Conditionals

A Introduction to type 1

Jessica: Come on, Rachel. If we hurry, we'll catch the half-past nine bus.

Rachel: There's no rush, is there? If we miss it, there'll be another one in fifteen minutes.

They may catch the bus, or they may miss it.

B Type 1: If we hurry, we'll catch the bus

IF-CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE

if Present simple Will

If we hurry, we 'II catch the bus.

If we miss it, there 'II be another one.

If it doesn't rain, we 'II be having a picnic.

If I don't practise my golf, I won't get any better.

The verb in the if-clause (e.g. hurry) is in the present simple, not the future.

NOT If we'll hurry, we'll catch the bus.

But we can use will in the if-clause when we make a request.

If you'll just wait a moment, I'll find someone to help you. (Please wait a moment...)

We can use the present continuous (e.g. are doing) or the present perfect (e.g. have done) in the if-clause.

If we're expecting visitors, the flat will need a good clean.

If you've finished with the computer, I'll put it away.

The main clause often has will. But we can use other modal verbs (e.g. can).

If you haven't got a television, you can't watch it, can you?

If Henry jogs regularly, he might lose weight.

If Matthew is going to a job interview, he should wear a tie.

The if-clause usually comes first, but it can come after the main clause.

If I hear any news, I'll phone you. I'll phone you if I hear any news.

C More uses of type 1

We can use type 1 conditionals in offers and suggestions.

If you need a ticket, I can get you one.

If you feel like seeing the sights, we can take a bus tour.

We can also use them in warnings and threats.

If you go on like this, you'll make yourself ill.

If you don't apologize, I'll never speak to you again.

D If you heat water, it boils

We sometimes use the present simple in both clauses.

If you heat water, it boils. If Daniel has any money, he spends it.

If you press this switch, the computer comes on.

This means that one thing always follows automatically from another. Pressing the switch always results in the computer coming on.

E Introduction to type 2

Rachel: Would you like some cake, Jessica?

Jessica: No thanks. If I ate cake, I'd get fat.

Rachel: But it's delicious.

Jessica: It looks delicious. If l had your figure, I'd eat the whole lot.

'I ate cake' and 'I had your figure' are imaginary or unreal situations. Jessica isn't going to eat the cake, and she hasn't got a figure like Rachel's.

F Type 2: If I ate cake, I'd get fat

IF-CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE

if Past simple would

If I ate cake, I'd get fat.

If l had your figure, I'd eat the whole lot.

If we didn't have a car, we'd find it difficult to get about.

If Rachel got up earlier, she wouldn't always be late.

Note the past simple (e.g. ate).

We do not use would in the if-clause.

NOT If I'd eat cake.

But we can use would in the if-clause when we make a request.

If you'd like to come this way, the doctor will see you now. (Please come this way ...)

As well as the past simple we can use the past continuous (e.g. was doing) in the if-clause.

If Rachel was playing her stereo, it wouldn't be so quiet in here.

In a type 2 if-clause we sometimes use were instead of was, especially in the clause 'if I were you'.

If Rachel were playing her stereo, it wouldn't be so quiet in here.

If I were you, I'd ask a lawyer for some advice.

The main clause often has would. We can also use could or might.

If we had a calculator, we could work this out a lot quicker.

If Rachel worked harder, she might do even better at her studies.

The if-clause usually comes first, but it can come after the main clause.

If I knew, I'd tell you. I'd tell you if I knew.

G Type 1 and type 2

Compare these examples.

Type 1: If you have a lie-down, you'll feel better.

Type 2: If l had a million pounds, I'd probably buy a yacht.

The present tense (have) refers to a possible future action, something which may or may not happen. The past tense (had) refers to something unreal. 'If I had a million pounds' means that I haven't really got a million pounds, but I am imagining that I have.

Compare these examples.

Type 1: If we take the car, we'll have to pay for parking.

Type 2: If we took the car, we'd have to pay for parking.

Here both sentences refer to a possible future action. But in the type 2 conditional, the action is less probable. 'If we took the car' may mean that we have decided not to take it.

We can use type 2 conditionals in offers and suggestions.

If you needed a ticket, I could get you one.

If you felt like seeing the sights, we could take a bus tour.

Type 2 is less direct than type 1. The speaker is less sure that you want to see the sights.

H Introduction to type 3

David: How was your camping holiday?

Mike: Well, it would have been all right if it hadn't rained all the time.

Harriet: If we'd gone two weeks earlier, we'd have had better weather.

'If it hadn't rained' and 'if we'd gone two weeks earlier' are imaginary situations in the past. It did rain, and they didn't go two weeks earlier.

I Type 3: If we had gone earlier, we would have had better weather

IF-CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE

if Past perfect would have

If we 'd gone earlier, we'd have had better weather.

If Matthew had phoned her, Emma wouldn't have been so annoyed.

If you hadn't made that mistake, you 'd have passed your test.

If David had been more careful, he wouldn't have fallen.

Note the verb in the past perfect (e.g. had been).

We do not use would in the if-clause.

NOT If David would have been more careful, he would have-fallen.

The main clause often has would have. We can also use could have or might have.

If I'd had my mobile yesterday, I could have contacted you.

We just caught the train. If we'd stopped to buy a paper, we might have missed it.

The short form 'd can be either had or would.

If you'd rung me, I'd have come to see you. (If you had rung me, I would have come to see you.)

J The use of type 3

We use type 3 conditionals to talk about things in the past happening differently from the way they really happened. This sometimes means criticizing people or pointing out their mistakes.

If you'd been a bit more careful, you wouldn't have cut yourself.

If Matthew had set his alarm clock, he wouldn't have overslept.

We can also use this structure to express regret about the past.

If I hadn't fallen ill and missed the interview, I might have got the job.

K Type 2 and type 3

Compare these examples.

Type 2: If you planned things properly, you wouldn't get into a mess. (You don't plan.)

Type 3: If you had planned things properly, you wouldn't have got into a mess. (You didn't plan.)

We can mix types 2 and 3.

If you had planned things at the start, we wouldn't be in this mess now.

If you hadn't left all these dirty dishes, the place would look a bit tidier.

If Matthew was more sensible, he would have worn a suit to the interview.

If I didn't have all this work to do, I would have gone out for the day.

L Review

There are three main types of conditional. Study the examples.

Type 1: if... the present simple ... will/can/might, etc

If we win today, we'll go to the top of the league. (We may win, or we may not.)

Type 2: if ... the past simple ... would/could/might

If Johnson was in the team, I'd feel more confident. (Johnson isn't in the team.)

Type 3: if ... the past perfect ... would have/could have/might have

If Johnson had played, we'd have won. (Johnson didn't play.)

Here are some more examples with different verb forms.

Type 1

If I'm going shopping, I'll need some money.

If the disco has finished, we might be able to get some sleep.

You should stay in bed if you feel unwell.

Type 2

If I didn't like this pudding, I wouldn't eat it.

If the video recorder was working, we could watch a film.

The alarm might go off if we tried to get in through a window.

Type 3

If we'd dropped the piano, it would have been a disaster.

If Vicky had come to the theme park with us last week, she might have enjoyed it.

We could have given you a lift if we'd known you were coming this way.

M Other conditional sentences

As well as the three main types, there are other types of conditional sentence.

For example, we can use two present-tense verbs.

If you ring this number, no one answers.

We can also use a present-tense verb and an imperative.

If you need any help, just ask.

If you drink, don't drive.

We can use be going to.

If it's going to rain, I'd better take an umbrella.

If they try to cut down the trees, there's going to be a big protest.

We can mix types 2 and 3.

If Matthew had booked a table, we wouldn't be standing here in a queue.

If you needed help, you should have asked me.