CONDITIONALS

Hypothesis  Main Clause

Main Clause  Hypothesis

A. CONJUCTIONS
Hypothesis
 If: If you study, you will pass.
 Unless = if not: Unless you study, you won’t pass.
 Even if = more emphatic: Even if I study, I won’t pass this test.
 In case / In the event of = less likely:
I’ve studied hard but in case I fail I’ll retake the exam.
 Whether … or … : You will study whether you like it or not.
 Provided (that) - Providing (that) – As/So long as – On condition (that) =
= terms: Provided you study, I’ll let you watch TV.
 Suppose (that) – Supposing (that) = ?:
Supposing you fail, will you retake the test?

Main Clause
 Or (else) : Study or else you will fail.
 Otherwise = after a full stop (.) or a semi-column (;):
Study; otherwise you will fail.

B. BASIC FORMS
Conditional 1
IF + PRESENT SIMPLE = FUTURE SIMPLE
Present / Future – Realistic
If I go shopping today, I’ll spend a lot.

Conditional 2
IF + UNREAL PAST SIMPLE = WOULD + B. INF
Present / Future – Unrealistic
I’m staying in today but if I went shopping, I would spend a lot.

Conditional 3
IF + PAST PERFECT SIMPLE = WOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
Past – Unrealistic
I stayed in yesterday but if I had gone shopping, I would have spent a lot.

C. VARIATIONS
Conditional 1
I. IF + PRESENT SIMPLE
= PRESENT SIMPLE (zero / present habits – general truths)
 If I get stressed, I go for a walk.
 If you drop glass, it breaks.

= PRESENT CONTINUOUS (present progress – future personal plans)

 If you want to call him now, he is working.
 If it is sunny tomorrow, we are having a picnic.

1
 = BE GOING TO (intention)
 If it is sunny tomorrow, we are going to have a picnic.

= FUTURE CONTINUOUS (future progress)

 If you call him at 5, he will be working.

= FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE (future completed action)

 If you call him at 5, he will have already left the office.

= IMPERATIVE
 If you want to get promoted, work harder.

= MODAL + B. INF (according to the modal)

 If you do your h/w, you can watch TV.
II. = FUTURE SIMPLE
IF + FUTURE SIMPLE*** ((un)willingness - insistence)
 If you will cook, I will do the dishes.
 If you will keep speeding, you will get a fine.

IF + SHOULD + B. INF*** (less likely)

 It is a sunny day but if it should rain, I’ll stay in.

IF + PRESENT CONTINUOUS (present progress – future personal plans)

 If you are looking for your keys, you’ll find them on the table.
 If you are having a picnic tomorrow, I’ll join you.

IF + BE GOING TO (intention)
 If you are going to have a picnic tomorrow, I’ll join you.

IF + PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE (completed action)

 If you have finished eating, I’ll clean up.

IF + MODAL + B. INF (according to the modal)

 If you can help me, I’ll be grateful.

Conditional 2
IF + PAST SIMPLE = PAST SIMPLE
Past habits
In the past if I got stressed, I went for a walk.
I. IF + UNREAL PAST SIMPLE
= COULD / MIGHT + B. INF
 If you asked him, he could help you.
II. WOULD + B. INF
IF + UNREAL PAST CONTINUOUS (present progress – future personal plans)
 I knew you’re having a beak. If you were working, I wouldn’t interrupt.
 I’m not coming swimming tomorrow. If you were having a picnic, I’d join you.

IF + WOULD + B. INF ((un)willingness - insistence)

 If you would cook, I would do the dishes.
 If you would keep speeding, you would get a fine.
2
 IF + COULD + B. INF
 If you could help me, I’d be grateful.

Conditional 3
I. IF + PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
= COULD / MIGHT + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
 If you had asked him, he could have helped you.
II. WOULD + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
IF + PAST PERFECT CONTINOUS (past progress)
 If you had been driving more carefully at the moment, you would have seen the
sign.

D. MIXED
I. C3 + C2
He broke his leg. He is in hospital now.
│ │
Hypothesis Main clause
│ │
Past Present
│ │
C3 C1 or C2
(unrealistic) (realistic) (unrealistic)
│
If he hadn’t broken his leg, he wouldn’t be in hospital now.

II. C2 + C3
You should have been more polite yesterday.
│ │
advice past
│ │
C2 C3
│ │
If I were you, I would have been more polite yesterday.

E. INVERSION (Hypothesis)  Emphasis!!!

Conditional 1
 SHOULD + SUBJECT + B. INF // *** SHOULD I NOT - SHOULN’T I ..
If it rains, I’ll stay in.  Should it rain, I’ll stay in.(Should it rains)

Conditional 2
 WERE I YOU, = If I were you, …
 WERE + SUBJECT + ADJECTIVE / NOUN // ***WERE I NOT - WEREN’T I ..
If I were tired, I would stay in.  Were I tired, I would stay in.
If I were a doctor, I’d work in a hospital.  Were I a doctor, I’d work in a hospital.
 WERE + SUBJECT + F. INF (verb ≠ be) //***WERE I NOT - WEREN’T I ..
If I had the money, I would buy a car. Were I to have the money, I’d buy a car.

3
 Conditional 3
 HAD + SUBJECT + P.P. // ***HAD I NOT - HADN’T I ..
If I had known the correct answer, I would have told you. 
Had I known the correct answer, I would have told you.
 WERE + SUBJECT + F. INFperfect//***WERE I NOT - WEREN’T I ..
If I had known the correct answer, I would have told you. 
Were I to have known the correct answer, I would have told you.

F. FIXED PHRASES  HYPOTHESIS

 But for – C2 / C3
 If it weren’t for – C2  Gerund
 Were it not for – C2 +  Noun = C2 / C3
 If it hadn’t been for - C3  the fact that + S - V
 Had it not been for - C3
But for you helping me / your help / the fact that you helped me,
I would fail / I would have failed.