A conditional clause's purpose is to communicate the likelihood that

a specific action or event will occur. The conditions that must be

satisfied to achieve this result can also be stated in conditional
clauses.

• If you don't wear a jacket, you might get sick.

• If you're prepared, you should plan first.

If + should
We can use if with should to refer to events which might happen by chance
or by accident:
• If you should bump into Carol, can you tell her I’m looking for her?
(If by chance you bump into Carol.)

• If the government should ever find itself in this situation again, it is

to be hoped it would act more quickly.
Conditional clauses with will or would

Will and would can be used in conditional clauses, either with the meaning of ‘being willing to do
something’, or to refer to later results:
• If Clare will meet us at the airport, it will save us a lot of time. (if Clare is willing to meet us)

• If you would all stop shouting, I will try and explain the situation!

• If it will make you happy, I’ll stay at home tonight. (If it is true that you will be happy as a result, I’ll stay at
home tonight.)

We sometimes stress the will or would, especially if we doubt that the result will be
the one mentioned:
• If it really would save the planet, I’d stop using my car tomorrow. (If it really is true that the planet would be
saved as a result, I would stop using my car, but I doubt it is true.)
• If you are tired, you should take a break.
Types of conditional clauses

There are three types of conditional clauses:

1. Open conditional clauses

2. Hypothetical conditional clauses
3. Conditional clauses with unfulfilled conditions of past

Open Conditional Clauses

In this type of clause, the given condition may or may not be fulfilled. It is an open future condition. The verb in the
conditional clause is in present tense while the verb in the main clause is in future tense. The open conditional
sentences follow the following pattern:
If/ even if/in case/unless + present simple + .. can/will/shall/may/might/must + base of the verb
Examples of open conditional sentences:
• If you call me, I shall come.
• I shall take an umbrella in case it rains.
• If I have time, I shall come to your house.
• If you drop the glass, it might break.
Note that if you talk of a common occurrence, you use a simple present/present continuous tense in both the
conditional and main clause. E.g. If a tap is leaking, it needs a new washer. Also, in case of a request, ‘would’ and
‘will’ are used.
Hypothetical Conditional Clauses

This type of clause contains a condition that is improbable and unlikely to be fulfilled. The
hypothetical conditional clauses follow the following pattern:

If/unless/even if/if only + simple past + .., .. Would

Examples of hypothetical conditional sentences:

• If had ten lakh rupees, I would buy a car.

• If I were you, I would challenge him. (‘were’ is used in hypothetical sentences instead of ‘was’)

• It would be awful if you lost your ticket.

Conditional clauses with unfulfilled conditions of past
These clauses contain a condition that was not fulfilled in the past. In such conditional clauses, the past
perfect form of verb is used.

Examples of Conditional clauses with unfulfilled conditions:

• If you had been there, I would have seen you.