7

GRAMMAR

Conditionals
Basic usage
• What is always true; present + present
I f I work late, I get tired.
Ifth e water is boiling/has boiled, it means th efo o d is nearly ready.

• What was always true: past + past

We went hom e early i fit wasfoggy.
I f it was snowing, we stayed at home.

• Real situations: present + futurę

Here we think that the outcome is really possible.
Ifyou keep driving like that, you’re going to have an accident.
Ify o u see Mark, tell him FU ring him tomorrow.

• Hypothetical situations: past + would

These are unreal or imaginary situations.
I f I knew the answer, I’d tell you.
I f l was having a party, I wouldnH invite Marcia.
The verb be usually takes the form were for all persons in these sentences, though was
is used in everyday speech. Note that in the first person it is possible to use should
instead of would.
I f I left home, I think I should be lonely.

• Hypothetical past situations: past perfect + would have

These refer to past events.
I f I had known you were coming, I would have met you at the station.

• With modals
Possible situations in the present
Ify o u get wet, you should change your clothes immediately.
Ify o u come early, we can discuss the problem together.
Hypothetical situations
I f l had the money, I could help you.
Hypothetical past situations
Ify o u h ad n t rem inded me, I might have forgotten.

Variations
• Ifon ly
This adds emphasis to hypothetical situations. With past events it adds a sense of
regret. The second part of the sentence is often left out.
I f only I h ad enough time!
Ifonly I hadn’t drunk too much, this wouldnt have happened!
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 GRAMMAR 7 CONDITIONALS

• Unless and other alternatives to if

Unless means only i f not.
r il go ah ead and get the tickets unless you cali me this afternoon.
(This means: If you cali me this afternoon, I wont get the tickets.)
If one situation depends on another, z/can be replaced by as/so long as, provided or
only if. See Grammar 11 for only if.
r il do what you say provided the police are not informed.
Even z/describes how something will happen whatever the condition.
Even i f it rains, we U still go fo r a pienie.

• Past events with results in the present: past perfect + would

I f Jim hadn’t missed the piane, he would be here by now.

• Should
After if, this makes the possibility of an event seem unlikely.
Ify o u should see Ann, could you ask ker to cali me?
(This implies that I do not expect you to see Ann.)

• Were to
This also makes an event seem more hypothetical.
I f I were to ask you to marry me, what would you say?

• H appen to
This emphasizes chance possibilities. It is often used with should.
Ify o u happen to see Helen, could you ask her to cali me?
Ify o u should happen to be passing, drop in fo r a cup oftea.

• I f it were n o tfo r /If it h a d ń t b ee n fo r

This describes how one event depends on another.
I f it weren’tfo r Jim, this company would be in a mess.
I f it hadn’t beenfor their goalkeeper, United would have lost.

• Will and would: politeness and emphasis

These can be used as polite forms.
Ify o u will/would wait here, HI see ifM rs Green isfree.
Will can also be used for emphasis, meaning ‘insist on doing’.
Ify o u will stay out late, no wonder you are tired! (insist on staying out)

Other ways of making a conditional sentence

• Supposing, otherwise
Supposing or suppose can replace if, mainly in everyday speech.
Supposing you won the lottery, what would you do?
Otherwise means ‘or if not’. It can go at the beginning or end of the sentence.
Ify o u hadn tgiven us directions, we wouldnt havefou n d the house.
Thanks fo r y o u r directions to the house. We w ouldnt havefou n d it otherwise.

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 ADVANCED LANGUAGE PRACTICE

• But fo r
This can replace ifn ot. It is used in formal language, and must be followed by a noun
form.
Ify ou h ad n t helped us, we would have heen in trouble.
But fo r your help, we would have heen in trouble.

• Ifso, ifn o t
These can refer to a sentence in a previous sentence.
There is apossibility that Jack will be late. Ifs o , I will take his place.

• Colloquial omission of i f
An imperative can be used instead of an z/clause in everyday speech.
Sit down, and FU m ake us a cup oftea . (Ifyou sit down ...)

• ^ an d adjectives
In expressions such as ifit is necessary/possible, it is possible to omit the verb be.
I f interested, apply within.
Ifnecessary, take a taxi.

• Formally z/can mean although’, usually as if+ adjective.

The room was well-furnished, if a little badly decorated.

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 GRAMMAR 7 CONDITIONALS

1 Com plete each sentence with a suitable form of the verb in brackets.
1 Now were lost! Ifyou (write dow n)................................................................Marys
directions, this (not/happen)..................................................................
2 Why don t we emigrate? If we (live)................................................................ in
Australia, at least the weather (b e )............................................................better!
3 Tm afraid that Smith is a hardened criminal. If we (not/punish)..................................
.............................him this time, he (only/commit)..............................................................
more crimes.
4 Thanks to Dr Jones, Tm still ahve! If it (not/be)................................................................
for her, I (b e )................................................................ dead for certain.
5 I’m sorry I cant lend you any money. You know that if I
(have)................................................................ it, I (lend )......................................................
it to you.
6 Don t be afraid. If you (tou ch)................................................................the dog, it
(not/bite)..................................................................
7 In those days, if you (have)................................................................ a job, you
(b e )................................................................ lucky.
8 Its always the same! If I (decide)................................................................ to leave the
office early, my boss (cali)................................................................ me after lVe left!
9 What a terrible thing to happen! Just think, if we (not/miss)........................................
...................... the piane, we (k ill)................................................................. in the crash.
10 Did you enjoy your meal? If you (finish).............................................................eating, I
(elear away)................................................................ the plates.

2 Correct any verb forms which are im possible or inappropriate.

1 If you haven’t received a letter yet, you havent got the job.
2 If it isn t for David, we are missing the bus..................
3 If ifs raining, we go to the pub on the corner instead..................
4 If you didn t lend us the money, we would have gone to the bank..................
5 If you should happen to change your mind, drop me a line..................
6 If it wasn t for the rain, we would have been home by now .................
7 If you will drive so fast, no wonder the police keep stopping you..................
8 If I knew you were coming, I would have met you at the airport..................
9 But for you helped us, we would have taken much longer..................
10 If Jack joins the team, I’m leaving..................

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ADVANCED LANGUAGE PRACTICE

3 Read each sentence and decide which ending (A, B or C) best fits each space.
1 If you’d told me you were coming A I can get some food in.
B I’d have found us something to eat.
C I made a lovely dish.
2 Ifyoure too ill to come A ril come over and see you.
B I wouldnt have done all this for you.
C I asked someone else.
3 Iffd knownyou werent coming A I wouldnt be very upset.
B I would like to know why.
C I wouldn t have gone to so much
trouble.
4 If youre not coming A perhaps you’d have the courtesy to
tell me.
B wed never have met.
C you’d be so lucky.
5 If only you’d come A ril be the happiest girl alive.
B I’d have had a lovely time.
C I would look forward to it.
6 If you do decide to come A the partys always a success.
B I wont be coming either.
C let me know.

7 If you really don t want to come A ril understand.

B I cant be sure.
C tell me tomorrow.

4 Com plete each sentence with a phrase containing a suitable form of the verb in
brackets.
1 If I were (say)...... ........................ loved you, what would you do?
2 If it (rain )...............................I would have gone out for a walk.
3 If only youd told me it was a surprise party I (say)............................... anything to
Uncle Dave!
4 Thanks for your help with the garden; I (d o )...............................it without you.
5 If only Mick had come to the disco, then we (have)...............................a great time!
6 (pay)...............................the phone bill today, the phone will be cut off
7 If I (h ad )...............................your tools, I wouldn t have been able to fix the car.
8 Those wires look a bit dangerous; (touch)...............................if I were you.
9 If (b e )...............................the goalkeeper s heroics, we would have lost the match.

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 GRAMMAR 7 CONDITIONALS

5 Rewrite each sentence three tim es so that it contains the word in CAPITALS.
1 We won t go away if the weather is bad.
...........w&'ii£io,fi UNLESS
ONLY
STAY
2 If you hurry up, you wont be late.
DON’T
OR
WANT
3 If they offered you the job, would you accept?
WERE TO
SHOULD
HAPPENED
4 Without your help, I would have given up years ago.
HADN’T BEEN
BUT
HADN’T HELPED
5 r\l lend you the money on condition tKat you pay it back
next week.
PROYIDED
LONG
ONLY

6 Com plete the text by writing one word in each space.

Mr Jeffries, I have decided against a prison sentence in your case. You may walk free from this court

on (1) .......that you report to Chesham police station every Friday for the next six

months. Should you fail to ( 2 ) .................................so, you will be given one warning; and if you persist

( 3 ) .................................failing to meet this obligation, you will return to this court for a harsher

sentence, ( 4 ) .................................you can present good reason why you were unable to report to the

station, you will ( 5 ) .................................yourself in severe trouble. If you are ( 6 ) ..................................

to attend because of illness, please note that a medical certificate must be produced, signed by your

doctor, proving your State of health, You should realize that ( 7 ) .................................for your previous

good conduct, I would ( 8 ) .................................had no hesitation in imposing a prison sentence. And I

shall not forget that if your friend had ( 9 ) .................................intervened in the fight, you might

( 1 0 ) .................................seriously injured the defendant.

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ADVANCED LANGUAGE PRACTICE

7 Com plete the second sentence so that it has a sim ilar m eaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given.
1 I didnt have the money so I didnt buy a new suit.
would
If j ......................................................................................................... a new suit.
2 If you are in London by any chance, come and see me.
happen
If y o u ........................................................................................ .. come and see me.
3 If you insist on doing everything yourself, of course you’ll feel tired!
will
If y o u ......................................................................... .. of course you’11 feel tired!
4 Please take a seat, and Tli inquire for you.
will
If y o u .................................................................................... .. ril inąuire for you.
5 If you do the shopping, FU cook lunch,
and
Y ou................................................................................................. ril cook lunch.
6 If Pauline hadnt been interested, the project would have been abandoned.
interest
B u t...........................................................the project would have been abandoned.
7 The fire was brought under control thanks to the night-watchman.
for
If it hadn t ...............................................................................got out of control.
8 Dick is in prison because a detective recognized him.
if
Dick wouldn t ..............................................................................recognized him.
9 I am not tali enough to reach the shelf.
taller
If I .................................................................................................. reach the shelf.
10 But for Helen acting so wonderfully, the play would be a flop.
wonderful
If i t ................................................................................the play would be a flop.
11 It won t make any difference if City score first; United will still win.
even
United............................................................................................City score first.
12 Getting up early makes me feel hungry.
get
I f ........................................................................................ makes me feel hungry.

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 GRAM MAR 7 C O N D IT IO N A LS

8 Complete each sentence using the cues in brackets.

1 That was a lucky escape! If I (fali).... , IH have broken my leg.
2 If you (finish/with my p e n )................................. Td like it back please.
3 Unless Pete (try/harder)..............................., he won t win the competition.
4 If you took more time over your work, you (not m ake)...............................so many
mistakes.
5 But for Sally s bravery, Jim (drown).................................
6 If youd told me you were coming, I (buy)............................... more food.
7 If (it/not b e ) ............................... for Mary, the deal wouldrft have gone through.
8 If (I/be)...............................late, you’d better start without me.
9 If Ann had known Tom wasn t coming, she (not/go)...............................to so much
trouble.
10 (finish/the painting)...............................by Friday, and we 11 pay you extra.

9 Complete the text by writing one word in each space.

Dear Sir or Madam,

We would like to remind you that your account is two months overdue. We are
prepared to allow you another ten days to settle your account. However, (1 )....
you fali to pay your outstanding bills within ten days, you leave us with no alternative
but to take legał action. That is, ( 2 ) ................we receive fuli payment by 20th March,
we will refer this matter to our legał department. If ( 3 ) ................, we are prepared to
make a claim in the Smali Claims court for the money owed plus interest.
( 4 ) ................you be experiencing financial difficulties, please contact our Finance
Department. ( 5 ) ................that you settle your account within the specified time
period, we will (6 )................happy to continue to do business with you. However, we
( 7 ) ................, if necessary, take the regrettable step of closing your account.
We are sorry that this situation has arisen, but if you had paid your bills over the last
two months, we (8 )................not be in this position now. On the other hand, you
( 9 ) ................have settled your account in the last two days. If (1 0 )................. , please
accept our apologies for this letter.
Yours faithfully
3r\an Bcc\ee
Customer Services
Wood View Office Supplies

SEE ALSO
Grammar 8: Unreal time
Consolidation 2: Units 5-8
Grammar 11: lnversion

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