THE ENGLISH CONDITIONAL

There are a number of structures in English that are called the conditionals which are used to talk about possible or imaginary situations. A "Condition" is a "situation or circumstance". Sometimes we call them 'if clauses'. They describe the result of something that might happen (in the present or future) or might have happened but didn't (in the past) For example: If a certain condition is true, then a particular result happens. There are four basic conditionals that we use in English. Zero Conditional First Conditional Second Conditional Third Conditional

STRUCTURE OF CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

The structure of the conditionals is straightforward. There are two basic possibilities in terms of order in the sentence: IF If or like this: Result We will get wet IF if Condition it rains. Condition it rains, Result we will get wet

Notice that we only use a comma in the first example.

CONDITIONALS: TIME AND PROBABILITY TABLE

Probability Certain Likely Unlikely Impossible Impossible Conditional zero conditional first conditional second conditional second conditional third conditional Example If you heat water to 100 degrees celsius, it boils If it rains, I will stay in. If I won the lottery, I would retire. If I had the money, I would lend it to you If I had seen him, I would have given him the message. Time any time future future present past

ZERO CONDITIONAL
IF + SIMPLE PRESENT, .. SIMPLE PRESENT
The Zero conditional is used for things that are always true as long as the condition is met. This conditional is used when the result will always happen. So, if water reaches 100 degrees, it always boils. It's a fact. I'm talking in general, not about one particular situation. The result of the 'if clause' is always the main cluase. The 'if' in this conditional can usually be replaced by 'when' without changing the meaning. For example: If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils. (It is always true, there can't be a different result sometimes). If I eat peanuts, I am sick. (This is true only for me, maybe, not for everyone, but it's still true that I'm sick every time I eat peanuts) Here are some more examples: IF If If If people eat too much, they get fat. If you touch a fire, you get burned. People die if they don't eat. You get water if you mix hydrogen and oxygen. Snakes bite if they are scared If babies are hungry, they cry Condition present simple you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, present simple I drink coffee, Result present simple it boils. present simple I get a headache. Situation fact- universal fact- personal

FIRST CONDITIONAL
IF + SIMPLE PRESENT, .. WILL + INFINITIVE
It's used to talk about things which might happen in the future. Of course, we can't know what will happen in the future, but this describes possible things, which could easily come true. If it rains, I won't go to the park. If I study today, I'll go to the party tonight. If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes. She'll be late if the train is delayed. She'll miss the bus if she doesn't leave soon.

A First Conditional sentence is one connecting two future actions, where one must take place before the second is possible. IF Condition present simple Result WILL + base verb 2

If

she gets good grades,

she will go to university.

We are talking about the future, but we use a present tense for the condition and will for the result. In this case, the person is sure about going to university. We can use other modal verbs in the result part of the sentence: IF If If If If If If Condition she gets good grades, he gets good grades, she gets good grades, he gets good grades, she gets good grades, he gets good grades, Result she will go to university. he may go to university. she should go to university. he can go to university. she could go to university. he might go to university. Possibility If the condition is met, then she definitely will go He is not sure about going to university. The speaker is expressing his or her opinion, giving advice. This means that it is possible. This means that it is possible, but not that likely. This means that it is possible, but not that likely.

We can also use different present forms in the condition part of the sentence: IF If If If Condition present simple I see her, present progressive they are still working, present progressive they are going, present perfect If you have finished your meal, WILL + base verb If you will work late today, WILL + base verb If you will drive too fast, expressing displeasure because someone insists on doing something making an agreement a finished action related to now I'll clear away the plates. WILL + base verb I will let you have Friday off. WILL + base verb the police will stop you. 3 a future arrangement I'll stay at home. an unfinished present action I'll go home. Reason for tense an action in the future Result I'll ask her about it.

IMPERATIVE + OR / AND + SIMPLE FUTURE

Used for threats and promises . Don't say a word about this, or I will kill you. Finish your job, and you will have a bonus.

IMPERATIVE + IF / IN CASE + SIMPLE PRESENT

Contact me if you need any help. Call them in case you need help.

FIRST VS. ZERO CONDITIONAL

The first describes a particular situation, whereas the zero conditional describes what happens in general. For example (zero conditional): if you sit in the sun, you get burned (here I'm talking about every time a person sits in the sun - the burning is a natural consequence of the sitting) But (first conditional): if you sit in the sun, you'll get burned (here I'm talking about what will happen today, another day might be different)

SECOND CONDITIONAL
IF + PAST SIMPLE, ...WOULD + INFINITIVE
It has two uses: First, we can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because it's not true. If I had his number, I would call him. (I don't have his number now, so it's impossible for me to call him). If I were you, I wouldn't go out with that man. Second, we can use it to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be true as the condition is unlikely to be met. If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.(I probably won't win the lottery) If I met the Queen of England, I would say hello. 4

She would travel all over the world if she were rich. She would pass the exam if she ever studied.(She never studies, so this won't happen)

IF

Condition past simple

Time present

Result WOULD + base verb I would learn Italian.

Possibility impossible I don't have the time, so I'm not going to learn Italian. unlikely There's a very small chance of winning the lottery, so the trip is unlikely

If

I had the time, past simple future

WOULD + base verb I would travel around the world.

If

I won the lottery

We can use other modal verbs in the past tense in the result part of the sentence: IF Condition past simple I had the time, Result WOULD + base verb I would learn Italian. Certainty Although unlikely to happen, the speaker is sure that they would do it given the opportunity. Although unlikely to happen, it is only a possibility anyway. Although unlikely to happen, the speaker is saying that it would be a good idea, but is not committed to it. Although unlikely to happen, it is only a possibility anyway.

If

If

I had more time,

I might learn Spanish.

If

I had more time,

I should learn some more about IT.

If

I had more time

I could learn Hindi.

If first verb in the sentence is TO BE, WERE is used except with I, he, she & it where WAS can be used. IF I, he, she, it If I, he, she, it If Condition Were I were you, Was I was you, Result I'd marry her. I'd marry her. 5

THIRD CONDITIONAL
IF + PAST PERFECT, ...WOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
It talks about the past. It's used to describe a situation that didn't happen, and to imagine the result of this situation. If she had studied, she would have passed the exam (but, really we know she didn't study and so she didn't pass) If I hadn't eaten so much, I wouldn't have felt sick (but I did eat a lot, and so I did feel sick). If we had taken a taxi, we wouldn't have missed the plane She wouldn't have been tired if she had gone to bed earlier She would have become a teacher if she had gone to university He would have been on time for the interview if he had left the house at nine What actually happened I didn't know and didn't help.

IF

Condition Past Perfect

Result WOULD HAVE + Past Participle I would have helped.

If

I had known,

We can use other modal verbs in the past tense in the result part of the sentence: IF Condition past perfect If If If If I had known, I had known, I had known, you had known, Result WOULD HAVE+ past participle I would have helped. I could have helped. I might have helped. You should have helped. Certainty Although this didn't happen, the speaker is sure about the result. Although this didn't happen, the result is only a possibility. Although this didn't happen, the result is only a possibility. Although this didn't happen, it is only a good suggestion or piece of advice.

Perfect conditional, continuous - Form This tense is composed of two elements: the perfect condtional of the verb 'to be' (would have been) + the present participle (base+ing). Subject I We would have been would have been would have been base+ing swimming sitting

This tense can be used in Type 3 conditional sentences. It refers to the unfulfilled result of the action in the if-clause, and expresses this result as an unfinished or continuous action. Again, there is always an unspoken "but.." phrase:

IF

Condition past perfect

Result WOULD HAVE+ been + present participle I would have been playing

Certainty unfulfilled result of the action in the if-clause

If

I had a ball,

If the weather had been better (but it wasn't), I'd have been sitting in the garden when he arrived (but I wasn't and so I didn't see him). If she hadn't got a job in London (but she did), she would have been working in Paris (but she wasn't). If I'd had a ball I would have been playing football. If I'd had any money I'd have been drinking with my friends in the pub that night. If I had known it was dangerous I wouldn't have been climbing that cliff. She wouldn't have been wearing a seat-belt if her father hadn't told her to.

APENDIX

1.
UNLESS + oracin afirmativa = IF + oracin negativa You'll fail unless you start studying. (Suspenders a menos que empieces a estudiar.) You will fail if you don't start studying. 7

(Suspenders si no empiezas a estudiar.) Unless he was very upset, he would call. (A menos que estuviera muy enfadado, llamara.)

If he wasn't very upset, he would call. (Si no estuviera muy enfadado, llamara.) We would have gone unless he had arrived late. (Habramos ido a menos que hubiera llegado tarde.) We would have gone if he hadn't arrived late. (Habramos ido si no hubiera llegado tarde.)

En las oraciones negativas e interrogativas se prefiere la construccin "if + not" a "unless": You'd be happier unless you lived in a cottage. (Seras ms feliz a menos que vivieras en una casa de campo.) You'd be happier if you didn't live in a cottage. (Seras ms feliz a si no vivieras en una casa de campo.) What shall we do unless he comes? (Qu hacemos a menos que venga?) What shall we do if he doesn't come? (Qu hacemos si no viene?)

CONDICIONES NECESARIAS (= only if) provided (that) providing (that) as / so long as on (the) condition (that) but for + noun (preposition) con tal que con tal que siempre que a condicin de que de no ser por

2.

The program will work provided (that) you follow the instructions. (El programa funcionar con tal que sigas las instrucciones.) Providing (that) you had been in time, you could have joined us. (Con tal que hubieras llegado a tiempo, te podras haber unido a nosotros.) He could come as long as he kept quiet. (Podra venir siempre que se quedara tranquilo.) I'd have lent you the money on (the) condition (that) you had paid it back by the next month. (Te habra dejado el dinero a condicin de que lo hubieras devuelto para el mes siguiente.) Para expresar la condicin necesaria para algo que ocurri en el pasado (Tipo 3) en negativo se usa:
if it hadn't been for + noun if there hadn't been + noun if there had been no + noun

but for + noun

He could have got hurt but for his fast reflexes. He could have got hurt if it hadn't been for his fast reflexes. (Podra haber sido herido de no ser por su reflejos rpidos.) I would have been home on time but for the traffic jam. I would have been home in time if there had been no traffic jam. (Habra llegado a casa en punto de no ser por el atasco.) CONDICIONES IMAGINARIAS assuming (that) suponiendo que in case por si supposing (that suponiendo que )

Assuming (that) you had met him, you should have talked to him. (Suponiendo que lo hubieras conocido, deberas haber hablado con l.) She gave me her phone number in case I needed it. (Me dio su nmero de telfono por si lo necesitaba) Supposing (that) he asked you to do it, would you agree? (Suponiendo que te pidiera que lo hicieras, estaras de acuerdo?)