Conditionals

The most common conditional linking words are: if, unless (= if not), when, even if, provided (that), as long as, etc. When the conditional clause precedes the main clause, there is a comma. When the main clause precedes the conditional clause, there is no comma. e.g. If I were you, I'd apologise. I'd apologise if I were you. There are four types of conditionals. a. Zero conditional: If + Present Simple, Present Simple in the main clause (used to talk about general truths or scientific facts). e.g. If you heat water, it boils. b. Type 1 Conditional: If + Present tenses, Future/Present Continuous, Imperative in the main clause (used to talk about actions likely to happen in the present or future). e.g. If you go shopping today, buy me some eggs. If you haven't finished before noon, we won't be able to catch the one o'clock train. c. Type 2 Conditional: If + Past Simple/Continuous, would + bare infinitive in the main clause (used to talk about something untrue in the present or unlikely to happen in the future). e.g. Unless you passed the test, you wouldn't get a driving license. / If you did not pass the test, you would not get a driving license. Type 2 Conditional is also used to give advice. E.g. If I were you, I'd try to find another job. (Note were can be used in all persons instead of was.) d. Type 3 Conditional: If + Past Perfect, would + have + past participle in the main clause (used to talk about an imaginary situation contrary to the facts in the past. It is also used to express regret or criticism.) e.g. If he had told us he was coming over, we would have prepared some-thing to eat. If can be omitted in if-clauses. In this case should (conditionals type 1), were (conditionals type 2) and had (conditionals type 3) come before the subject. e.g. 1. If you should see her, ask her to come to the party. party? 2. If I were you, I wouldn't pay anything. the car. Were I you, I wouldn't pay anything. Had I had the money, I would have bought 3. If I had had the money, I would have bought the car. Should you see her, ask her to come to the

Practice A. Read the sentences in column A and match them with the correct description in column B. Then say what tense is used for each conditional sentence A If you heat water, it boils. If you hear the alarm, get onto the deck quickly. If I see someone trying to break in, I'll call the police. If I saw someone trying to break in, I would call the police. If I were you, I'd call the police. If I had seen someone trying to break in, I would have called the police. B a) untrue condition in the present b) giving instructions c) imaginary situation contrary to the facts in the past d) general truth/scientific facts e) action likely to happen in the present/future f) giving advice

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

B. Look at the notes and rewrite them in instruction form. What type of conditional will you use? Activate the alarm - Evacuate the building quickly and quietly Use the nearest emergency exit - not use the lift E.g. If you see smoke, activate the alarm. C. Decide which object you would use if: a) You were trapped under debris. b) The boat you were on started sinking. c) You were trapped in a mine. d) You were traveling through a desert. e) You got stuck in an underground train. Torch D. What will you do if... 1 an earthquake occurs? 2 a fire alarm goes off? 3 there's a blackout? 4 you see a car crash? E. How could these accidents have been avoided? 1 A house burnt down. A young boy was playing with matches ...If the young boy hadn't been playing with matches, the house wouldn't have burnt down. 2 The town was flooded. The dam burst. 3 Two cars collided on the road. One of the drivers had been drinking. 4 A cyclist was seriously injured by a car at night. The cyclist had no lights on his bicycle. 5 A garage exploded. A man threw his cigar out of the window of his car. whistle axe life-jacket compass

F. Go through the sentences and note how the form of the verb changes with "unless". Then rewrite the sentences. 1 If you don't have a map, you will lose your way. ...Unless you have a map, you will lose your way... 2 If we don't transmit a message now, it will be too late. 3 If the windscreen isn't clear, how can the driver see? 4 If you don't wear warm clothes, you'll get cold. 5 If we don't refill our air tanks, we'll suffocate. G. Fill in the correct tense then identify the type of conditional. If we lived in a well-built house, we _______________ (not/be) in danger The car ____________ (not/roll) back as long as you put the brake You might cut yourself if you ____________ (play) with knives. I would always wear a helmet if I ____________ (be) you. If you'd locked the medicine up, he ____________ (not/drink) Supposing you ____________ (get) stuck in the lift, what will you do? If he ___________ (listen) to the weather forecast, he wouldn't have sailed in such stormy weather. 8. What ____________ (you/do) if there was an emergency landing? 9. If you hear the alarm, _____________ (head for) the exit 10. If he had been driving more carefully, he _____________ (avoid) the accident. H. Rewrite the sentences using inversion. 1. If someone tries to break in, call the police. Should someone try to break in, call the police... 2. If I were you, I'd hire a bodyguard. 3. If he had let off flares, they would have spotted him. 4. If you see smoke, activate the alarm. 5. If she hadn't gone through the traffic lights, she wouldnt have hit the pedestrian. I. Complete the following sentences. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

1. If he had had a whistle, he would have used it so that the rescue team could find him.... 2. If the driver had seen the dog, 3. If you drive carefully, 4. Use the fire extinguisher 5. If you don't leave on time, 6. If you lose your way, 7. If there wasn't any fog, 8. If he hadn't lit a campfire, 9. If I were stuck on a deserted island, 10. If she hadn't drunk the water from the well,