CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

Types of conditional sentences

Conditional sentences are usually divided into three basic types referred to as Type 1, Type 2
and Type 3. Each has its own variations, but the elements are as follows:

type 1: What will you do if you lose your job?

Asking/talking about something that is quite possible:
'if' + present + 'will'
If I lose my job, I will go abroad.

type 2: What would you do if you lost your job?

Asking/talking about imagined situations/consequences now:
'if' + past + 'would'
If I lost my job, I would go abroad.

type 3: What would you have done if you had lost your job?
Asking/talking about imagined situations/consequences then:
'if' + past perfect + 'would have'
If I had lost my job, I would have gone abroad.

The abbreviation 'll can be used instead of will in all persons, and shall can be used instead of
will after I and we.
The abbreviation 'd can be used instead of would in all persons, and should can be used
instead of would after I and we.

The conditional can be expressed with other modal verbs, as well as with shall, will, should
and would:
We could have had a good time. (e.g. if we had had the money)

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Mixed tense sequences in conditional sentences

Sense and context permitting, any tense sequence is possible:

type 1 type 3
If I am as clever as you think, I should have been rich by now.
type 2 type 3
If you knew me better, you wouldn't have said that.
type 3 type 2
If I had had your advantages, I'd be better off now.
type 2 type 1
If he missed the bus, he won't be here on time.

***Type 1 conditionals

Basic form of Type 1 conditionals

'if' clause + main clause:

present tenses + 'shall/will' future condition to be satisfied + likely outcome
be:
If I am better tomorrow, I will get up.
have:
If I have a headache, I will take an aspirin.
simple present:
If she finishes early, she will go home.
present continuous:
If he is standing in the rain, he will catch cold.
present perfect:
If she has arrived at the station, she will be here soon.
present perfect continuous:

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If he has been travelling all night, he will need a rest.
can, must:
If I can afford it, I will buy it.

When we use Type 1 conditionals

We use Type 1 conditionals to describe what will or won't happen if we think a future event is
probable:
condition to be satisfied -> likely outcome
If the weather clears, we'll go for a walk.
If the weather doesn't clear, we won't go for a walk.

The condition to be satisfied is real: the weather may really clear up, and if it does, it will
have a real effect. That is why such statements are often called 'open' or 'real' conditionals.

Type 1, Variation 1: 'If' + present + modal

'if'-clause: present tenses + main clause: modal

condition to be satisfied + likely outcome

The following if-clauses:

If she finishes early
If she is arriving today
If she has arrived today
If she has been waiting
If she can't understand it

can be combined with the following main clauses:

she can/could phone me.
she may/might phone me.
she should/ought to phone me.

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she must phone me.

Will in the main clause expresses certainty or near-certainty. If we do not feel 'certain' enough
to use will, or if we want to express the idea of e.g. necessity, we can use another modal
instead: can, could, may, might, should, ought to, must.

Continuous and perfect combinations with modals are possible:

If I hear from Tim, I may be leaving tonight.
If he is in New York, he may not have got my letter yet.

Type 1, Variation 2: 'If + should' + e.g. imperative

'if'-clause or variation main clause: e.g. imperative condition to be satisfied ->

request, suggestion, etc.
If you (should) see him, please give him my regards.
Should you see him, please give him my regards.
If you (should) happen to see him, please give him my regards.
Should you happen to see him, please give him my regards

If + should (+ bare infinitive), instead of if + present, makes the condition more doubtful:
If he calls, tell him I'll ring back. (normal Type 1)
If he should call, tell him I'll ring back. (if + should)

The main clause is not necessarily always an imperative:

If I should see him, I'll ask him to ring you.

If + should + imperative in the main clause is used especially when we want to make polite
requests or suggestions, or to tell people (tactfully) what to do:
If you should write to her, send her my love.
If you should go to Nairobi, go and see the Snake Park.

Imperatives can also be used in ordinary Type 1 conditions:

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Cancel the match if it rains. If it rains, cancel the match.

The only kind of negative we can form with should is e.g. should you not (see example next
paragraph); otherwise we must use the negative form of the simple present:
If you don't see him... (Not *If you shouldn't*)

A condition can be expressed without if by beginning a sentence with should. This is rather
formal and is often found, for example, in business letters, not in everyday conversation:
Should you be interested in our offer, please contact us.
Should you not wish our agent to call, please let us know.

The more elaborate the construction with should and/or happen to, the more tactful a speaker
is trying to be. Compare the sequence:

A scale from fairly likely (neutral) to unlikely (very tactful):

FAIRLY LIKELY: NEUTRAL
If you see him.
If you should see him.
Should you see him.
If you happen to see him.
If you should happen to see him.
Should you happen to see him.
Should you by any chance happen to see him.
UNLIKELY: VERY TACTFUL

***Type 2 conditionals

Basic form of Type 2 conditionals

'if'-clause: main clause:

past tense 'would/should'
condition to be satisfied = likely outcome
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be: If I was taller, I would become a policeman.
have: If he had any money, he'd leave home.
other verbs: If you took a taxi, you'd get there quicker.
could: If you could see me now, you'd laugh your head off.

When we use Type 2 conditionals

Type 2 conditionals talk about imaginary situations in the if-clause and speculate about their
imaginary consequences in the main clause. Though past tenses are used, the reference is not
to past time. (That is why this use of the past tense after if is often called 'the unreal past'.) By
comparison, Type 1 conditionals talk about things which will possibly happen and consider
their real consequences for the future.

Depending on the attitude of the speaker, a Type 2 conditional can be used in place of a Type
1 to describe something that is reasonably possible. So:
If you went by train, you would get there earlier.
If you didn't stay up so late every evening, you wouldn't feel so sleepy in the morning.
mean the same, but are more 'tentative' than:
If you go by train, you will get there earlier.
If you don't stay up so late every evening, you won't feel so sleepy in the morning.
However, Type 2 conditionals more often describe what is totally impossible:
If I had longer legs, I'd be able to run faster.

Type 2, Variation 1: 'If + were/was' + 'would/should'

'If I were/If I was'

Were can be used in place of was after If I/he/she/it. There is no difference in meaning, but
were is more formal, particularly when we are making doubtful statements:
If I was/were better qualified, I'd apply for the job.
However, were is preferable in purely imaginary statements:
If I were the Queen of Sheba, you'd be King Solomon.

'If I were you/If I were in your position' (Not *was*)

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We often use these expressions to give advice:
If I were you/in your position, I'd accept their offer.
(This means: You should accept their offer.)
We can also use these explanations to refer to somebody else:
If I were Jane/in Jane's position, I'd walk out on him.

'If it were not for/Were it not for' (Not *was*)

This expression explains why something has or hasn't happened:
If it weren't for your help, I would still be homeless.
In formal contexts, If it were not for can be expressed as Were it not for, with the negative in
full (Not *Weren't it*):
Were it not for your help, I would still be homeless.
If it were not for and Were it not for are often followed by the fact that:
Were it not for the fact that you helped me, I would be homeless.

Type 2, Variation 2: 'If' + past + modal

If he knew the facts, he could/might tell us what to do.
If he could get the facts, he could/might tell us what to do.

Another modal can replace would in Type 2 conditionals, e.g. when we feel the imaginary
consequences are less likely, or when we are referring to ability, possibility, etc.:

If he were here, he could help us. (ability)

If he were here, he might help us. (possibility)
If he failed, he ought to/should try again. (duty)

Continuous and perfect combinations with modals are possible:

If she were here now, she could be helping us.
If he was in New York, he could have met my sister.
If they were in the army, they would have been fighting in the jungle most of the time.

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Type 2, Variation 3: 'If + were to/was to' + 'would', etc.

Instead of an ordinary verb in the simple past, we can use were or was + to-infinitive in Type
2 conditional clauses:
If I were to (or was to) ask, would you help me?
Were to is more common than was to after I/he/she/it and makes a suggestion sound more
tentative and polite. Compare:
If I asked him, I'm sure he'd help us.
- Do you think he would?
Well, if I were to ask him nicely.
Modals other than would and should are possible in the main clause:
If you were to ask him, he might help you.
If Sue were to make an effort, she could/should do better.

The same kind of conditional can be expressed without if, if we begin a sentence with were
(Not *was*). This kind of inversion is common only in very formal contexts:
Were the government to cut Value Added Tax, prices would fall.

There is no negative construction (Not *If he were not to*) but negative inversion is possible
with the full form:
There'd be a clear case for legal action over this matter were it not likely to make life difficult
for all of us. (Not *weren't it*)

***Type 3 conditionals

Basic form of Type 3 conditionals

If I had been taller, I would have joined the police force.

If I had had any sense, I would have kept quiet about it.
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.

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When we use Type 3 conditionals

Type 3 conditionals assume something purely imaginary in the if-clause and consider the
imagined consequences in the main clause. In this respect, they are like Type 2. However,
Type 3 conditionals refer to consequences which did not and could not (now) ever happen
because they refer to something that didn't happen in the past. They are 'hypothetical
conditions':
If I had worked harder at school, I'd have got a better job.
If I hadn't been wearing a raincoat, I would have got wet.
(referring to something possible: often expressing regret)
If I had won the pools, life would have been much easier.
(referring to an imaginary, hoped for situation in the past)
If I had lived in the Stone Age, I would have been a hunter.
(referring to a completely impossible situation)

We use Type 3 conditionals to speculate about a range of possibilities, from what might have
been reasonably expected to what would have been completely impossible.

'If I had been you/in your position'

We often use these expressions to describe a course of action we would have followed in
someone else's position:
If I had been you/in your position, I'd have accepted their offer.
(This means: You should have accepted their offer.)

We can also use these expressions to refer to somebody else:

If I had been Jane, I'd have walked out on him years ago.

'If it hadn't been for'

We often use this expression to explain why something didn't happen in the past:
If it hadn't been for the rain, we would have had a good harvest.

Inversion with 'had' in Type 3 conditionals

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The form Had (he) is a formal variation of If (he) had:
Had the management acted sooner, the strike wouldn't have happened.
A negative inversion is possible with the full form:
Had it not been for the unusually bad weather, the rescue party would have been able to save
the stranded climber. (Not *Hadn't*)

Type 3, Variation 1: 'If' + past perfect + modal

imagined condition + imagined outcome

If he had known the facts, he could/might have told us what to do.
If he could have got the facts, he could/might have told us what to do.

Another modal can replace would in Type 3 conditionals, e.g. when we feel that the imagined
consequences were less likely, or when we are referring to ability, possibility, etc.:

imagined condition + imagined outcome:

If he had been here yesterday, he could have told us. (ability)
If he had been here yesterday, he might have told us. (possibility)
If he had received a present, he should have thanked her. (duty)

Continuous and perfect combinations with modals are possible:

If he had been here, he could have been helping us in the shop.
If she had been here, she could have met my sister.

***Other uses of 'if' and similar conjunctions

Negatives with 'if...not' and 'unless'

If...not and unless are sometimes interchangeable, but there are occasions when it is
impossible to use one in place of the other.

When 'if...not' and 'unless' are interchangeable

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Both if...not and unless can be used in negative Type 1 conditionals without a noticeable
change of meaning:
If you don't change your mind, I won't be able to help you.
Unless you change your mind, I won't be able to help you.
However, unless is 'stronger' than if...not and is sometimes preferable, e.g. in an ultimatum:
Unless the management improve their offer, there'll be a strike.

When we cannot use 'unless' in place of 'if...not'

Unless cannot replace if...not in a Type 1 sentence like:
I'll be surprised if he doesn't win.
This is because unless always means 'except on the condition that', so we cannot normally use
it to refer to 'unreal' situations:
She'd be better company if she didn't complain so much.

When we cannot use 'if...not' in place of 'unless'

We often use unless in past references to introduce an afterthought. The unless-clause follows
the main clause and is usually separated by a dash rather than a comma:
I couldn't have got to the meeting on time - unless I had caught an earlier train.
This means the speaker didn't get to the meeting. He could only have done so by catching an
earlier train. If we use if...not in place of unless in the above sentence, we get:
I couldn't have got there if I hadn't caught an earlier train.
The sentence now conveys the exact opposite meaning: the speaker did get to the meeting
because he did catch an earlier train.

'If' and 'unless' clauses in short answers

Note how if-clauses and unless-clauses can occur in short answers:
Will you help us with this re-decorating?
- Yes, if I can. No, not unless you pay me.

Conjunctions that can sometimes be used in place of 'if'

Conditionals can also be introduced by the following conjunctions, which do not always have
precisely the same meaning as if: as long as, assuming (that), even if, if only, on (the)
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condition (that), provided/providing (that), so long as and unless; also suppose (that) and
supposing (that), which normally introduce questions:
He'll definitely win, even if he falls over.
They'll lend us their flat on (the) condition (that) we look after it.
Providing/Provided (that) (or As long as) you clear your desk by this evening, you can have
tomorrow off.
Suppose/Supposing (that) we miss the train, what shall we do?

What if and Say can be used in the sense of 'Let us suppose':

What if/Say he gets home before us and can't get in? What will he do then?
What if/Say you were to run out of money? What would you do?

We can abbreviate a condition if we begin a new sentence with If so, In that case, or If not; or
if we continue with in which case:
He may be busy, in which case I'll call later.
or: He may be busy. If so, (In that case,) I'll call later.
If not, can I see him now?

Whether or not (Not *if or not*) introduces 'alternative' conditionals:

Whether I feel well or not on Monday, I'm going back to work.
Whether or not I feel well on Monday, I'm going back to work.
You'll have to put up with it, whether you like it or not.

***Will and would after if

'If' + 'will' and 'would'

'Will' and 'would' to emphasize willingness and unwillingness

- when asking others to do things/responding to offers of help:
Shall I hold the door open for you? - Yes, if you will/would.
If you will/would/could wait a moment, I'll fetch the money. - with reference to someone else:

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If he will/would/could only try harder, I'm sure he'd do well. - in polite formulas, particularly
in formal contexts;
I'd be grateful if you will/would let me know soon.
If you will/you would follow me, I'll show you the way.
Give me a moment, if you would. (or, sometimes, will) - in direct references to
willingness/unwillingness:
If you will/would agree to pay us compensation, we will/would agree not to take the matter
any further. (i.e. if you're willing)
If you won't stop smoking, you can only expect to have a bad cough.(i.e. if you are unwilling
to stop smoking – Not *wouldn't*)

'If' + 'will' in Type 1 conditionals

We do not normally use a pure future will after if. However, though rare, it is just possible
when we wish to emphasize the idea of 'not now, but later'. Compare:
If it suits you, I'll change the date of our meeting. (Type 1)
If it will suit you, (i.e. not now, but later) I'll change the date of our meeting.

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