ENIT
2nd Year TOEIC Preparation Course
Mayssa Moalla
The Conditional
We use the conditional construction to indicate that a situation or an activity is dependent on
another situation or activity in order to take place or to be fulfilled.
There are at least two clauses in a conditional sentence:
If you don’t seize this opportunity and apply for the job, you will be silly.
The conditional clause the main/ result clause
The main clause may precede the if- clause. You should change the punctuation.
He could have been on the honor roll if he had studied as he used to.
I. The conditional type zero:
If + the present (simple/ progressive) the present (simple/ perfect)
We use this type of conditional to express a general truth or an automatic action.
If you heat ice, it becomes water. General truth
If you smoke, you become addicted to it. a fact
*The use of the imperative:
The imperative is used with the personal pronoun ‘you’ to express:
1. Instruction: Cancel the match if it rains.
2. Advice: If you want to be fit, do a lot of exercises.
3. Request: If she asks you about my plans, don’t tell her.
II. The conditional type 1:
If + the present tense will/ won’t + bare infinitive
This type of sentences is sometimes called a real condition. It describes what someone thinks
will happen in a real situation.
If we walk so slowly, we’ll be late.
It is possible to use other present tenses instead of the present simple.
If you are driving, I’ll come with you.
If you have watched the film, you’ll remember what happened in the end.
If + will + bare infinitive will + bare infinitive
If you will wait a moment, I will see if the boss is in his office.
It expresses a polite request.
If she will tell me about her problems, I will help her out.
To put emphasis on my willingness to help
If + should + bare infinitive imperative
If you should see him, give him my regards.
the meaning is ‘if ever you see him= there is doubt about the action
Fist conditional sentences are based on fact in real time. They express a possible condition
and its possible result in the present or the future.
III. The conditional type 2:
This type of sentences is sometimes called an imaginary situation or the unreal past.
If + past simple past form of a modal auxiliary + bare infinitive
*In the following sentences, what is said in the if-clause is not true; therefore what is stated in
the main clause is impossible in the present time.
If I had a helicopter, I would fly to school.
I could go with them if someone paid for all my expenses. Imaginary situations
If I were you, I would call her and tell her what I think of her. in the present
*Second type conditional sentences express a great doubt; the action is unlikely to happen in
the present or the future. (It is not impossible)
If we saved the thousand dinars, we would have enough money for a holiday next summer.
It is possible but it is unlikely to happen.
If + would+ bare infinitive would + bare infinitive
These sentences are used in polite requests or when asking about favors.
If you would hold down, I would see the boss.
formal polite request
I would be grateful if you would accept my application.
asking for favor= the speaker is not sure whether this person is going to accept his/her
invitation or not.
Second conditional sentences express a situation which is contrary to reality in the present and
the future. This unreality is shown by a tense shift from present to past. By using the past
tense forms in the second conditional, the speaker suggests that the situation is less probable,
or impossible, or imaginary.
IV. The conditional type 3:
If + past perfect past form of a modal + have + past participle
This type of sentence is called an impossible condition or a condition contrary to past reality.
It refers to the past, and what is stated in the if-clause was not true and it was contrary to past
reality.
If I had known they were staying for dinner, I could have made a pie for dessert.
Third conditional sentences express a situation contrary to reality in the past. This unreality is
shown by a tense shift from past to past perfect.
The perfect infinitive can be replaced by could or might:
Ability: If we had found him earlier, we could have saved his life.
Possibility: If we had found him earlier, we might have saved his life.
V. Inversion:
If the conjunction contains were, had, could, or should, the conjunction can be omitted.
*If he should telephone you, please let me know.
Should he telephone you, please let me know.
*I could have seen him at the wedding if he had come.
I could have seen him at the wedding had he come.
*Your brother wouldn’t have married such an old woman if she had not been rich.
Your brother wouldn’t have married such an old woman if had she not been rich.
*If I were in your place, I would be more careful when handling these tools.
Were I in your place, I would be more careful when handling these tools.
