Conditionals
Links.
Apart from if, the following links can be used to introduce conditional clauses:
Unless
In case
as / as long as
Suppose/Supposing (that)
Providing/Provided (that)
On condition (that)
Even if
What if
Otherwise
Or else
But for + ing/noun
Punctuation.
When the if clause comes first in the sentence, it is followed by a comma. When the
main clause comes first, no comma is used.
Omission of IF.
Should.
Using should + infinitive (without to) in the if clause makes the condition less likely:
If you should need any help, just let me know.
Should you need any help, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Were.
If I were you, I wouldn’t tell him.
Were I you, I wouldn’t tell him.
Had.
If I had known the truth, I would have called the police.
Had I known the truth, I would have called the police.
Zero Conditional.
We use the Zero Conditional to describe situations where one event always
results in the other:
If the weather is warm and rainy, mushrooms grow very quickly.
The pattern is:
If clause Main clause
Present Simple Present Simple
In these sentences if = when.
First Conditional.
We use the First Conditional to talk about possible future events which depend
on other future events:
If you read this report, you will understand our economic situation much
better.
They will sign the agreement unless their financial situation changes
dramatically.
The pattern is:
If clause Main clause
Present Simple Will/Going To or other modal verb + infinitive without to
We also use this Conditional to give advice or an order, and to make a
suggestion or a request:
If you want to make a good impression, remember to smile and make eye
contact.
The pattern is:
If clause Main clause
Present Simple Imperative
Second Conditional.
We use the Second Conditional to talk about impossible present situations or
imagined events in the future, which are impossible or unlikely:
If I went on 'Who wants to be a Millionaire?' I'd win a lot of money. (The event
is unlikely, and the sentence is about the future.)
If people had more common sense, there wouldn't be any wars in the world.
(The situation is impossible to fulfill. now, and the sentence refers to the
present.)
The pattern is:
If clause Main clause
If + past Would/could/might/should + infinitive without to
Third Conditional.
We use the Third Conditional to talk about unreal situations in the past, to
imagine things that did not happen:
If we'd been driving faster, we would've crashed on that slippery road. (We
weren't driving so fast and we didn't crash.)
The pattern is:
If clause Main clause
If + Past Perfect Would/could/might/should + perfect infinitive
Mixed Conditionals.
We use 'mixed conditionals' to talk about:
Imaginary past situations that could have led to consequences in the present:
If I had more self-confidence, I would have applied for that job. (... but I wasn't
confident, so I haven't.)
If the rescue team hadn't found him, he would be dead. (... but they found him
so he's alive.)
The pattern is:
If clause Main clause
If + Past Perfect Would + infinitive
Unreal present situations, usually imaginary permanent states, which could
have had some consequences in the past:
If Anna was here, she would've known what to do. (... but Anna's not here, so
she can't help us.)
If she didn't love driving, she wouldn't have become a taxi driver. (She loves
driving, so she became a taxi driver.)
The pattern is:
If clause Main clause
If + Past Simple, Would + perfect infinitive
If they were working all day, they will be tired now
If she was sleeping all day, she will feel better now
The pattern is:
If clause Main clause
If + Past Simple Will/Going To or other modal verb + infinitive without to
If you leave now, you shouldn’t be late
The pattern is:
If clause Main clause
If + Present Simple Would/could/might/should + infinitive without to
