Conditional sentences

Conditional sentences and wishesC1

1st conditionalTo talk about possible present or future situations and their result.Structure:[CLAUSE 1]+[CLAUSE 2]If / unless + Any present tense+Any future tensemodalimperative moodIf we pass the exam, our parents will let us go on vacation.I will have finished my work tomorrow, unless my children take up all my time.NOTICE that unless (if + not) adds a negative meaning, so the verb used in the same clause is in the affirmative form.

2nd conditionalTo talk about hypothetical or improbable situations in the present or future.Structure:

If I were/was braver, I could watch more terror films.He might try to learn physics if only he werent so bad at maths.

The Big Bang Theory and the second conditional

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3rd conditionalTo talk about a hypothetical situation in the past.Structure:

They could have stayed together, if they had been sincere to each other.If I had been saving money, now I wouldnt have borrowed it from my parents.

Conditionals with inversionTo make the second and third conditionals more formal, we can use inversion putting the auxiliaries were and had at the beginning of the sentence.

If you were to join the committee, wed be very pleased.Were you to join the committee, we would be very pleased.

Note that the clause making the inversion is the if-clause, and if disappears to make room for the auxiliary.

Conditionals with inversionLets look at another example, this time with the third conditional.

If you had arrived on time, you would have understood the lecture.Had you arrived on time, you would have understood the lecture.

Once more, the clause making the inversion is the if-clause, and if disappears to make room for the auxiliary.

Mixed conditionals3 & 2The most common combination is when we have a type 3 conditional in the if-clause (if + past perfect) followed by a type 2 conditional (would + infinitive) in the main clause.With this combination we are contrasting an imagined or real event in the past with the present result of that:If he'd taken the medication as prescribed, he wouldn't still be lying sick in bed.If she'd taken reasonable precautions, she wouldn't be pregnant now.If he hadn't run after the car thief and suffered a heart attack, he'd probably be alive today.

When we talk aboutmixed conditionals, we are referring to conditional sentences that combine two different types of conditional patterns.

Mixed conditionals: 2 & 3 The other possibility is when we have a type 2 conditional in the if-clause (if + past simple) followed by a type 3 conditional (would've + past participle) in the main clause.With this combination, we are describing ongoing circumstances in relation to a previous past event. Consider these examples:If you weren't such a poor dancer, you would've got a job in the chorus line in that musical.If you weren't so blind to his faults, you would've realised that he was out to swindle you.

Replacing ifUnlessEven ifAs/So long asSupposingWhether orProvidingProvided thatWhoever; wherever; wheneverNo matter who / when / whereThere are different options to if that can be used in its place. Try some of these.

Rewrite the sentences with mistakes so they are correct.Suppose you would win the lottery, what would you do?

Rewrite the sentences with mistakes so they are correct.Suppose you would win the lottery, what would you do?Suppose you won the lottery, what would you do?

Rewrite the sentences with mistakes so they are correct.Ive bought some food in case Marianne and John came round for dinner.

Rewrite the sentences with mistakes so they are correct.Ive bought some food in case Marianne and John came round for dinner.Ive bought some food in case Marianne and John came round for dinner.

Rewrite the sentences with mistakes so they are correct.If I had known you were coming to London, I would pick you up at the airport.

Rewrite the sentences with mistakes so they are correct.If I had known you were coming to London, I would pick you up at the airport.If I had known you were coming to London, I would picked you up at the airport.

Rewrite the sentences with mistakes so they are correct.If I told you I love you, what would you have said?

Rewrite the sentences with mistakes so they are correct.If I told you I love you, what would you have said?If I told you I love you, what would you say?

Rewrite the sentences with mistakes so they are correct.Unless Brian will instruct us otherwise, we will close the shop at 7.

Rewrite the sentences with mistakes so they are correct.Unless Brian will instruct us otherwise, we will close the shop at 7.Unless Brian instructs us otherwise, we will close the shop at 7.

Rewrite the sentences with mistakes so they are correct.Should he have rung, tell him Ill meet him in the library.

Rewrite the sentences with mistakes so they are correct.Should he have rung, tell him Ill meet him in the library.Should he ring, tell him Ill meet him in the library.

Rewrite the sentences with mistakes so they are correct.Had I known youd been shopping, I would not go myself.

Rewrite the sentences with mistakes so they are correct.Had I known youd been shopping, I would not go myself.Had I known youd been shopping, I wouldnt have gone myself.

Rewrite the following using mixed conditionals like in the example.Example:

I dont have secretary, so I did all the typing myself.If I had a secretary, I wouldnt have done all the typing myself.

Rewrite the following using mixed conditionals like in the example.He didnt follow my advice; thats why the work isnt finished yet.

Rewrite the following using mixed conditionals like in the example.He didnt follow my advice; thats why the work isnt finished yet.If hed followed my advice, the work would have been finished by now.

Rewrite the following using mixed conditionals like in the example.He cant have been arguing with his boss all morning; he looks far too relaxed!

Rewrite the following using mixed conditionals like in the example.He cant have been arguing with his boss all morning; he looks far too relaxed!If hed been arguing with his boss, he wouldnt look so relaxed.

Rewrite the following using mixed conditionals like in the example.She doesnt have the money, otherwise she would have given me the loan.

Rewrite the following using mixed conditionals like in the example.She doesnt have the money, otherwise she would have given me the loan.If she had the money, she would have given me the loan.

Rewrite the following using mixed conditionals like in the example.I realise I wasnt very polite to the boss, but Im planning to leave this job anyway.If I wasnt planning to leave this job, I wouldnt have been rude to the boss.

WishesTo express a wish we can use wish and if only.If only has the same meaning as wish, only it is more emphatic/dramatic.With the subject pronoun I both forms were / was can be used in the if-clause.

Wishing different present situationsTo say that we would like something to be different about a present situation, we use the past simple or the past continuous.

I wish I was/were 10 years old (but Im not).If only I were travelling with you and not alone! It would be much more fun.

Wishing different past situationsTo express regret about something which happened or didnt happen in the past, we use the past perfect.

I wish I had saved more money during my twenties (but I didnt).If only I hadnt been so harsh to her! We could still be friends. (but I was)

Wishing for changeTo express:a polite imperative,and a desire for a situation or persons behaviour to changewe use the structure subject + would + bare infinitive.

I wish you would stop spreading rumours.If only it would be sunny on my birthday, we could go swimming!

Human, if only you would feed me, I could go and take a nap.

Write a wish for each of the following sentences, like in the exampleYou want to buy a new car, but you havent got any money.I wish I had enough money (to buy a new car).

Write a wish for each of the following sentences, like in the exampleYou didnt follow your friends sensible advice.I wish Id followed my friends advice.

Write a wish for each of the following sentences, like in the exampleYou lost your lecture notes.I wish I hadnt lost my lecture notes.

Write a wish for each of the following sentences, like in the exampleYou want to ask a friend to help you, but hes out of the country.I wish my friend wasnt out of the country.

Well done!