Conditional sentences - type I

Use It is possible to fulfill a condition which is given in the if-clause. Form if clause main clause will-future or infinitive or Modal + infinitive

Simple Present

Examples If I study, If you see John tonight, If Ben gets up early I will pass the exams. tell him to e-mail me. he can catch the bus.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. If I study, I will pass the exams I will pass the exams. if I study.

Conditional sentences - type II

Use It is theoretically possible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause. Form if clause main clause would + infinitive or could + infinitive or might + infinitive

Simple Past

Examples If I studied, If I studied, If I studied, I would pass the exams. I could pass the exams. I might pass the exams.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. If I studied, I would pass the exams I would pass the exams. if I studied.

Conditional sentences - type III

Use
It is impossible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.

Form
if clause main clause would + have + past participle or could + have + past participle or might + have + past participle

Past Perfect

Examples
If I had studied, If I had studied, If I had studied, I would have passed the exams. I could have passed the exams. I might have passed the exams.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. If I had studied, I would have passed the exams I would have passed the exams. if I had studied.

Conditional sentences - Special types and structures

Structure
If-clauses can be clause-initial (1), clause-medial (2) as well as clause-final (3).
(1) (2) (3) If you like, we can catch a movie. We, if you like, can catch a movie. We can catch a movie if you like.

Types
Aside from the typical type I, II, III strucure, conditionals can be divided into two categories: real and unreal conditionals.
Real Condition If I have money, I spend it. If I had money, I spent it. If I have money, I will/am going to spend it. Unreal Condition If I had had money, I would have spent it. If I had money, I would spend it. If I had money, I would spend it. I think about spending the money TODAY. I think about spending the money NEXT WEEK. Past unreal Conditional - type III Present Real Conditional - type I Past Real Conditional - type I Future Real Conditional - type I

Present unreal Conditional - type II

Future unreal Conditional - type II

Special Features
Modal verbs Main clauses with real conditional tenses can have modal verbs.
If I have money, I can spend it.

You can use could and might instead of would in unreal conditional clauses.
If I had money, I could spend it. (I would be able to spend it.) If I had money, I might spend it. (I would possibly spend it.)

Mixed Conditionals

Mixed Conditionals
Unreal conditionals (type II + III) sometimes can be mixed, that is, the time of the if clause is different from the one of the main clause. Past --> Present If I had taken an aspirin, I wouldn't have a headache now.

Past --> Future If I had known that you are going to come by tomorrow, I would be in then.

Present --> Past If she had enough money, she could have done this trip to Hawaii.

Present --> Future If I were you, I would be spending my vacation in Seattle.

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Future --> Past If I weren't flying to Detroit, I would have planned a trip to Vancouver.

Future --> Present If I were taking this exam next week, I would be high-strung.

Will and would in if-clauses

Will in if-clauses
When the situation or action depicted in the if-clause is a result of the main clause, the will future is used in the if-clause. He'll pay me $10 if I'll help him do the dishes. (Doing the dishes is the result of paying ten dollars.)

Would in if-clauses
In polite requests would is possible in if-clauses. It would be nice if you would help me in the kitchen. (Are you ready to help me in the kitchen?)

English Grammar - Replacing if - Omitting if - if vs. when - in case vs. if

Replacing if If can be replaced by words or expressions with a similar meaning. The most common are: as long as assuming (that) on condition (that) on the assumption (that) provided (that) supposing (that) unless with the condition (that) Omitting if Had I known... (instead of If I had known...) Were you my daughter,...(instead of: If you were my daughter,...) Should you need my advice,(instead of: If you should need my advice,...) If vs. when If and when are interchangeable when the statement of the conditional clause is a fact or a general issue (also known as zero conditional) If you heat ice, it melts. When you heat ice, it melts. If is used for something that, according to the speaker, might happen. We can spend the afternoon on the beach if the weather is fine. When is used for something that, according to the speaker, will happen. I will clean up the kitchen right away when I'm back from work.

In case vs. if In case of can be used to shorten an if-clause as shown below: If there is a fire, leave the room. In case of fire, leave the room. While if expresses a condition (1), in case is used to express a possibility (2). (1) I need painkillers if I'm in severe pain. (2) I need painkillers in case I'm in severe pain. The expression just in case is used pretty much the same way. I got you a pizza just in case you were hungry. (I don't know whether you are hungry.)