Types of Conditionals
Mixed Conditionals
Other tenses in conditional sentences
Mixed Conditionals
Other tenses in conditional sentences
Types of Conditionals
| Types | If-clause (hypothesis) | Main clause (result clause) | Use | Примеры |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 real present |
if + any present form (Present S., Present Cont. or Present Pert.) | Future/Imperatie can/may/might/must/should + bare Inf Present Simple | true or likely to happen in the present or the future | If you finish work early, we'll go for a walk. If the weather is nice, we'll go swimming. If you have finished your coffee, we can pay the bill. If you're ill, see a doctor! If you burn yourself, it hurts. |
| Type 2 unreal present |
If + Past Simple or Past Continuous | would/could/might + bare infinitive | untrue in the present; also used to give advice | If I had money, I would travel round the world. (but I don't have money - untrue in the present). If I were a bird, I could fly. If I were you, I would take an umbrella, (advice) |
| Type 3 unreal past |
If + Past Perfect or Past Perfect Continuous | would/could/might + have + past participle | imaginary situation contrary to facts in the past; also used to express regrets or criticism | If we hadn't left so early, we would have missed the plane. If I had been invited, I would have gone to the party. If youhad told me before about your problems, I would have helped you , but now it’s too late. If the weather hadn’t been so nasty yesterday, we would not have stayed at home all day long. |
Mixed Conditionals
Mixed Conditionals Conditionals are usually introduced by IF; the following expressions can be uses in stead of IF:
providing, provided (that), as long as, in case, on condition (that), but for (=without), otherwise, or else, what if, supposing, even if, only if, unless.
| 1. If only: This adds emphasis to hypothetical situations. With past events it adds a sense of regret. The second part of the sentence is often left out. | If only I had enough time! If only I hadn 't drunk too much, this wouldn 't have happened! |
| 2. Unless and other alternatives Unless only if not. Not all negative IF-sentences can be transformed into unless sentences. |
If he wasn 't told by Jane, he couldn 't have known. Unless he was told by Jane, he couldn 't have known, (can be changed) If Mr Smith doesn 't come back, he 'II phone you. (cannot be changed) If one situation depends on another, it can be replaced by as/so long as, provided or only if. |
| 3. Only if combines with other time expressions and is used with past simple Unless only if not. Not all negative IF-sentences can be transformed into unless sentences. |
Only after posting the letter did I remember that I had forgotten to put on a stamp. (inversion) I'll do what you say provided the police are not informed. |
| 4. Even if describes how something will happen whatever the condition. | Even if it rains, we'll still go for a picnic. |
| 5. But for him, I wouldn’t have been able to survive. | If he hadn’t helped me… |
| 6. Supposing it rains, will you still go for a picnic? | |
| 7. What if it rains, will you go for a walk? | |
| 8. We can omit “if”, when should, were and had come before the subject. | Should, come, tell him to wait for me. Were you, I would speak to her. known, he would have told us. |
Other tenses in conditional sentences
| 1. Going to | Going to can replace will | If you fall, you're going to hurt yourself. If you're going to make trouble, we 'II call the police. |
| 2. Present perfect | This can be used to emphasis completion after if | If you've finished, then we'll go. It is also possible in both parts of the sentence. If I've told you once, I've told you a hundred times! |
| 3. Doubt and uncertainty | An additional not can be added in formal expressions involving doubt. This emphasizes the uncertainty and does not add a negative meaning. | I wouldn 't be surprised if it didn 't rain. (I think it will rain.) |
| 4. Should if | This makes the possibility of an event seem unlikely. This emphasizes the uncertainty and does not add a negative meaning. | If you should see Ann, could you ask her to call me? This implies that I do not expect you to see Ann. |
| 5. Were to | This also makes an event seem more hypothetical. | If I were to ask you to marry me, what would you say? |
| 6. Happen to | This emphasizes chance possibilities. It is often used with should. | If you happen to see Helen, could you ask her to call me? If you should happen to be passing, drop in for a cup of tea. |
| 7. If it were not for/If it hadn 't been for | This describes how one event depends on another. | If it weren 't for Jim, this company would be in a mess. If it hadn't been for their goalkeeper, United would have lost. |
| 8. Will and would | Politeness and emphasis These can be used as polite forms. | If you will/would wait here, I'll see if Mrs Green is free. Will can also be used for emphasis, meaning 'insist on doing'. If you will stay out late, no wonder you are tired! (insist on staying). |
| 9. If and adjectives | In expressions such as if it is necessary/possible it is possible to omit the verb be. | If interested, apply within. If necessary, take a taxi. |
| 10. Formally if | can mean although, usually as if + adjective. | The room was well-furnished, if a little badly decorated. |
