❖ Assuming A dependent clause introduced by

❖ But for
an adverbial subordinator
❖ Even if, only if
❖ On condition that Used to modify the verb of the
❖ Or else independent clause
❖ Otherwise Alternatives to IF ➔ functioning as an adverb
❖ Provided, providing
❖ So long as, as long as Used to modify adjectives and
❖ Suppose, supposing Functions adverbs (Adverbs of degree)
❖ Unless
❖ What if Used to modify sentences (Disjuncts)

One thing always follows Used to connect clauses/sentences (Conjuncts)

automatically from another...

Present Simple + Present Simple

Ex: If you add twelve and fifteen, what Type-0 Conditionals
do you get? (only 1 result)

IF = WHEN/WHENEVER/ONCE

Present Simple + Will-Infinitive

Many types: time, place, manner, condition, etc.
Ex: If it rains, the reception will take place
indoors. (There may be many results) To talk about past or present ➔ use the same tense as in the independent clause
Ex: I normally look after the children while she’s practicing.
Open conditions; likely conditions
in present and future Tense sequence To talk about future ➔ use present
If you’ll just sign here, thank you. (
with adverbial Ex: Wait here until you are ready to go.
Type-1 Conditionals
the willing to do sth) clauses of time
To talk about an action completed before another described in the
If you will drive so fast, you must expect
independent clause ➔ use simple or perfect verb forms
to have accidents. (insistence)
Ex: As soon as you see/ have seen her, come and tell me.
If he won't be on Thursday, we had better
cancel the meeting. (if we know now that/if it
is true now that...) Types of
Past Subjunctive + Would-Infinitive conditionals ADVERBIAL
Ex: If I had lots of money, I’d travel
around the world. ADVERBIAL CLAUSES
Some common
Unlikely/Unreal conditions in
present and future
CLAUSES adverbs
Supposing we were to win the Type-2 Conditionals AND
lottery, how would you spend the
money? (very unlikely; used in
formal language)
CONDITIONAL
If you’d just sign here, please.
Thank you. (very polite)
CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
SENTENCES Retain BEFORE
Past Perfect+ Would-perfect Ex: A student should consider some factors BEFORE choosing a major.
Ex: If you’d taken the taxi, you’d
have been here on time.
Retain SINCE when it refers to time
If Tom were ambitious, he’d have Ex: SINCE moving to the U.S., Carlos has not been back home. (Since
found himself a better job years Type-3 Conditionals Carlos moved...)
ago. (now he is not)
--> Coming from a conservative family, Carlos was shocked at the U.
If Tom had been ambitious, he’d S. system of coed dormitories. (Since/As Carlos came...)
have found himself a better job
years ago. (he was not ambitious) Delete AS when it refers to time
Ex: Getting used to the way of life here, he became less homesick.
❖ If it were not for the weather, we’d have gone out hours ago.
❖ If it were not for + N
❖ If it had not been for Helen’s help, we’d never have got there on time. ❖ If it had not been for + N Delete all subordinators referring to reason
❖ Without her help, I would never have got where I wanted. ❖ Without + N
Special Cases
❖ But for your help, we’d never have managed.
❖ But for + N Retain AFTER, WHEN and WHILE when the reduced form follows the
independent clause
Included in likely conditionals Ex: WHILE preparing for the TOEFL, he lived with a family.
If you don't like opera, why are False Condition --> Preparing for the TOEFL, he lived with a family./He lived with a
you here? The speaker knows the
family WHILE preparing for the TOEFL.
conditional's been fulfilled
While he was carrying a heavy pile
Should it rain, the reception will of books, he caught his foot on a
take place indoors. (something Reducing adverbial step + Same subject
is unlikely = Happen to) clauses Dangling modifiers + While: Past continuous
He was carrying a heavy pile of + When: Past simple
books when he caught his foot on
Were I to have lots of money, a step
I’d travel around the world.
Relative pronoun as subject
= If I had/If I were to have
Inversions Complex sentences with adjective
clauses Using V-ing (active) or past
Had you taken a taxi, you’d participle (passive)
have been here on time. Reducing complex
= Were you to have taken sentences Two clauses having same object

Had it not been for you, we’d Retain or omit the the adverbial
Complex sentences with adverbial
subordinator
never have got there on time. clauses

Using V-ing (active) or past

Wish + to-Infinitive = I would like to participle (passive)

Wish + would: I wish the noise next door would stop. (when we want
to change something annoying but we can't; express our attitudes)
Wish + past subjunctive: I wish I were taller.
Wish + past perfect: I wish I had studied
harder when I was a student.
Wishes I felt tired, so I slept. --> Feeling tired, I slept
(Reduce the clause that happens first/
indicates the reason)
Wish + that-clause Same subject
She was fired, so she had to look for another
job. --> Fired, she had to look for another job.
(Passive: Keep the past participle)
Reducing compound
sentences Because nobody had anything to say, the meeting
was closed --> Nobody having anything else to
say, the meeting was closed Different subject
--> Keep the subject + Change
After all the money had been spent, we began to the verb to V-ing
look for work --> All the money having been
spent, we began to look for work