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HASSAN II UNIVERSITY Modular Program: English Studies

FACULTY OF LETTERS Semester 1

AND HUMAN SCIENCES Grammar 1

CASABLANCA Pr. S. FATHI

MOHAMEDIA

Chapter 6: CONDITIONALS & MIXED CONDITIONALS

Conditional Sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If Clauses.

They are used to express that the action in the main clause (without if) can only
take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if) is fulfilled. There are four
types of Conditional Sentences. Each expresses a different degree of probability
that a situation will occur or would have occurred under certain circumstances.

Conditional sentences are statements discussing known factors or hypothetical

situations and their consequences. Complete conditional sentences contain a
conditional clause (often referred to as the if-clause) and the consequence.

IF + PRESENT + PRESENT

Conditional Type 0: automatic or logical results.

Zero conditional sentences express general truths—situations in which one

thing always causes another. When you use a zero conditional, you’re talking
about a general truth rather than a specific instance of something.

- If you mix yellow and blue, you get green.

- This machine starts if you press this button.
- If you heat ice, it melts.
- Water boils if you heat it at 100 °C.

Conditional type 1: possible, probable results.

IF + PRESENT + WILL + INFINITIVE

First conditional sentences are used to express situations in which the outcome is
likely (but not guaranteed) to happen in the future.

- If you leave before ten, you will catch the train.

- That bowl will break if you drop it.
- If you don’t water those plants soon, they will die.
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- You will have an accident if you don’t slow down.

 There are possible changes that can be operated on the if-clause or the
main clause.
- If you are waiting for the bus, you will have to join the queue.
- If you are staying for another night, I will give you a better room.
- If you have finished the letter, she will type it.
- If they haven’t read the statute, they will regret it.
- You must eat less bread if you want to lose weight.
- If you don’t hurry, you may miss the train.
- I can get some more milk if there isn’t enough
- If your documents are in order, you may leave.
- If you will wait a moment, I will fetch you the book. (polite request)
- I will be grateful if you would invite my brother as well. (polite request)
- I will make myself clear if he will listen to me. (willingness)
- If he won’t listen to me, I won’t help him. (willingness)
- If this machine should fail, please feel free to call us. (possible, but not
very likely)
- Should this machine fail, please feel free to contact us. (possible, but not
very likely)

Conditional type 2: unreal or imaginary situations, giving advice.

IF + PAST + WOULD + INFINITIVE

Second conditional sentences are useful for expressing outcomes that are
completely unrealistic or will not likely happen in the future.

- If we saved more money, we would have enough for a holiday.

- If I had a map, I would lend it to you.
- We would travel around the world if we were rich.
- If I were you, I would be more industrious.
 There are possible changes that can be operated on the if-clause or the
main clause.
- If we were watching a movie, you would be much happier.
- I would drive you home if my car was working.
- If I were on holiday, I would be skiing.
- I would be reading in the library if I were you.
- If you were kinder, you would be visiting your ailing friend.
- You might succeed if you tried again.
- If you didn’t spend so much on clothes, we could buy a new car.
- We might save enough money if you worked overtime.
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- If he had a diploma, he could get a job.

Conditional type 3: regret or criticism for something that did not happen.

IF + PAST PERFECT + WOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

Third conditional sentences are used to explain that present circumstances would
be different if something different had happened in the past.

- If there had been anything wrong, I would have rung you.

- If she had known about the party, she would have come.
- You would have succeeded if you had worked harder.
- If I hadn’t helped you, you would have failed.
 There are possible changes that can be operated on the if-clause or the
main clause.

- If I hadn’t been listening to music, I would have heard your call.

- If it had rained yesterday, I would have been reading on my bed.
- I could have come to the meeting if I hadn’t been ill.
- If you had called the doctor, you might have saved her life.
- Had you observed safety measures, the house wouldn’t have caught fire.

Miscellaneous versions:

- If it is raining, take your umbrella.

- If you think it is late, forget it.
- If it is hot outside, take off your jacket.
- If you can’t finish now, you may take the file home.
- He might be at home if you can’t find him at work.

Mixed conditionals: C3 + C2 / C2 + C3

How conditional sentences are mixed? Unreal conditionals (type II + III)

sometimes can be mixed, that is, the time of the if-clause is different from the
one of the main clause.

- If I hadn’t missed the plane, I would be dead. C3 + C2

- If I had taken an aspirin, I wouldn't have a headache now. C3 + C2
- If you had warned me, we wouldn’t be in such a mess. C3 + C2
- We wouldn’t be late if you hadn’t spent hours dressing. C3 + C2
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- You wouldn’t be in prison if you had listened to my advice. C3 + C2

- If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t have married you. C2 + C3
- If she had enough money, she could have done this trip to Hawaii. C2+C3
- If you weren’t always rude, you would have been invited. C2 + C3
- I wouldn’t have asked you if I knew the answer. C2 + C3
- You would have taken the job if you had any sense. C2 + C3