The sentence
The sentence The sentence
Conditional sentences A. Type 1 conditionals Type 1 conditionals, basic uses: ‘If the weather clears, we’ll go for a walk’ 1. We can use all present tenses after if, not just the simple present, for examples: If she finishes work early, she will go home. (if + simple present + will) If she has finished work by 4 o’clock, she will go home. (if + present perfect + will) 2. We can use all future tenses in the main clauses, not just the will-future: If he doesn’t hurry, the plane will have left by the time he gets to the airport. 3. We use Type 1 conditionals to describe what will or won’t (probably) happen: If the weather clears, we’ll go for a walk. (Not *If the weather will clear*) ‘If’ + present + modal: ‘If it’s fine tomorrow, we may go for a swim’ When we use will in the main clause, we are expressing certainly or near-certainly: If the weather clears, we’ll go for a walk. (certain, or nearly certain) If we do not feel ‘certain’ enough to use will, we can use another nodal to say what is possible, necessary or desirable, for example: If it’s fine tomorrow, we may go for a swim. (it’s possible) If it’s fine tomorrow, we must go for a swim. (it’s necessary or desirable to do this) ‘If + should’ instead of ‘if + present’ If + should, instead of if + present, makers the condition more doubtful or very polite: If I should see him, I’ll ask him to ring you. (= If I see him, I’ll ask him to ring you.) Imperative + ‘and/or’ + clause: ‘Fail to pay and …’ We can use the imperative in place of an if-clause to comment, threaten, request, etc. 1. We follow the im0perative with and in place of an if-clause in the affirmative: If you fail to pay, they’ll cut off the electricity. → Fail to pay and they’ll cut off the electricity. 2. We follow the imperative with or in place of an if-clause in the negative: If you don’t stop borrowing money, you’ll be in trouble. → Stop borrowing money, or you’ll be in trouble. 90
B. Type 2 conditionals Type 2 conditionals, basic uses: ‘If you went by train, you would …’ We form Type 2 conditionals with if + past (or if + could) + would. 1. We form use Type 2 conditionals in place of Type 1 to describe something that is reasonably possible. The past tense form does not refer to past time: If you go by train, you will (you’ll) get there earlier. (Type 1: reasonably possible) If you went by train, you would (you’d) get there earlier. (Type 2, ‘more tentative’) 2. We often use Type 2 conditionals to describe what is totally impossible: If you had longer legs, you would be able to run faster. (Not *If you would have*) If you could run fast, you’d be an Olympic champion. ‘If + were/was’ + ‘would’: ‘If I were you, I would …’ 1. We can use were in place of was after if in all persons: ‘the subjunctive’. Were is formal. We also prefer were when expressing doubt or imagining something: If I was better qualified, I’d apply for the job. (If I was: less formal) If I were better qualified, I’d apply for the job. (If I were: more formal) How would she be managing, if she were running a large company? (progressive forms) If I were the Queen of Sheba, you would be King Solomon. (were is preferable here) 2. We use If I were you and If I were in your position to give advice. (Not *If I was*) We use also refer to somebody else: If I were in Jane’s position, I’d look for a new job. ‘If’ + past + modal: ‘If he knew the facts, he might …’ When we use would in the main clause, we are expressing as much certainly as possible: If he knew the facts, he would tell us what to do. (certain or nearly certain) If we don’t feel ‘certain’ enough to use would, we can use another modal to say what would be possible or necessary, for example: If he knew the facts, he might tell us wha t to do. (it’s possible) If he knew the facts, he should tell us what to do. (it’s necessary) C. Type 3 conditionals Type 3 conditionals, basic uses: ‘If you had gone by train, …’ We form Type 3 conditionals with if + past perfect (or if + could have) + would have. We often use Type 3 conditionals to express regret, etc. about things that can now never happen. We can use simple or progressive forms of the past perfect in the if-clause: If I’d (= I had) been taller, I’d (= I would) have joined the police force. If I had had any sense, I wouldn’t have bought a second-hand car. If we had gone by car. We would have saved time. If I had been trying harder, I would have succeeded. If I could have stopped, there wouldn’t have been an accident. 91
- Page 39 and 40: Adverbs A. Adverbs of manner Adverb
- Page 41 and 42: ‘During’, in’ and ‘for’ 1
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- Page 67 and 68: Compare: Have you/Do you have/Have
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B. Type 2 conditionals<br />
Type 2 conditionals, basic uses: ‘If you went by train, you would …’<br />
We form Type 2 conditionals with if + past (or if + could) + would.<br />
1. We form use Type 2 conditionals in place of Type 1 to describe something that is<br />
reasonably possible. <strong>The</strong> past tense form does not refer to past time:<br />
If you go by train, you will (you’ll) get there earlier. (Type 1: reasonably possible)<br />
If you went by train, you would (you’d) get there earlier. (Type 2, ‘more tentative’)<br />
2. We often use Type 2 conditionals to describe what is totally impossible:<br />
If you had longer legs, you would be able to run faster. (Not *If you would have*)<br />
If you could run fast, you’d be an Olympic champion.<br />
‘If + were/was’ + ‘would’: ‘If I were you, I would …’<br />
1. We can use were in place of was after if in all persons: ‘the subjunctive’.<br />
Were is formal. We also prefer were when expressing doubt or imagining something:<br />
If I was better qualified, I’d apply for the job. (If I was: less formal)<br />
If I were better qualified, I’d apply for the job. (If I were: more formal)<br />
How would she be managing, if she were running a large company? (progressive forms)<br />
If I were the Queen of Sheba, you would be King Solomon. (were is preferable here)<br />
2. We use If I were you and If I were in your position to give advice. (Not *If I was*)<br />
We use also refer to somebody else: If I were in Jane’s position, I’d look for a new job.<br />
‘If’ + past + modal: ‘If he knew the facts, he might …’<br />
When we use would in the main clause, we are expressing as much certainly as possible:<br />
If he knew the facts, he would tell us what to do. (certain or nearly certain)<br />
If we don’t feel ‘certain’ enough to use would, we can use another modal to say what would be<br />
possible or necessary, for example:<br />
If he knew the facts, he might tell us wha t to do. (it’s possible)<br />
If he knew the facts, he should tell us what to do. (it’s necessary)<br />
C. Type 3 conditionals<br />
Type 3 conditionals, basic uses: ‘If you had gone by train, …’<br />
We form Type 3 conditionals with if + past perfect (or if + could have) + would have.<br />
We often use Type 3 conditionals to express regret, etc. about things that can now never<br />
happen. We can use simple or progressive forms of the past perfect in the if-clause:<br />
If I’d (= I had) been taller, I’d (= I would) have joined the police force.<br />
If I had had any sense, I wouldn’t have bought a second-hand car.<br />
If we had gone by car. We would have saved time.<br />
If I had been trying harder, I would have succeeded.<br />
If I could have stopped, there wouldn’t have been an accident.<br />
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