IF CLAUSES

I. TYPE I – probable condition

Main clause Subordinate / if clause
Future Present

e.g. Mary will buy that book if she finds it.

Main clause Subordinate / if clause

Future: I’ll be going Present tense: if she comes.

Imperative: Don’t go there Present tense: if you can’t.

Future: I’ll send him away Should+inf: if he should bother me / should he

bother me.
Present tense: You go there Present tense: if you have the guts.

II. TYPE II – improbable condition

Main clause Subordinate / if clause
Present conditional Past simple (to BE : were)

e.g. Mary would buy that book if she found it.

III. TYPE III – impossible condition

Main clause Subordinate / if clause
Past conditional Past perfect

e.g. Mary would have bought that book if she had found it.

IV. MIXED TYPE

 Main clause Subordinate / if clause
Present conditional Past perfect

e.g. George would not be in prison now if he had not robbed the bank.

Main clause Subordinate / if clause

Past conditional Past simple

e.g. George wouldn’t have passed the exam if he weren’t so hardworking.