CONDITIONALS

By
Osmar Cruz
WHAT’S • Conditional clauses consist of two parts: the if-clause
(hypothesis) and the main clause (result).

THAT? • When the if-clause comes before the main clause, the two
clauses are separated with a comma.

If the weather is good, we will go on a picnic.

We will go on a picnic if the weather is Good.

NOTE:
We don't use a comma
when the if-clause
follows the main clause.
 IF-CLAUSE (hypothesis) MAIN CLAUSE (result)

0 conditional If/when + present simple Present simple

general truth or scientific fact If/When you stay in the sun too long, you get sunburnt.
1st conditional If + present simple Future simple, imperative,
Real, likely to happen in the can/must/may, etc + bare infinitive
present/future If I finish my homework early, I’ll come to the party. If you are ill,
call the doctor. If you do the washing up, you may play outside.
2nd conditional If + past simple Would/could/might + bare infinitive
• Unreal or imaginary If I had a few days off, I’d go to the seaside.
situation in the (BUT I don’t have a few days off) unreal past. If I were you, I’d see
present/future a doctor. (advice)
• Advice
3rd conditional If + past perfect Would/could/might have + past
• Imaginary situation in the participle
past If they had seen James, They would have told me.
• Regret (BUT they didn’t) If you had studied harder, you wouldn’t have
• Criticism failed the exam. (Criticism)
 We can use were instead of was for all persons in the if-clause of Type 2
conditionals.

▪ If he were/was rich, he could help us with our problem.

▪ With type 1 conditionals we can use unless

+ affirmative verb or if + negative verb.

▪ Unless you leave now, you won’t catch the last bus.)

▪ (= If you don’t leave now, you won’t

catch the last bus.)

NOT: (Unless you don’t leave)

We can form conditionals by using words/expressions such as unless (type 1
conditionals), providing/provided that, so/as long as, on condition that, what
if, even if, supposed/supposing, (type 2 conditionals), otherwise (=if not), but
for, and, or (else), even if, in case/in the event of.

You’d better leave now. Otherwise, you’ll miss the flight.

▪ (If you don’t leave now, you’ll miss the flight.)

I’ll go to the cinema providing/provided

(that) I find tickets.
▪ (…. If I find tickets)

Suppose/Supposing you lost your keys, what would you do?

In the event of an emergency, sound the alarm.
WISHES
We can use wish/if only to express a wish.
WISHES
I wish/If only Use
+ past simple/ past I wish/ If only I was/were rich. To say that we would like to be
continuous (but I’m not) different about a present situation.

+ past perfect I wish/ If only I had listened To express regret about something
to your advice. (but I didn’t) which happened or didn’t happen in
I wish/ If only I hadn’t said the past.
anything. (but I did)
+ sb/sth + would + I wish you would tidy your room. To express:
bare infinitive (Please, tidy your room.) • A polite imperative
I wish the wind would stop blowing. • A desire for a situation
(wish for a change in a situation) or person’s bahaviour
I wish/If only John would stop insulting to change
people. (wish for a change in someone’s
behaviour)
 o If only is used in exactly the same way as wish but it is more emphatic or
more dramatic.

o We can use were instead of was

after wish and if only.

▪ If only/ I wish I was/were taller .

o After the subject pronouns I and we, we use could instead of would.

▪ I wish I could travel abroad.

o (NOT: I wish I would travel…)