Grammar

Conditional sentence
Asst.Lect.Alaa Faris

Second stage .evening study

1.Conditional Sentence
Conditional sentences are sentences expressing factual
implications, or hypothetical situations and their consequences. They are
so called because the validity of the main clause of the sentence is
conditional on the existence of certain circumstances, which may be
expressed in a dependent clause or may be understood from the context .

Look to the example :

If it rains, the picnic will be cancelled.

A full conditional sentence (one which expresses the condition as well

as its consequences) therefore contains two clauses: the dependent clause
expressing the condition, called the protasis; and the main clause
expressing the consequence, called the apodosis

1.1 Types of Conditional sentences

Type 1: First Conditional

if + present tense + future tense

If we hurry, we'll catch the bus

IF-CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE
If+ Present simple will
If we hurry, we 'II catch the bus.
If we miss it , there 'II be another one.
If it doesn't rain, we 'II be having a picnic.
If I don't practise my golf, I won't get any better

The verb in the if-clause (e.g. hurry) is in the present simple, not the
future.

NOT If we'll hurry, we'll catch the bus.

But we can use will in the if-clause when we make a request.

If you'll just wait a moment, I'll find someone to help you. (- Please wait a
moment...)
We can use the present continuous (e.g. are doing) or the present perfect
(e.g. have done) in the if-clause.

If we're expecting visitors, the flat will need a good clean.

If you've finished with the computer, I'll put it away.

The main clause often has will. But we can use other modal verbs (e.g.
can).

If you haven't got a television, you can't watch it, can you?

If Henry jogs regularly, he might lose weight.

If Matthew is going to a job interview, he should wear a tie.

- The if-clause usually comes first, but it can come after the main
clause.

If I hear any news, I'll phone you./I'll phone you if I hear any news.

 More uses of type 1

 We can use type 1 conditionals in offers and suggestions.

If you need a ticket, I can get you one.

If you feel like seeing the sights, we can take a bus tour.

 We can also use them in warnings and threats.

If you go on like this, you'll make yourself ill.

If you don't apologize, I'll never speak to you again.

 We sometimes use the present simple in both clauses .

If you heat water, it boils.

If Daniel has any money, he spends it.

If you press this switch, the computer comes on.

This means that one thing always follows automatically from another.
Type 2: Second Conditional

If + past tense + would + 1st form of verb

If I ate cake, I'd get fat

IF-CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE

if Past simple would

/// ate cake, I 'd get fat.

If l had your figure, I 'd eat the whole lot.

If we didn't have a car, we 'd find it difficult to get about.

If Rachel got up earlier, she wouldn't always be late.

Note the past simple (e.g. ate). We do not use would in the if-clause.
NOT If I'd-ea^eake.

But we can use would in the if-clause when we make a request.

If you'd like to come this way, the doctor will see you now. (= Please
come this way ...)

As well as the past simple we can use the past continuous (e.g. was
doing) in the if-clause.

If Rachel was playing her stereo, it wouldn't be so quiet in here.

 In a type 2 if-clause we sometimes use were instead of was,

especially in the clause if I were you.

If Rachel were playing her stereo, it wouldn't be so quiet in here.

If I were you, I'd ask a lawyer for some advice.

 The main clause often has would. We can also use could or
might.

If we had a calculator, we could work this out a lot quicker.

If Rachel worked harder, she might do even better at her studies.

  The if-clause usually comes first, but it can come after the main
clause.

If I knew, I'd tell you. /I'd tell you if I knew.

 Type 1 and type 2

Compare these examples.

Type 1: If you have a lie-down, you'll feel better,

Type 2: If l had a million pounds, I'd probably buy a yacht.

The present tense (have) refers to a possible future action, something

which may or may not happen.

The past tense (had) refers to something unreal. If I had a million pounds
means that I haven't really got a million pounds, but I am imagining that I
have.

Compare these examples.

Type 1: If we take the car, we'll have to pay for parking.

Type 2: If we took the car, we'd have to pay for parking.

Here both sentences refer to a possible future action. But in the type 2
conditional, the action is less probable.

If we took the car may mean that we have decided not to take it.

We can use type 2 conditionals in offers and suggestions.

If you needed a ticket, I could get you one.

If you felt like seeing the sights, we could take a bus tour.

Type 2 is less direct than type 1 The speaker is less sure that you want to
see the sights.
Type 3: Third Conditional

if + had + would have + 3rd form of verb

If we had gone earlier, we would have had better weather

IF-CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE

if Past perfect would have

If we 'd gone earlier, we 'd have had better weather.

If Matthew had phoned her, Emma wouldn't have been so annoyed.

If you hadn't made that mistake, you 'd have passed your test.

If David had been more careful, he wouldn't have fallen.

Note the verb in the past perfect (e.g. had been). We do not use would in
the if-clause.

NOT If David would have been more careful, he would have-fallen.

The main clause often has would have. We can also use could have or
might have.

If I'd had my mobile yesterday, I could have contacted you.

We just caught the train. If we'd stopped to buy a paper, we might have
missed it.

The short form 'd can be either had or would.

If you'd rung me, I'd have come to see you. (= If you had rung me, I
would have come to see you.)

 The use of type 3

We use type 3 conditionals to talk about things in the past happening
differently from the way they really happened. This sometimes means
criticizing people or pointing out their mistakes.

If you'd been a bit more careful, you wouldn't have cut yourself.
If Matthew had set his alarm clock, he wouldn't have overslept.

We can also use this structure to express regret about the past.

If I hadn't fallen ill and missed the interview, I might have got the job.

 Type 2 and type 3

Compare these examples.

Type 2: If you planned things properly, you wouldn't get into a mess.
(You don't plan.)

Type 3: If you had planned things properly, you wouldn't have got into a
mess. (You didn't plan.)

We can mix types 2 and 3.

If you had planned things at the start, we wouldn't be in this mess now.

If you hadn't left all these dirty dishes, the place would look a bit tidier.

If Matthew was more sensible, he would have worn a suit to the

interview.

If I didn't have all this work to do, I would have gone out for the day.
1.2 Omitting the word( if), replacing( if )by other words
a. omitting the word (if)

It is also possible to express the conditional without using the word if by

simply reversing the order of the subject and the verb in the subordinate
clause and omitting if. This gives the conditional sentence a more formal
tone and as a result tends to be used more often in writing.

Conditional using if: If I had won the lottery, I would have gone to
Paris.
Inverted conditional: Had I won the lottery, I would have gone to Paris.

When using the conditional with the verbs “be”, “have”, and “should”,
the word “if may be omitted.

Example:
If Mary had known that she would get into trouble, she would have
spoken to Prof. Donahue.

With a sentence as the one above, here are the steps to follow:
1. The word “if” is deleted.
2. The subject, Mary, is placed between had and known.

Had Mary known that she would get into trouble, she would have
spoken to Prof. Donahue.

b. replacing( if) by other words

We use the present simple for the future after linking words such as if,
when, unless and in case

You'll be tired tomorrow if you stay up late.

Tell me when the water boils.

I won't do anything unless you agree.

Write the name down in case you forget it

 a. If or when?

If you hear any news, can you ring me immediately? (You might hear
some news.)

When you hear some news, can you ring me immediately? (You will hear
some news.)

I'll probably go for a walk later on if it stays fine. (It might stay fine.)

We use if for something that we think might happen.

We use if (not when) for something impossible or imaginary.

- If I were you, I'd refuse.

- I'll make myself an omelette when I get home tonight. (I will get
home tonight.)

We use when for something that we know will happen.

We can use either if or when in contexts where they mean 'every time'.

If you run, you use up energy.

When you run, you use up energy.

b. If and unless

If... not means the same as unless.

- / can't see if I don't wear glasses.

- I can't see unless I wear glasses.
- If you can't pay your bills, you'll have to leave.
- Unless you can pay your bills, you'll have to leave

- I wouldn't say that if I didn't believe it.

- I wouldn't say that unless I believed it.

c. In case
We use in case to talk about doing something to avoid a possible
problem later on.
Look at these examples.

Take a sandwich with you in case you get hungry.

I'd better reserve a seat today in case the train is full tomorrow.
Laura took two photos in case one of them didn't come out.

Compare if and in case.

I'll bring in the washing if it rains. I'll bring in the washing in case it rains

(= I'll bring it in at the time it starts raining.) (=I'll bring it in now because it might
rain later.)