Conditionals 27 First, second and third conditional 82 There are three main types of conditional sentences. jonal (or Type 1 conditional) If | See] Andrew at the meeting, | [give] him your message. present simple future simple First cont To talk about something that is quite likely to happen in the future. It is very possible that I will see Andrew at the meeting, in which case I'll give him your message. The condition is quite likely to be fulfilled Second conditional (or Type 2 conditional) If my parents [were] alive, they [would be] very proud of me now. [they'd] past simple would + infinitive To talk about a present situation which is impossible: a hypothetical situation, The condition cannot be fulfilled because my parents are not alive. If she [hanged] her job, she [would be] much happier. [she'd] To talk about a future event that is unlikely to happen. The speaker does not expect her to change her job. That is, it is unlikely that the condition will be fulfilled. Third conditional (or Type 3 conditional) If she [Rad worked] harder, she (would have passed] the exams. (she'd have / she would've] past perfect would + perfect infinitive To talk about something in the past that did not happen. She didn’t work harder and she didn’t pass her exams. It is an unfulfilled condition in the past. Notes ‘+ In conditional sentences, the conditional clause can be the first or second clause in the sentence, although it is more often the first clause ‘When the conditional clause comes first, it is followed by a comma. When it comes second, there is no comma, If get home early enough, I'll make a special dinner, Til make a special dinner if I get home early enough. © The tense and verb forms given here are the ones most commonly used in conditional sentences. However, it is possible to use other tenses and these variations are presented on pages 85-86Conditionals Practice 27 The following sentences are first, second or third conditional. Put the verbs in brackets into the appropriate form. 1 We wanted to go out yesterday but the weather was terrible. If it . (be) a nice day, we i... (Bo) for a picnic. 2. Why don’t you explain everything to him? If you (not tell) him the truth, I'm sure you save (regret) it one day. 3. Jennifer was here not long ago. If you ... (come round) earlier, you sssesstusssssseeee (Se) her. 4 Apparently, the ferry company are planning to close the port in this town. If that (happen), the town secissusiuees (IO8@) a great deal of money. . (help) you with it if I (have) more time but I’m afraid I haven't got any spare time at all at the moment. 6 The government is expecting to win the next election, but if it (lose), the Prime Minister . (resign) from politics. 7 1am so glad that you took me to your friend’s party. If we . (not go) there, 1 . (never meet) Adrian. 8 It's ridiculous that trains are so expensive. If fares (be) cheaper, I'm sure more people ++ (use) the train and leave their cars at home. 9 Ifshe save (get) that job she’s applied for, she . (be) delighted. And I think she’s got a good chance of getting it. 10 Fortunately the explosion took place at night when the streets were empty. It (be) a disaster if it ... (happen) in the middle of the day. 83Conditionals 84 11 The talks between the two leaders keep breaking down, If they (break down) again, it is possible that there (be) a war between the two countries. 12 If Alison ..... ... (know) anything about car mechanics, I’m sure she ove (help) us fix the car, but I think she knows even less than we do. 13 They've been married for twenty years now but I don’t think she (marry) him if she (know) what a selfish man he was. 14 Children spend too much time watching television and playing computer games. I'm Sure they .ccssessessesrenreetitmstneneensenees (be) happier if they .... osestettstnaesanieensesenee (Spend) more time playing outside. 15 Jamie has everything he wants but he’s always moaning. I'm sure that if Tene . cesses (have) so much money, I (not moan) all the timeConditionals 28 Conditional sentences: variations in tenses There are a number of variations in the tenses or verb forms that can be used in conditional sentences. First conditional The ff clause is usually in the present simple. However, we can also use: present continuous, present perfect simple, present perfect continuous, can, should: If he’s still waiting for you, he'll be very angry. If you're coming out with us tonight, you'll need to be ready by 7 o'clock. If Rob’s received your letter, I’m sure he'll phone you today. If it’s been raining in the night, you'll have to wear wellingtons. If can finish work early, I'll come and help you Ii I should see him, I'll tell him the good news. Note: When we use if + should, the condition is less likely to be fulfilled The main clause usually has the verb in the future with will/shall However, we can also use: ‘be going to” future, future continuous, future perfect, imperative, can/could, may/might, should/ought to, must: | | If Helen passes all her exams, we're going to buy her a big present. If we book this holiday, we'll be lying on a warm beach in two weeks’ time. If they win this next match, they’ll have won every match in the season. If you need any help, call me. If you phone me after 12 o'clock, I might be in bed. If they don’t eat their dinner, they can’t have any ice-cream. Second conditional The éf clause is usually in the past simple, However, we can also use the past continuous, could, or were/was to: If you were coming with me, I'd give you a lift. If could have the day off, I'd come with you. If you were to ask Steve, I'm sure he would do it. The main clause usually has the modal would + infinitive. However, the modals could and might are also used and the infinitive can be in the continuous form: Ii we had more money, we wouldn't be living here. If we had more money, we could go out more often. If you asked Tony, he might do it for you. 85.Conditionals 86 Third conditional ‘The if clause is usually in the past perfect simple. However, we can also use | the past perfect continuous or could + perfect infinitive: If he had been travelling in that car, he would have been Killed too. If we could have got a taxi, we would have come round to see you. The main clause usually has the modal would + perfect infinitive | However, we can also use the modals could and might before the perfect infinitive: } If had known there was no more work to do, I could have stayed in bed. If the ambulance had come sooner, he might have been saved. The zero conditional If stay out late, I always get a taxi home. present simple present simple To describe something that is generally true, The use of if here is very similar to when. Each time I stay out late, I get a taxi home ‘We can also use the past simple in the two clauses: If stayed out late, I always got a taxi home. Practice 28 Put the verbs in brackets into the appropriate form. 1 Oh dear, | think we're a bit late. If the concert’s already started, we won't.ee, allowed. (not be allowed) to go in. 2. He wouldn’t be coming here if he . (not want) to. 3. If you were planning to leave your husband, I (advise) you against it. 4 He could be earning lots of money now if he really (want) to, but I don’t think that’s what he wants. 5 You can stay here tonight if you (not have) anywhere else to stay. 6 If could have phoned you, I .... (tell) you what was happening. 7 Ifyou (have) any problems, give me a ring.Conditionals 8 Ifyou. (get) here at about 8 o'clock, I'll be waiting for you. 9 We could have got there in time if you ....... (phone) us earlier. sorseseees (Come) and 10 If this should happen again, ...... .. (tell) me about it immediately. 11 You can’t expect kindness and support from your family if you sss: (not give) the same to them. + (be) 12 If she’s been working all day, she . very tired when she gets in. 13 If the management were to reinstate the strike leader, the strike ..... (be called off). ..+. (keep) working on this 14 Ifl. . essay, I'll have finished it by tonight. 15 If | could borrow some money, 1 .... (definitely come) on the holiday with you, but I think it’s unlikely. 16 I might have been able to help you if you ... .. (explain) the problem to me. 17 If 1 could live wherever I wanted to, I think I ..... (choose) to live on a Scottish island. 18 If they had been listening more carefully, they ... . (might understand) what I was saying. 19 If. . (be) a year older, I could join the army. 20 If. . (get) a pay rise, I’m going to buy a new car. 87Conditionals 29 Mixed con 88 In addition to all the tense variations that we can use in first, second and third conditionals, it is also possible to mix conditionals so that, for example, the if clause uses a verb form used in the first conditional and the main clause uses a verb form used in the third conditional. The context defines the meaning, The most common mixed conditional is: 3rd 2nd if + past perfect would/could/might + infinitive Examples of mixed conditionals ard 2nd If 1 had worked harder at university, 1 would have a degree now. Ist 2nd If you come to the party tomorrow, I wouldn’t bring Mike with you. 2nd 3rd If she loved him, she would have stayed with him. Practice 29° Match the clauses and write the mixed conditional sentences in your notebook, 1 Ifyou had told me about A he probably won't be at the this problem earlier, meeting, 2 If you were a more B you could always ring them up. sensitive person, 3 If they don’t contact C his wife would never have left you soon, him. 4 Ifhe hadn't died D you wouldn’t have said that to her. so young, 5 If he didn’t work so E I would have had them by now. hard all the time, 6 If the train hadn't F everything would be all right now. been delayed, 7 If he was feeling ill G would you hurry up and get ready? this morning, 8 If you're coming with us, H you wouldn’t be so busy this month. 9 If I really wanted to have 1 we would be there by now. children, 101f you had worked J I'm sure he'd be a famous harder last month, musician by now. Example: F - If you had told me about this problem earlier, everything would be all right now.Conditionals 30 Conditionals ‘As you have seen, it is possible to use almost any combination of tenses in conditional sentences. The context determines the choice of tense. Check 30 Put the verbs in brackets into the appropriate form, 1 Harry and Sarah, a husband and wife, are talking. H: Shall I make the children something to eat? $: IT wouldn’t bother. You know how much they eat when they visit their grandparents. H: That's true. If they '.ave.been. eating, (eat) all afternoon, they .. (not want) anything when they get home. $: Are we going to pick them up soon? H: No, my parents are bringing them over. We agreed that if 1 a joseustetesteeneuen (take) them there, they q eee bese (bring) them back. S: Oh good. Well, if we them, I*.., (not collect) ss (Go back) upstairs and do a bit more work. I've nearly finished that report now. If I 2 (do) another half hour’s work, 1 q oon a (finish) it by the time the children get home, H: Why do you always have to bring work home with you? If you : (not agree) to take on that new job, you " scenes (have) much more free time now. S: Yes, and if I” (not take on) that job, we " (not have) much money now. H: That's true, but I don’t like you working so much. S: Well never mind, We've got a week's holiday soon, Just think! In two week’s time, we "....... beach - that’s if I "..... (lie) on a warm sunny (can get) the time off work of course. 89Conditionals 90 H: What do you mean, “if”? Well, everything's very busy at the moment. And if we " ove (get) any more orders, | just “ {not see) how I can leave the office. What? But that’s ridiculous. Dear Angela, Thanks for your letter, it was nice to hear from you. And yes, I would like to come and see you in Spain, If [”....ccessee (save up) enough money when the summer holidays start, I" (try) and come then - if that ", sees (be) OK. Otherwise, I'll come over in the autumn because I'm sure I . (save up) enough by October ~ if I Besse ... (not lose) my job by then! Unfortunately, lots of people in our company are being made redundant and it could be me next. If I * .. (have) any sense, I . (leave) this job ages ago. Still it could be worse I suppose. I was delighted to hear about your promotion - it's great news. If you . (keep on) getting promoted, you .. (run) the whole school soon. And it sounds like the weather's been really good over there. It’s been terrible here, I don’t think it’s been dry once this month. If it. so (De) dry, Pee (not notice). Oh well, we're hoping it'll get better soon. If it a (still rain) at the weekend, we