CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

REVISION

AND EXTENSION!

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 CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
The sentences bellow are conditional sentences but they are all mixed up. Can you
decide which type are they?
Be careful! There are some tricky ones!

1.If we catch the 10 o´clock train, we shall get there by lunch time.
2.If you will reserve seats, we shall be sure of a comfortable journey.
3.If we caught the 10 o’clock train, we would get there by lunch time.
4.If you would reserve seats, we would be sure of a comfortable journey.
5.If we had caught the 10 o´clock train, we would have got there by lunch time.
6.If you heat ice, it melts.
7.If you wake up before me, give me a call.
8.If we should miss the 10 o´clock train, we shan’t get there till a-er lunch.
9.If we were to miss the 10 o´clock train, we wouldn’t get there till a-er lunch.
10.If we had brought a map with us, we would know which road to take.

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 CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

TYPE O: CAUSE AND EFFECT

If you heat ice, it melts
Universal truth or general validity.
IF has a meaning similar to WHENEVER.

Other examples:
If I make a promise, I keep it
If it rains, you get wet

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 CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

TYPE 1: OPEN CONDITIONS

If we catch the 10 o´clock train, we shall get there by lunch time
If you wake up before me, give me a call
The actions or events mentioned in the conditional clause are
likely to happen.

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 CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

TYPE 1: VARIATIONS

If we should miss the 10 o´clock train, we shan’t get there till a-er
lunch.
SHOULD has a meaning similar to “IF BY ANY CHANCE”

If you will reserve seats, we shall be sure of a comfortable

journey.
WILL (modal verb) introduces the idea of “your” agreeing or
being willing to do what is being suggested.

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 CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

TYPE 2:

If we caught the 10 o´clock train, we would get there by luchtime.

(what is possible)

Other examples

If I came into a fortune, I would give up working.

(hypothetical)
If I knew how it worked, I could help you.
(contrary to present fact)

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 CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

TYPE 2: Variations
If we were to miss the 10 o´clock train, we wouldn’t get there till
until a-er lunch
WERE TO emphasizes the suppositional nature of the condition.
Similar to SHOULD in type 1.

If you would reserve seats, we would be sure of a comfortable

journey.
WOULD (modal verb): polite form of WILL in type 1.

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 CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

TYPE 3:
If we had caught the 10 o´clock train, we would have got there by
lunchtime.
Completely hypothetical. Represents what is contrary to past fact.

MIXED CONDITIONAL:
If we had bought a map, we would know which road to take.
Conditional clause: something contrary to a past fact (type 3)
Main clause: something contrary to a present fact (type 2)

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 CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

SPECIAL CASES
Should you need my help again, give me a ring.
Type 1
Were the government to change this law, some people would be
in serious trouble.
Type 2
Had I known you were ill, I would have brought some aspirins.
Type 3

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 CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
ALTERNATIVES TO IF
I won’t lend you any money unless you make good use of it.

I will lend you money provided that you don’t waste it.

I will lend you money on the condition that you give it back to me.

You will have the money so long as you promise not to waste it.

She will have wasted the money but for her mother’s advice.

Suppose you have the money, what would you do?

What if I ask you to lend me money?

She gave me the money in case she wasted it.

In case of emergency, phone this number.

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