C O N D I T I O N A L S If-clause main clause

general truths / If we heat water, it boils.

real laws of nature 0 Pr.S. Pr.S.
/ (used to express sth If the temperature falls below 0°C,
probable which is always water turns into ice.
true)
situations If I have money, I will go to the cinema.
present / future Pr.S. - F.S.
(real / likely to I If you need help, come and see me. - Imperative
happen in the - can/must/may… + inf.
present or future)
If you are ever in the area,
you should come and visit us.
present / future
unreal (imaginary If I had money, I would go to the cinema. Past S. would + inf
/ situations contrary II
to facts in the
hypothetica If I were you, I would take up a sport.
present; also used to
l/ give advice)
imaginary
Past If I had had money last week,
situations (imaginary III I would have gone to the cinema. Past Perf. would have + p.p.
situations contrary
to facts in the past;
If she had studied harder,
also used to express
regrets or criticism) she would have passed the exam.

III + II If he hadn’t killed that man 10 years ago, Past Perf. would + inf.
cause effect mixed he wouldn’t be in prison now.
past present
 Patterns
REAL / POSSIBLE SITUATIONS
1. If + Present, Present

Example: If he takes vitamins every day, he doesn’t get sick. / He doesn’t get sick if he takes vitamins every day.

 This is called the zero conditional.

 Use this conditional to show an outcome that happens if a specific repeated condition is met.
 The verbs in the if clause and in the main clause will both be simple present verbs (remind students that
third person singular verbs end in -s).
 Make sure that students realize, for all the conditional patterns, that the if clause and the main clause order
doesn’t matter—the meaning is the same. Also note that a comma is needed when the if clause comes before
the main clause.

2. If + Present, Will + Verb / Imperative/can/must/may/should…+inf.

Example: If she studies for the test, she will get a good grade. / She will get a good grade if she studies for the
test.

 This is called the first conditional or the real conditional.

 Use this conditional to show a likely or possible outcome that will probably happen if a specific condition
is met.
 The verb in the if clause is a simple present verb, and the verb in the main clause is will + base form of
the verb.
 Make sure to point out that the verb in the if clause will end in -s if the subject is third person singular.
 UNREAL / HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS
3. If + Past, Would + Verb

Example (of an unlikely situation): If he won the lottery, he would quit his job. / He would quit his job if he won
the lottery.

Example (of an impossible situation): If I had wings, I would fly to Antarctica. / I would fly to Antarctica if I
had wings.

 This is called the second conditional or the unreal conditional.

 Use this conditional to show an unlikely or impossible outcome that probably wouldn’t happen (unless a
specific condition were met).
 The verb in the if clause is a simple past verb, and the verb in the main clause is would + base form of
the verb.
 Make sure to point out that this is one case where it’s correct to use a past tense verb for a future situation.
 Note: The verb to be is always were with this conditional, even in the first and third person singular. I
usually give an example to ensure that students understand this strange exception: If I were rich, I would buy
you a car. / I would buy you a car if I were rich.

4. If + Had + P.P., Would + Have + P.P.

Example: If I had remembered to call my friend last night, she wouldn’t have sent me an angry text message. / My
friend wouldn’t have sent me an angry text message if I had remembered to call her last night.

 This is called the third conditional.

 Use this conditional to show a past regret or different outcome that would have happened if a specific
condition had been met.
 The verb in the if clause is a past perfect verb (had + past participle form of the verb), and the verb in
the main clause is a past modal pattern (would + have + past participle form of the verb).
  Make sure to tell students that this conditional isn’t very common. We don’t often speculate about what
might have happened in the past, because we already know what actually happened.

5. If + Had + P.P., Would + Verb If he hadn’t spoken to her so rudely then, she would be his wife now.

Quick Review
As a review the next day, write this chart on the board to reiterate the four conditional patterns:

1. Present: If + Present, Present
2. Future (Likely/Possible/Real): If + Present, Will + Verb
3. Future (Unlikely/Impossible/Unreal): If + Past, Would + Verb
4. Past: If + Had + P.P., Would + Have + P.P.
5. Past+Present: If + Had + P.P., Would + Verb

!!!!!!!!!!!

All types of Conditionals can be mixed. Any tense combination is possible if the context permits it.

If-clause Main clause

Type 2 Type 1

If nobody paid the bill, the electricity will be cut off.

Type 2 Type 3

If he had money, he would have bought her a gift.

Type 3 Type 2

If he had won the lottery, he wouldn’t be asking for money now.

 NOTES
 Conditional clauses consist of two parts: the If-clause (hypothesis) and the main clause (result).
When the If-clause comes before a main clause, the two clauses are separated with a comma.
When the main clause comes before the If-clause, then no comma is necessary.
o a) If I see Tom, I’ll give him his book.
o b) I’ll give Tom his book if I see him.
 We do not normally use will, would or should in an If-clause. However, we can use will or would after if
to make a polite request or express insistence or uncertainty (usually with expressions such as I don’t
know, I doubt, I wonder, etc.).
o a) If the weather is fine tomorrow, we will go camping. (NOT: If the weather will be fine…)
o b) If you will fill in this form, I’ll process your application. (Will you please fill in… - polite
request).
o c) If you will not stop shouting, you will have to leave. (If you insist on shouting… - insistence).
o d) I don’t know if he will pass his exams. (uncertainty)
o e) If Tom should call, tell him I’ll be late. (We do not think that Tom is very likely to call.)
 We can use unless instead of If…not in the If-clause of Type 1 Conditionals. The verb is always in the
affirmative after unless.
o a) Unless you leave now, you’ll miss the bus.
 (=If you don’t leave now, you’ll miss the bus.)
 (NOT: Unless you don’t leave now, …)
 We can use were instead of was for all persons in the If-clause of Type 2 Conditionals.
o a) If Rick was/were here, we could have a party.
 We use If I were you… when we want to give advice.
o a) If I were you, I wouldn’t complain about it.
 The following expressions can be used instead of if: provided/providing that, as long as,
suppose/supposing, etc.
o a) You can see Mr. Carter provided you have an appointment. ( If you have an appointment…)
o b) We will all have dinner together providing Mary comes on time. (…if Mary comes…)
o c) Suppose/Supposing the boss came now, what would you say? (If the boss came…)
 We can omit if in the if-clause. When if is omitted, should (Type 1), were (Type 2), had (Type 3) and the
subject are inverted.
o a) Should Peter come, tell him to wait. (= If Peter should come, …)
o b) Were I you, I wouldn’t trust him. (= If I were you, …)
o c) Had he known, he would have called. (= If he had known, …)