form
If it rains tonight, we’ll have to cancel the barbecue.
If I find her address, I will send her an invitation.
If I don’t see him this afternoon, I will phone him this evening.

8. NOTE: In the IF clause it is possible to use either the present simple or the present continuous.
If you come to my house, I’ll show you my paintings.
If you are staying overnight, I’ll try to find you a room.
In the main clause, the use of will indicates a certain consequence. To indicate that something is
possible, we use modal can, while for an uncertain consequence we use the modal may.
If you spend too much time in the sun, you may get sunburnt.
(it isn’t certain)

9. TYPE TWO

10. • When we assume a condition to be improbable/ imaginary and that we don’t expect to happen
but is however, theoretically possible, we can use the second conditional.
If I won a million dollars on the lottery, I would stop working and would go
to live in the Caribbean. (it is highly unlikely but is however possible)
• The second conditional is also used when propose a different situation to the present reality.
If you worked harder, your grades would be much better. (situation that is different to
the present reality: at the moment you aren’t working hard enough)

11. The structure of the second conditional is:
If clause: if + past simple Main clause: would/’d/wouldn’t + base
form
If I had my own car, I would drive to work.
If I spoke Chinese and English, I would apply for jobs in Hong Kong.
If I had a lot of money, I wouldn’t live here.

12. • Note how the second conditional is structured in the question form:
If you won a lot of money, would you spend it all or would you save part of it?
• When the verb be is present in an if clause, were is used for all persons. In spoken English, was
is also used for the first and third person singular: If I/he/she/it were.....was......
He would have a very good career if he was/were a little more ambitious.
• The expression If i were you/him/her.... is used to give advice and warnings.
If I were you, I’d talk to her, straightaway.

13. In a main clauses, as an alternative to would, other modals can be found such as: could to
express ability or possibility, and might to express uncertainty.
If you played a musical instrument, you could join the local band.
If she tried Japanese food, she might discover that she likes it.

14. The modals would, should or could are often found in if clauses.
• Would is used in if clauses to express a request in a polite and formal way, or even to express
willingness to do something.
If you would kindly tell the manager that I’m waiting, I would really be grateful.
• The use of should in if clauses makes the hypothesis more impropable.
If it should hail, the harvest would be ruined.
• The use of could in if clauses indicates the ability and possibility.
If you could dance, you would have a lot more fun.

15. TYPE THREE

16. When we propose an impossible condition, because it refers to the past and it is therefore no
longer possible, we use the third conditional.
If you had asked me, I would have helped you.
If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.
If John had had the money before, he would have bought a Ferrari, sooner.
(Sometime in the past, I wanted to send an invitation to a friend. I didn't find her address, however. So in the
end I didn't send her an invitation.)
(I know John very well and I know that he never had much money when he was younger, but he loved
Ferraris. Thus, he had to wait until he was much older to buy one.)

17. The structure of the third conditional is:
If clause: if + past perfect
(had/’d/hadn’t + past participle)
Main clause: would/’d/wouldn’t have +
past participle
If you had come to the concert with us, you would certainly have enjoyed it.
If I had seen you, of course I would have said hello.
If I hadn’t been so tired, I would have gone out.

18. The other modals might, should or could can also been found in the third conditional.
You might have succeeded, if you had tried harder.
If I had taken my racket with me, I could have played tennis with him.

19. Now, let’s take a look at the summary of
the different types of conditional in the table:

20. If Clause Main clause Explanation
Type 0 If you study hard, you obtain better
results.
Consequence that is
always true in general.
Type 1
If Simon studies hard, He will obtain better
results.
also: he may obtain
better results
A certain result in this
particular case.
Type 2
If he studied harder, He would obtain better
results.
also: he could
obtain/he might obtain
better results.
Possible
consequences, given a
condition different
from the present
reality or facts.
Type 3
If he had studied harder, He would have obtained
better results.
also: he could have
obtained/might have
obtained better results.
Impossible condition
because refers to the
past.

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