Conditionals (0)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Conditionals  
 
 
Table of Contents 
 
 
Conditionals ......................................................................... 2 
A. Real Conditionals ............................................................. 2 
B. Unreal Conditionals ......................................................... 3 
Linking words used in Conditionals ...................................... 4 
 
Conditionals 
 
Conditions deal with imagined situations: some are possible, some are 
unlikely, some are impossible.  
  
A. Real Conditionals   
 
Real Conditionals refer to situations that are true, have happened , generally 
happen or are likely to happen.  
The First Conditional 
expresses a possible condition  and a probable result: 
If I have time, I will help you. 
In the if- clause we use the  Present Simple , in the main clause will + the verb . 
We can also use the Present Continuous  or  Perfect  in the if-clause and a  Modal  
Verb  in the main clause. 
If we are having  a  party tomorrow , we shouldn’t go out  tonight . 
If you have finished  with the computer, you should turn  it off. 
 It can also be used in  offers  and suggestions, or warnings and threats. 
 
If you need a ticket, I can get you one.  
 If 
you 
don’t study  harder, you won’t pass  the  exam . 
The if-clause usually comes first, but it can come after the main clause. 
 
If I  hear  any news, I’ll phone you. / I’ll phone you if I hear any news. 
  
The Zero Conditional 
expresses conditions that are always true and have automatic or habitual 
results: 
  
If you  heat  ice, it melts. 
The Present Simple is used in both clauses . 
 
 
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 B. Unreal Conditionals 
 
Unreal Conditionals refer to situations that are untrue or imagined, have not 
happened or are only remotely likely to happen.  
  
The Second Conditional 
expresses a hypothetical condition  and its probable result: 
       If I had time, I would help you. (=but I don’t have time, so I cannot do   
       it) 
In the if-clause we use the Past Simple, in the main clause would + the verb. 
We can also use the Past Continuous in the if-clause and  could  or might in the 
main clause: 
 
If Jim was  playing  his guitar, we could not enjoy the silence. 
Sometimes were is used instead of was, especially in the clause if I were you: 
 
If I were you, I wouldn’t eat so much. 
  
1) Impossible conditions:  
If I were a bird , I could fly. 
If John was taller, he could become a policeman. 
  
2) Possible in theory, but improbable in practice : 
If I were the President  of Estonia, I would make a lot of  changes . 
If I had a lot of  money , I would go to the  Amazon  Jungle. 
  
3) Impossible speculation:  
If we could travel  in time, I would go to the future. 
If we knew the future, we could change  it. 
  
4) Advice :  
If I were you, I would go on holiday . 
You would enjoy better health if you stopped smoking. 
 
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 The Third Conditional  
expresses imaginary situations and regrets about the past; 
  
If I had had time, I would have helped you. 
In the if-clause we use the Past Perfect, in the main clause we use would have 
+ the Past Participle. 
We can also use could have or might have in the main clause: 
If I had known  about it, I could have phoned you yesterday . 
The short form -‘d can be either had or would: 
If you’d called me, I’d have come to see you. (= If you had called me, I   
would have come to see you.)  
It can sometimes be used to criticize people or point out their mistakes. 
 
If you’d been more careful, you wouldn’t have caused the accident . 
  
Linking words used in Conditionals 
  
if or when  
If and when are not the same - if refers to conditions and when refers to time. 
Thus, in Conditionals, only if, not ‘when’, may be used.   
when  
is used to refer to something the speaker knows will happen at some point in 
time:    
When I finish cooking, I will call you. 
if  
is used to refer to something that we think might happen or for something 
impossible or imaginary: 
 
If you see Ann,  tell her to call me. 
If I were you, I wouldn’t do that.  
unless , if … not, except if  
refer to things which have not happened or did not happen or probably will not 
happen:  
Come over tomorrow  around   five , unless my  secretary contacts you.  
Come over tomorrow around five, except if my secretary contacts you.  
 
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otherwise 
expresses an outcome which is likely if a condition is not met:  
   
Take the  umbrella , otherwise you’ll get soaked. 
in case  
refers to situations involving a risk which has to be avoided: 
  
I’ll take these   shoes  with me in case it  rains .  
in case of 
has a negative connotation and is used for real conditions in formal contexts 
such as warning notices: 
 
In case of  fire , do not use the lift . (= If there is fire, ...)  
but for followed by a  noun phrase  
is used in more formal contexts as a fixed expression meaning  ‘if it were not 
for’:  
  
But for Sandra, we’d all have got  lost   ages  ago.  
          But for you, we would be there  already . 
as long as = but only if: 
   
As long as it doesn’t rain, we’ll have a great time. 
 
I don’t mind her leaving as long as she’s coming   back .  
providing , provided that = but only if: 
This article may be freely distributed provided that our copyright  is fully 
acknowledged.   
on condition that, in the event that/of = if 
  
I will come  along  on condition that you promise to behave. 
In the event that the plane lands on water, life-jackets are located under 
every seat. 
In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure , oxygen masks will be 
lowered automatically. 
 
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I wish  and if only  
can be used use to express  a wish. 
1) I wish or if only + Past Simple  express wishful thinking : 
 
 
I wish I wasn’t so fat (, so I would be able to get into this tight-fitting 
          dress )!   
         If only John came on time (, so we could catch  the last  train )! 
         I wish I lived in a big city. 
         We all wish we had more time. 
If only I was taller, I could be a  super -model. 
I wish you did not bother me with your stupid questions ! 
I wish you were  here ! 
We cannot use would in these sentences , but we can use could: 
 
I wish I could fly to the  Moon . 
 
If only I could speak  the language of this country . 
      
2) I wish or if only ... + would expresses a wish for something to happen or stop 
happening: 
 
I wish you would clean up your room . 
 
If only you’d be more helpful. 
           
3) wish or if only ... + a Past Perfect  tense expresses a wish about the past:  
 
I wish you had told  me about the problem. 
If only I had been more careful! 
Jennifer wished she had told the  truth  to her  father . 
I wish I had been informed about your arrival. 
We do not use would have  here , but we can use could have: 
I wish I could have been at the party. 
Peter wished he could have participated in the  meeting . 
 
  
 
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