- CONDITIONALS
| TYPE | HYPOTHESIS | MAIN CLAUSE | USE |
| Zero | if + Present Simple | Present Simple | general truths |
| If water reaches 100 C, it boils. | |||
| 1st | if + Present Simple | Future Simple /modal imperative | sth likely to happen in the future |
| If I see Mary, I will tell her you came over.
If I see Mary, I may tell her you came over. If you see Mary, tell her I came over. |
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| 2nd | if + Past Simple | would / could / might + bare infinitive | unreal situation in the present |
| If I had money, I would buy a car.
If I were you, I would talk to her. (advice) |
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| 3rd | if + Past Perfect | would / could / might + have + past participle | unreal situation in the past |
| If I hadn’t driven so fast, I wouldn’t have crashed. | |||
- Instead of if we can use provided/providing (that), suppose/supposing (that), on condition that, in case (of)
- In the 2nd type we always use were and never was.
- if + negative form = unless + affirmative form
e.g. If you don’t study hard, you will not pass the test
Unless you study hard, you will not pass the test.
Mixed Conditionals
| HYPOTHESIS | MAIN CLAUSE |
| If + Past Simple (2nd Conditional) | would / could / might + have + past participle (3rd Conditional) |
| e.g. If I were rich, I would have bought that house last year. | |
| If + Past Perfect (3rd Conditional) | would / could / might + bare infinitive (2nd Conditional) |
| e.g. If I had studied harder, I would be a doctor now. | |
Emphatic Conditionals
1st: If you should see him, tell him to call me.
Should you see him, tell him to call me.
2nd: Were I you, I would call the police.
But for you (If it weren’t for you), I wouldn’t know what to do.
3rd: Had I studied , I would have passed the test.
But for Jim (If it hadn’t been for Jim), we would have crashed.
- If you will come this way please, I’ll show you to your room. (polite / formal request)
- If you would like to wait here, I’ll call the manager. (more formal)
- If he were to offer you the job, would you accept it?