1) if clauses

8/7/2019 1) if clauses

1/18

CONDITIONALSConditionals have two parts;the if-clause and the main

clause

If t rains,I shall stay home tonight.

f clause main clause

Either the main clause or the if-clause can come first.

When the if-clause precedes the main clause,we seperate

the two clauses with a comma.

You will wake the baby up if you keep speaking in thisway.If you keep speaking in this way,you will wake the babyup.


2/18

Conditionals are usually introduced by if.Other

expressions with a similar meaning are;unless, providing/provided (that), as long as, in case,on condition (that), but for + noun, otherwise, or (else),what if, supposing (that), even if, only if, assuming (that),in the event (that).

You can camp hereprovidedyou leave no mess here.Unlessyou start at once you will be too late.You are welcome to stay with usas long asyou share therent.

Some cyclists carry repair outfitsin casethey have apuncture.I will give you the day offon condition thatyou work onSaturday morning.We must be back before midnight;otherwisewell be

locked out.


3/18

She ran;otherwise, she would have missed her schoolbus.

We have to be in timeor (else)we wont get a good seat.

That was very clever,butwhat ifyou had slipped?

What ifI came tomorrow instead of this afternoon?Supposingyou fell in love with your boss,what would you do?

You must leave the hoteleven ifyou arent ready.

Even ifI become a millionaire,I shall always be loyal to my

wife.

Only ifit snows tomorrow will we cancel the picnic.


4/18

TYPE 1 ( PROBABLE)Real Present

(True or likely to happen in the present or future)

The meaning is present or future,but the verb in the

if-clause is in a present ,not a future tense.

Note that present cont. and present perfect are alsopossible in the if-clause.

If I have money next year,I will go to Egypt to see thePyramids.If the fog gets thicker, the plane may be diverted.If your documents are in order, you can leave at once.You must eat less if you are planning to lose some weight.Oil floats if you pour it on water.


5/18

If there is a shortage of any product, prices of that

product go up.

If you are looking for Peter, you will find him upstairs.

Ill ask the waiter the bill if you have finished dinner.If he has written the letter, I will post it.

If you have got any exams tomorrow,why arent you

studying?

Give my love to Jane if you see her.


6/18

TYPE 2 ( IMPROBABLE)

Unreal present

(Untrue in the present;used to give advice)

After if ,were is used instead of was for all

persons in type 2 in formal English.

If I were you I would plant some trees round myhouse. (but I am not you)

If she lived near her office shed be in time for work.(but she doesnt)

Id lend it to you if I had a map.(I havent a map; the meaning is present)


7/18

There is no difference in time between the first and

second types of the conditional sentences.Type 2, like

type 1, refers to the present or future,and the past tense

in the if-clause indicates unreality or improbability.

If you asked me nicely, I might take you out to lunch.

If he had a permit,he could get a job.

You might succeed if you tried again.


8/18

NOT

E thatcouldandmightcan replace would inconditional structures.

Peter is on holiday;he is touring Italy.If I were onholiday I might be touring Italy too.

if + past continuousis possible.

( we are travelling by air and) I hate flying.If we weretravelling by boat, I d feel much happier.


9/18

TYPE 3Unreal Past

(Imaginary situation contrary to facts in the past; used to express regrets)

If you had worked harder last year, youd have

probably passed your exam

If I had known that you were coming I would have metyou at the airport.(but I didnt know ,so I didnt come.)

He would have been stopped at the frontier if he hadtried to leave the country.(but he didnt try.)


10/18

NOTE thatcouldandmightmay be used instead of

would.

If we had found him earlier we could have saved his life.

(ability).

If we had found him earlier we might have saved his life.

(possibility)

If my parents hadnt been poor I could have gone to

university.If the illness had been diagnosed a day earlier, it might

have made all the difference.


11/18

We can usethe past perfect continuousin the if-

clause.

I was wearing a seat belt when the accident happened.IfI hadnt been wearing one,I would have been seriously

injured.


12/18

MIXED CONDITIONALS

A combination of types 2 and 3 is possible.

The plane I intended to catch crashed and everone was

killed.If I had caught the plane,I would be dead now.( type 3 + type 2)

If I had studied really hard at school I would be sitting ina comfortable office now;I wouldnt be sweeping the

streets.( type 3 + type 2)


13/18

If I were you, I would have told him the truth inIf I were you, I would have told him the truth inthe first place.the first place.

If he were a brilliant student,he wouldnt have failedIf he were a brilliant student,he wouldnt have failed

the test last term.the test last term.

If Jim were generous enough,he could have lent meIf Jim were generous enough,he could have lent me

some money when I asked him yesterdaysome money when I asked him yesterday..


14/18

Wish / If onlyWish / If only

AA.. I wish (if only) + Past tenseI wish (if only) + Past tenseUse: wish/regret about a present situation we want toUse: wish/regret about a present situation we want to

be different.be different.// wish wewish wewerewere in Paris now.in Paris now. (It's a pity we aren't.)(It's a pity we aren't.)

BB.. I wish (if only) + could + bare infinitiveI wish (if only) + could + bare infinitiveUse: wish/regret in the present concerning lack ofUse: wish/regret in the present concerning lack ofabilityability

// wish Iwish Icouldcould swimswim. (but I can't). (but I can't)

CC.. I wish (if only) + Past PerfectI wish (if only) + Past PerfectUse: regret that something happened or didn't happenUse: regret that something happened or didn't happen

in the pastin the past// wish youwish youhad toldhad told me earlierme earlier.. (but you didn't)(but you didn't)


15/18

I wish (iI wish (iff only) + subject + would + bare infonly) + subject + would + bare inf

Use:Use: wish for a future change unlikely to happen or wish towish for a future change unlikely to happen or wish to

express dissatisfaction; polite request implying dissatisfactionexpress dissatisfaction; polite request implying dissatisfaction

or lack of hopeor lack of hope

a.a. ""wish"wish" andand "would""would" should have a different subject.should have a different subject.We never say: I wish I would, He wishes he would ..etc.We never say: I wish I would, He wishes he would ..etc.

b.b. wish + inanimate subject + wouldwish + inanimate subject + would is used to expressis used to expressthe speaker's lack of hope or disappointmentthe speaker's lack of hope or disappointment


16/18

I wish he would stop smoking.

(ButI don't think he will - wish for a future changeunlikely to happen.)

I wish students would pay more attention,(dissatisfaction)

I wish the wind would stop blowing.(ButI'm afraid it won't stop blowing - wish implyingdisappointment)

I wish you would be more careful.(Please, be more careful - request implying lack of hope)


17/18

Omission of IFOmission of IFShould youhaveanydifficultyin getting spare partsringShouldyouhaveanydifficultyin getting sparepartsring

thisnumber.thisnumber.(ifyoushouldhaveanydifficultyin ........... )(ifyoushouldhaveanydifficultyin ........... )

Shouldthese biscuitsarriveinadamagedconditionpleaseShouldthese biscuitsarriveinadamagedconditionpleaseinformthefactory.informthefactory.

(ifthe biscuitsshouldarriveinadamaged ........... )(ifthe biscuitsshouldarriveinadamaged ........... )

Were Iinyourshoes, I wouldtreatherlikealady.Were Iinyourshoes, I wouldtreatherlikealady.

(if I wereinyourshoes, ............... )(if I wereinyourshoes, ............... )

Wereshemydaughter,Icouldsuggestseveralsteps.Wereshemydaughter,Icouldsuggestseveralsteps.

(Ifshe weremydaughter, ............(Ifshe weremydaughter, ............

HadIrealized whatyouintended,I wouldhavetriedtoHadIrealized whatyouintended,I wouldhavetriedtochangeyourmind.changeyourmind.

(ifIhadrealized whatyouintended, .............. )(ifIhadrealized whatyouintended, .............. )


18/18

butforbutfor ifitwerentfor .... (noun)ifithadntbeenfor ...... (noun)

IfitwerentforIfitwerentfor his wifesmoneyhe wouldnever beadirector.his wifesmoneyhe wouldnever beadirector.

IfitwerentforIfitwerentfor thechildren, we wouldnthaveanything tothechildren, we wouldnthaveanything totalkabout.talkabout.

IfithadntbeenforIfithadntbeenfor yourhelp,I wouldhave beenin greatyourhelp,I wouldhave beenin greattrouble.trouble.

Mycar brokedown.Mycar brokedown. Ifithadntbeenfor / ButforIfithadntbeenfor / Butfor that,wethat,wewouldhave beenintime.wouldhave beenintime.

1) if clauses

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