CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

TYPE IF-CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE USE EXAMPLES

1 if + PRESENT SIMPLE - FUTURE SIMPLE
- IMPERATIVE
- PRESENT SIMPLE
2 if + PAST SIMPLE - WOULD + BARE INFINITIVE
- COULD + BARE INFINITIVE
- MIGHT + BARE INFINITIVE
- SHOULD + BARE INFINITIVE
3 if + PAST PERFECT - WOULD HAVE + P. PARTICIPLE
- COULD HAVE + P. PARTICIPLE
- MIGHT HAVE + P. PARTICIPLE
- SHOULD HAVE +P PARTICIPLE
real present If he comes late, we’ll miss the train.
real or very probable situation in If you don’t have enough money, don’t buy
the present or future. it.
Water turns into ice if it gets cold.
unreal present If I had money, I would buy a new car (but I
improbable situation in the present don’t have enough money)
or future If I were you, I would see a doctor.
also used to give advice Would you run away if you saw a ghost?
unreal past If you hadn’t been rude, your boss wouldn’t
unreal or improbable situation in have fired you (but you were rude and he
the past fired you)
also used to express regret and She would have passed the exam if she had
criticism studied.

NOTES
1. We put a comma after the IF-CLAUSE when it comes first.
If we go by plane, it will be more expensive.
It will be more expensive if we go by plane.
2. After IF, we can use WERE instead of WAS in all persons
If I were you, I wouldn’t spend so much time watching TV.
3. We do not usually use WILL, WOULD or SHOULD in an IF-CLAUSE
If we take a taxi, we won’t be late.
However, we use SHOULD after IF when we are less sure about a possibility
If I should see him, I’ll give it to him. (Perhaps I’ll see him but I’m less sure)
4. OTHER LINKING WORDS
UNLESS. IF NOT: We’ll go for a picnic unless it rains.(don´t change the verbal tenses)
PROVIDED (THAT): ‘SIEMPRE Y CUANDO’
Children are allowed to go for a ride on the roller coaster provided that they go with an adult.
AS LONG AS: As long as he’s on time, we won’t be late for the meeting.

*MIXED CONDITIONALS: It is possible to combine two different conditional sentences ( T2 / T3)

Ex: If you had told me earlier, I would do it now
If I hadn´t eaten so much, I wouldn’t feel so bad now