conditional

1. IF – CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE
TYPE 1 - Present simple
- Present continuous
- Present perfect
Examples:
If he runs, he'll get there on time.
If you are looking for Peter, you'll find him upstairs.
If he has written the letter, I'll post it.
- WILL Future
- Modal auxiliary (may, can, must, should)
- Imperative
- Expression of request
Examples:
If your documents are in order, you can leave.
If you want to lose weight, eat less bread.
If you see Tom later, could you ask him to ring me?
TYPE 2 - Past simple
- Past continuous
Examples:
If I had a map, I would lend it to you.
If my car were working, I would drive you home.
- Conditional simple (would + infinitive)
- Conditional continuous (would + be + gerund)
- Past simple (expressing a past habit)
Examples:
If I were on holiday, I would be visiting Italy.
If anyone interrupted him, he got very angry.
TYPE 3 - Past perfect
- Past perfect continuous (had+been+gerund)
Examples:
If I hadn't been so tired, I would have gone out.
If they had not been wearing a seat belt, they would
have been seriously injured.
- Conditional perfect (would+have+past
participle)
- Could/might + have + past participle
- Conditional perfect continuous
(would+have+been+gerund)
Examples:
If I had found him earlier, I might have saved his life.
He would have been sitting on a comfortable chair if he
had worked harder at school.
EXERCISES:
1.- Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense:
a. If it ............... (rain), none of us will go out.
b. We ……………… (not/go) to that show even if it were free.
c. If the Smiths get rid of their old piano, they …………… (offer) it to me first.
d. She would have gone to college if it ……………. (be) possible.
e. If they can get their parents’ consent, they ………………. (get married) before the end of the year.
f. If you ……………(see) his clothes, you’d never believe he was so rich.
g. I shouldn't drink that wine if I ................. (be) you .
h. I'd climb over the wall if there ................. (not/be) so much broken glass on top of it.
i. He would spend a lot of money on clothes if he ……………….. (can) afford it.
j. If I ………………….. (smoke) less, my sore throat would get better.
2.- Answer the questions in the same way as in sentence 1.
1. Someone describes you as “miserly”. Are you pleased or annoyed?
If someone described me as “miserly” I would be annoyed.
2. Someone describes you as “witty”. Are you flattered or insulted?
3. In a restaurant you order “leek”. Do you drink it or eat it?
4. There’s a “leak” in your bathroom. Do you call the plumber or a carpenter?
5. You buy a “badge”. Do you put it on your finger or on your jacket?
6. You have a “budgie” as a pet. Do you keep it in a tank or a cage?
7. Someone gives you a pair of “mittens”. Do you wear them or give them some milk?
8. You have to change a wheel on your car. Do you need a “saw” or a “spanner”?
3.- Retell the story below using conditional sentences:
Ex: If Peter’s alarm clock had worked, he wouldn’t have woken up late.
If he hadn’t woken up late, he wouldn’t have been late for work.
Peter’s alarm clock didn’t work.
He woke up late.
He was late for work.
His boss was annoyed.
His boss criticised him.
He made a sarcastic remark.
He was dismissed.

2. 4.-Change the following type 1 into type 2 and type 3 conditional sentences.
1. If I get lost, I’ll ask a policeman to help me find the way.
2. I’ll come to see you if I have time.
3. If they are more tolerant towards each other, they will quarrel less.
4. If we have a better teacher, we’ll learn more.
5. You’ll find the answers to your questions if you read this essay.
5. Make sentences with IF which have the same meaning as the sentences below.
1. Lie down for a few minutes and you’ll feel better.
2. Drive more carefully or you’ll cause an accident.
3. The money had better arrive before Thursday, otherwise there’ll be trouble.
4. In my opinion you ought to rest for a few days.
5. I dream of winning a lottery in order to buy a large car.
6. Jim fell down the stairs, so he couldn’t play football yesterday, but if ….
7. Tina was unhappy because Tom didn’t go to the party
8. The baby wasn’t fed on time, now he’s crying.
9. I ate too much last night. I feel ill now.
6. COMPLETE THESE CONDITIONAL SENTENCES IN ANY WAY APPROPRIATE.
1. Had I known you were angry with me, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
2. He’ll receive it tomorrow ………………………………….
3. She will feel much better ………………………………….
4. …………………………………………………………………. if it’s cheap enough.
5. If the ship has arrived punctually, ………………………………………….
6. Unless we lose your way, ………………………………………………
7. If it weren’t for the wrong advice they gave me, ……………………………………………..
8. I would never have done such a thing …………………………………………………
OTRAS FORMAS DE EXPRESAR LA CONDICIÓN
1) SUPPOSE / SUPPOSING
Se puede emplear también suppose o supposing en lugar de if, sobre todo en condiciones
improbables.
Ex: Suppose/Supposing you won a lot of money, what would you do?
2) AS LONG AS = SO LONG AS = ON (THE) CONDITION THAT = PROVIDED (THAT) =
PROVIDING (THAT)
Usamos estas expresiones para expresar una idea muy fuerte de limitación. Siguen la forma de los
tres condicionales. Se emplean con el significado de “if but only if.” La traducción de todas ellas
podría ser: SIEMPRE QUE, CON TAL QUE, A CONDICIÓN DE QUE + subjuntivo
Ex: I’ll go to the party as long as you go too.
She agreed to come on (the) condition that she could bring her pet.
He could have recovered provided (that) he had followed the doctor’s orders.
3) UNLESS
Se suele emplear en lugar de if not
En español se traduce por A MENOS QUE, SI NO (= except if)
Generalmente indica una excepción a lo que se dice. Cuando se usa unless, no se usa if not.
Ex: We’ll be late unless we hurry (= except if we hurry)
We won’t go out unless it stops raining (= if it doesn’t stop raining)
4) CONDITIONAL INVERSION
Cuando tenemos WERE, HAD y SHOULD en una oración condicional, podemos omitir IF e invertir el
orden del sujeto y el verbo.
Compara:

3. If we have enough time, we’ll visit Robert = Should we have enough time, we’ll visit Robert
If I were president, …. = Were I president, ……
If I had known the answer, … = Had I known the answer, …
5) IN CASE
A. Se usa con presente o pasado para indicar una condición que puede ocurrir o no. In case se
refiere a cosas que hacemos por adelantado para estar preparados para algo.
Ex: Take an umbrella in case it rains.
Nota: La oración con in case da la razón o explicación de la oración principal. La idea de la
oración permanece verdadera y no depende de la oración subordinada introducida por in
case. Por tanto la estructura no expresa una condición verdadera.
Ex: She brought her swimming costume in case the hotel had a pool.
(porque pensaba que el hotel podría tener piscina)
B. In case of + nombre = If there is a / an
Ex: In case of accident, notify the police.
6) OTHERWISE
Una condición puede a veces entenderse aunque no se manifieste. Otherwise aparece en lugar
de la oración condicional. Su traducción podría ser: DE LO CONTRARIO.
Ex: You’d better hurry. Otherwise, you’ll be late for your appointment. (Otherwise= if you don’t
hurry)
I WISH
1. DESEOS SOBRE EL PRESENTE Y EL FUTURO
A) Wish expresa pesar porque las cosas no son de la forma que al que habla le
gustaría que fueran. En español se suele traducir por: OJALÁ QUE …
Ex: I wish I knew English better
B) Wish va seguido de pasado simple (aunque normalmente se refiere al presente o al
futuro)
Ex: I wish they were here now.
(It’s raining) I wish I had an umbrella
She wishes she didn’t have so many exams
C) En inglés formal el verbo to be aparece siempre con la forma were como ocurre en
el segundo condicional.
Ex: He wishes he were younger. (No es tan joven como quisiera)
D) Wish + would suele expresar desagrado o queja sobre la situación presente. Sólo
puede usarse cuando hay dos sujetos diferentes.
Ex: She seldom writes. I wish she would write more often
La idea es como si el segundo sujeto se empeñara en no hacer lo que el primero

4. desea
2. DESEO/LAMENTO CON RESPECTO AL PASADO
A. La estructura wish + had + participio pasado se emplea para lamentarnos de un
hecho en el pasado, es decir, alGo que nos hubiera gustado que ocurriera pero que
no ocurrió.
Ex: I’m sorry that I didn’t know Diana’s phone number and couldn’t invite her to the
party. I wish I had known her phone number.
B. El modal que se puede emplear en esta estructura es could + have + participio
pasado.
Ex: I wish she could have come (Ojalá hubiese podido venir, siento que no viniera)
IF ONLY
Es equivalente a I wish. Se emplea para sugerir un deseo o pesar más fuerte sobre el
presente o el pasado. Va seguido de pasado simple o pasado perfecto, o would + raiz del
verbo.
Ex: If only he were here. (Si al menos estuviera aquí…)
If only we hadn’t taken the bus, we would have arrived earlier.
If only he would stop talking. (Si al menos dejara de hablar)
EXERCISES:
1. JOIN THE CLAUSES IN COLUMN A WITH THOSE IN COLUMN B TO MAKE 8
LOGICAL SENTENCES:
A B
1. As long as it’s not raining a) you should be all right in a few days.
2. Unless you have more practice b) we wouldn’t have got the message.
3. If I hadn’t telephoned c) the match would have been
cancelled.
4. If I were stronger d) I wouldn’t have gone to bed
early.
5. Even if she apologised e) you won’t pass the driving test.
6. If the weather had been wet f) I would never invite her again.
7. If I hadn’t been so tired g) we’ll go out for a walk.
8. Provided that you rest h) I would carry it myself.
2. CHANGE THE SENTENCES USING UNLESS.
1. If we don’t leave now, we’ll miss the start of the film.
2. Your cough won’t get better if you don’t stop smoking.
3. If she doesn’t give me her address, I can’t write to her.
4. He won’t receive the letter tomorrow if you don’t post it before 1 o’clock today.
5. Barbara usually walks to work if no one gives her a lift.
3. CHOOSE THE RIGHT OPTION.
1. Unless / Provided you tell the truth, everything will be all right.
2. In Britain you can marry at the age of sixteen unless / providing you have your
parents’ permission.

5. 3. He won’t forgive you unless / as long as you say you’re sorry.
4. Unless / Providing you lend me the money, I won’t be able to go on holiday.
5. I’ll buy the car unless / as long as it’s not too expensive.
4. REWRITE AS INDICATED:
1. They won the competition because they had a great coach. (hadn’t)
2. She isn’t tall; that’s why she can’t reach that shelf. (taller)
3. I think I’ll arrive at the meeting on time, but if I am late, please start without me.
(should)
4. If he fails the exam, he can always take it again. (should)
5. If I had signed the contract last year I would have saved a lot of money in taxes.
(inversion)
5. CORRECT THE MISTAKES:
1. If I would be in his place, I would do it differently.
2. I wish that you’ll be with us soon.
3. Unless their plans changed, they’ll wait for us at the station.
4. I would have called you if I’d have had a mobile phone.
6. REWRITE THE SENTENCES WITH THE WORDS IN BRACKETS:
1. You can’t leave home if you don’t tell me where you’re going. (unless)
2. You can go to the party only if you have been invited. (provided that)
3. I’m really sorry I can’t come with you to the theatre tonight. (wish)
4. What a shame we were unable to meet your brother when we were n England. (if only)
5. Had the government acted earlier, the present crisis could have been avoided. (if)
6. Should the flight be delayed, passengers will be informed immediately. (if)
7. Bob may attend the seminar this week. He’ll only go if Mary goes too. (as long as)
8. It was possible that I would forget the name of the street, so I wrote it down. (in case)
7. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES:
1. She slept next to the baby in case …………………………………………………….
2. I’ll lend you the car on condition that ……………………………………………………
3. The sun wouldn’t have damaged your skin provided that ……………………………..
4. You will lose weight as long as ……………………………………………………
5. Take my phone number in case …………………………………………………….
6. I wish you ………………………………………………

6. 3. He won’t forgive you unless / as long as you say you’re sorry.
4. Unless / Providing you lend me the money, I won’t be able to go on holiday.
5. I’ll buy the car unless / as long as it’s not too expensive.
4. REWRITE AS INDICATED:
1. They won the competition because they had a great coach. (hadn’t)
2. She isn’t tall; that’s why she can’t reach that shelf. (taller)
3. I think I’ll arrive at the meeting on time, but if I am late, please start without me.
(should)
4. If he fails the exam, he can always take it again. (should)
5. If I had signed the contract last year I would have saved a lot of money in taxes.
(inversion)
5. CORRECT THE MISTAKES:
1. If I would be in his place, I would do it differently.
2. I wish that you’ll be with us soon.
3. Unless their plans changed, they’ll wait for us at the station.
4. I would have called you if I’d have had a mobile phone.
6. REWRITE THE SENTENCES WITH THE WORDS IN BRACKETS:
1. You can’t leave home if you don’t tell me where you’re going. (unless)
2. You can go to the party only if you have been invited. (provided that)
3. I’m really sorry I can’t come with you to the theatre tonight. (wish)
4. What a shame we were unable to meet your brother when we were n England. (if only)
5. Had the government acted earlier, the present crisis could have been avoided. (if)
6. Should the flight be delayed, passengers will be informed immediately. (if)
7. Bob may attend the seminar this week. He’ll only go if Mary goes too. (as long as)
8. It was possible that I would forget the name of the street, so I wrote it down. (in case)
7. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES:
1. She slept next to the baby in case …………………………………………………….
2. I’ll lend you the car on condition that ……………………………………………………
3. The sun wouldn’t have damaged your skin provided that ……………………………..
4. You will lose weight as long as ……………………………………………………
5. Take my phone number in case …………………………………………………….
6. I wish you ………………………………………………