IS. Conditionals

Дата публикации: Jun 25, 2016 9:25:22 AM

Present Real Conditional

If I have time, I study English.

Sometimes I have time.

Past Real Conditional

If I had time, I studied English.

Sometimes I had time.

Future Real Conditional

If I have time, I will study English.

If I have time, I am going to study English.

I don't know if I will have time or not.

Other forms possible.

Present Unreal Conditional

If I had time, I would study English.

I don't have time.

Past Unreal Conditional

If I had time, I would study English.

I didn't have time.

Future Unreal Conditional

If I had had time, I would have studied English.

I won't have time.

Other forms possible.

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Conditional Sentence Type 1

→ It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled.

Form: if + Simple Present, will-Future

Example: If I find her address, I’ll send her an invitation.

if + Simple Present, will-Future

Example: If I find her address, I will send her an invitation.

The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a comma.

Example: I will send her an invitation if I find her address.

Note: Main clause and / or if clause might be negative. See Simple Present und will-Future on how to form negative sentences.

Example: If I don’t see him this afternoon, I will phone him in the evening.

Conditional Sentences Type I refer to the future. An action in the future will only happen if a certain condition is fulfilled by that time. We don't know for sure whether the condition actually will be fulfilled or not, but the conditions seems rather realistic – so we think it is likely to happen.

Example: If I find her address, I’ll send her an invitation.

I want to send an invitation to a friend. I just have to find her address. I am quite sure, however, that I will find it.

Example: If John has the money, he will buy a Ferrari.

I know John very well and I know that he earns a lot of money and that he loves Ferraris. So I think it is very likely that sooner or later he will have the money to buy a Ferrari.

Conditional Sentence Type 2

→ It is possible but very unlikely, that the condition will be fulfilled.

Form: if + Simple Past, Conditional I (= would + Infinitive)

Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation.

if + Simple Past, main clause with Conditional I (= would + Infinitive)

Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation.

The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a comma.

Example: I would send her an invitation if I found her address.

Note: Main clause and / or if clause might be negative. See Simple Past und Conditional I on how to form negative sentences.

Example: If I had a lot of money, I wouldn’t stay here.

Were instead of Was

In IF Clauses Type II, we usually use ‚were‘ – even if the pronoun is I, he, she or it –.

Example: If I were you, I would not do this.

Use

Conditional Sentences Type II refer to situations in the present. An action could happen if the present situation were different. I don't really expect the situation to change, however. I just imagine „what would happen if …“

Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation.

I would like to send an invitation to a friend. I have looked everywhere for her address, but I cannot find it. So now I think it is rather unlikely that I will eventually find her address.

Example: If John had the money, he would buy a Ferrari.

I know John very well and I know that he doesn't have much money, but he loves Ferraris. He would like to own a Ferrari (in his dreams). But I think it is very unlikely that he will have the money to buy one in the near future.

Conditional Sentence Type 3

→ It is impossible that the condition will be fulfilled because it refers to the past.

Form: if + Past Perfect, Conditional II (= would + have + Past Participle)

Example: If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.

if + Past Perfect, main clause with Conditional II

Example: If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.

The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a comma.

Example: I would have sent her an invitation if I had found her address.

Note: Main clause and / or if clause might be negative. See Past Perfect and Conditional II on how to form negative sentences.

Example: If I hadn’t studied, I wouldn’t have passed my exams.

Conditional Sentences Type III refer to situations in the past. An action could have happened in the past if a certain condition had been fulfilled. Things were different then, however. We just imagine, what would have happened if the situation had been fulfilled.

Example: If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.

Sometime in the past, I wanted to send an invitation to a friend. I didn't find her address, however. So in the end I didn't send her an invitation.

Example: If John had had the money, he would have bought a Ferrari.

I knew John very well and I know that he never had much money, but he loved Ferraris. He would have loved to own a Ferrari, but he never had the money to buy one.

Conditionals: other expressions (unless, should, as long as)

Unless

Conditional clauses can begin with unless. Unless means something similar to ‘if … not’ or ‘except if’.

The verb forms in the examples are similar to sentences with if: we use the present simple in the unless-clause and shall, should, will, would, can, could, may or might in the main clause:

Unless I phone you, you can assume the train’s on time. (If I do not phone you /except if I phone you, you can assume the train is on time.)

We’ll have to cancel the show unless we sell more tickets at the last minute. (We’ll have to cancel the show if we do not sell more tickets/except if we sell more tickets

at the last minute.)

Warning: We don’t use unless for impossible conditions:

If the government had not raised food prices, there would not have been so many protests.

Not: Unless the government had raised food prices …

Warning: We don’t use unless and if together:

We’ll go to the coast tomorrow unless it rains.

Not: We’ll go to the coast tomorrow unless if it rains.

Should you (Should with inversion)

In formal situations, we can use should + subject (s) + verb (v) instead of if:

Should you wish to cancel your order, please contact our customer service department on 02317 6658932. (or If you should wish to cancel your order …)

Should your child become anxious or nervous about any activity, it is a good idea to inform the team-leader. (or If your child should become …)

Had you (Had with inversion)

In formal situations, we can use had + subject + verb instead of if in third conditional sentences:

Had I known you were waiting outside, I would have invited you to come in. (If I had known you were waiting outside …)

Had Margaret realised she would be travelling alone, she would never have agreed to go.

If + were to

In formal situations, we can use if + were to when we talk about things that might happen but which we think are unlikely:

If the Prime Minister were to resign, there would have to be a general election within 30 days.

In even more formal styles, we use were + subject-verb inversion + to-infinitive:

[V]Were [S]we [to -INF]to give up the fight now, it would mean the end of democracy in our country. (If we gave up the fight now …)

[V]Were [S]the economy [to -INF]to slow down too quickly, there would be major problems. (If the economy slowed down too quickly …)

As long as, so long as, providing, etc.

Sometimes we need to impose specific conditions or set limits on a situation. In these cases, conditional clauses can begin with phrases such as as long as, so long as, only if, on condition that, providing (that),provided (that).

As long as is more common in speaking; so long as and on condition thatare more formal and more common in writing:

[to a group of children] You can play in the living room as long as you don’t make a mess.

So long as a tiger stands still, it is invisible in the jungle.

The bank lent the company 100,000 pounds on condition that they repaid the money within six months.

Providing (that) is more common in speaking; provided (that) is more formal and more common in written language:

[talking about rail travel in the UK] You can get a senior citizen’s reduction providing you’ve got a railcard.

They may do whatever they like provided that it is within the law.

Or and otherwise

We often use or and otherwise with conditional meanings:

You’ve got to start studying, or you’ll fail all those exams. (If you don’t start studying, you will fail the exams.)

[talking about sending a package by mail] We’d better send it express, otherwise it’ll take days. (If we do not send it express, it will take days.)

Supposing

Supposing may be used with a conditional meaning. It can be used in first, second or third conditional sentences. The speaker invites the listener to imagine a situation:

Supposing I don’t arrive till after midnight, will the guest-house still be open? (Imagine if I don’t arrive till after midnight …)

Supposing you lost your passport, you’d have to go to the embassy, wouldn’t you?

Supposing he hadn’t recognised us – he might never have spoken to us.

But for + reason

But for is used to introduce the reason why something didn’t happen:

But for the traffic, I would have been here an hour ago. (The traffic was very heavy – if it weren’t for the traffic, I’d have been here an hour ago.)

They would have been badly injured but for the fact that they were wearing seat belts. (They were wearing seat belts – if it weren’t for the fact that they were wearing seat belts, they would have been badly injured.)

If only

We use if only to express a strong wish that things could be different. It means the same as I wish but is stronger. We use it to talk about past, present and future unreal conditions.

We use if only + past verb forms to talk about a wish for the present:

If only he knew the truth. (he doesn’t know the truth, but he wishes he did)

Not: If only he knows the truth.

If only there was something she could do or say to help.

Not: If only there is something she could do or say to help.

We sometimes use were instead of was in more formal situations:

If only she weren’t so tired. (If only she wasn’t so tired.)

To talk about a wish for the future or to show a contrast between how things are and how we would like them to be, we use if only + would + infinitive without to:

If only someone would buy the house.

If only they would talk to each other.

We use if only + past perfect to talk about a wish to change something that has already happened:

If only he had listened to what his friends had been telling him. (He didn’t listen.)

If only Anna had been able to come. (Anna wasn’t able to come.)

Suppose, supposing and what if

Suggestions

We use suppose, supposing and what if + present verb form to make suggestions about what might happen:

A: What time shall we meet?

B: Suppose we meet in the offices downstairs at four o’clock?

A: That’s perfect. I’ll let the others know.

Supposing I don’t bring my car and you and I travel together. That would save us half the cost of petrol and parking.

A: The electricity has gone. There must be a power cut.

B: What if we find the candles and put them around the room?

A: Okay. Good idea. Do you know where they are?

Possibility

When we are less certain, we use suppose, supposing and what if + past form to talk about future possibility:

Suppose we asked Mary to baby-sit? Do you think she’d do it? (not as certain as Suppose we ask Mary to baby-sit?)

Supposing someone else wrote the essay. How would we know? (not as certain as Supposing someone else writes the essay …)

A: What if I gave up working full-time. I’d love that.

B: You’re joking surely!!

When we refer to something that did not happen (something hypothetical), we use the past perfect:

Suppose we hadn’t brought our umbrellas. (We did bring our umbrellas.)

Supposing they had closed the road. Would that have been a good idea? (They didn’t close the road.)

What if I had accidentally told Maria about the party! That would have ruined the surprise. (I didn’t tell Maria about the party.)

Warning: We use be supposed to to talk about obligations and arrangements, not suggestions.

You are supposed to put money in the parking meter!

Inversion in conditional sentences

Mr Smolin from Poland writes: Is it true that Hadn't it been for?...(as an alternative to Had it not been for?...) is incorrect?

Roger Woodham replies:

Had it not rained

Yes, it is correct that we cannot use a contracted negative form when we use inverted word order to express unreal or impossible condition in the past. Instead, we are obliged to use the full form of not:

Had it not rained last Saturday, we would've celebrated Tom's birthday with a barbecue in the garden.

Had you not refused my invitation, you would've had the best holiday ever.

Of course, had we used the more normal if-clause to express this conditional idea, the contracted negative form would have been the norm:

If only it hadn't rained last Saturday, we would've had a wonderful holiday in the garden.

If you hadn't been so stupid as to refuse my invitation, you could've travelled to see all the wonders of the world.

Note that we use these tense forms to talk about something that might have happened, but didn't:

If it had stayed fine, they would've celebrated the birthday in the garden.

If she had accepted the invitation, she would've seen all the wonders of the world.

Should you not wish to

Note that we can also use the inversion structure with should when we are talking about present and future conditions and, again, negative forms are not contracted:

Should you not wish to sign the contract, you must let them know before the end of June.

Should you change your mind about selling the car, I'd be happy to buy it from you.

Note that use of should here has nothing to do with obligation, but is simply an alternative to the present simple in the more normal if-clause:

If you don't want to go ahead and sign the contract, please try to let them know before the end of this month.

If you (do) change your mind about selling the car, I'd be happy to buy it from you.

Were we to have children

Finally, inversion is possible, though I think less common, with this form of the conditional when we are talking about the improbable future. Again negative forms are not contracted:

Were we to have children, we'd need to move to a bigger house.

Were she not my daughter, I'd have no hesitation in phoning the police.

The more normal if-clause is here quite straightforward:

If we were to have children, we'd certainly need to move to a larger house.

If she weren't my daughter, I'd have no hesitation in phoning the police and telling them about the crime that has been committed.

We use the inversion strategy when we want what we are saying to sound more carefully considered and it is also characteristic of more formal and literary styles.

In your example, Mr Smolin, we can also use the construction But for..., meaning Except for?, as an alternative to Had it not been for? or Were it not for?:

Had it not been for his foresight in ensuring everybody had lifejackets, everyone on board would have drowned.

But for his foresight, everyone on board the yacht would have drowned.

Were it not for your kindness, I'd still be living in that tiny bed-sit in the town centre.

But for your kindness, I'd still be stuck in that tiny flat in the town centre.

Exercise 1 Express the same idea using a complex sentence with the conjunctions if, before, when, after, in case, unless.

1. She'll have to go through the customs, then she'll be allowed to get on board the plane.

If/in case she goes through the customs, she'll be allowed to get on board the plane.

Unless she goes through the customs, she won't be allowed to get on board the plane.

- She has to go through the customs before she'll be allowed to get on board the plane

- After/when she goes through the customs, she'll be allowed to get on board the plane.

2. You'll have to produce your ID paper, otherwise you won't get a parcel.

If/in case you produce your ID paper, you will get a parcel.

Unless you produce your ID paper, you won't get a parcel.

3. Be allowed to take part in the boat-race Jerry will have to undergo a thorough check up.

If/in case Jerry undergoes a thorough check up, he will be allowed to take part in the boat-race.

Unless Jerry undergoes a thorough check up, he won't be allowed to take part in the boat-race.

4. Maybe the photo will not come out. Then you'll have to take another picture.

If/in case the photo doesn't come out, you'll have to take another picture.

Unless the photo comes out, you'll have to take another picture.

5. Glen must do what the doctor says, otherwise he will never get better.

Unless Glen does what the doctor says, he will never get better.

If/in case Glen doesn't do what the doctor says, he will never get better.

6. Pay the money. You won't be admitted without paying the entrance fee.

Unless you pay the money, you won't be admitted to entering.

If/in case you don't pay the money, you won't be admitted to entering.

7. First make an appointment.The doctor won't see you without it.

The doctor will see you if you make an appointment.

Unless you make an appointment, doctor won't see you.

8. You'll have to give Stefen another proof. Only then he will believe you.

If/in case you give Stefen another proof, he will believe you.

Unless you give Stefen another proof, he won't believe you.

9. Leave him a note. Otherwise he won't know where you will be.

If you leave him a note, he will know where you will be.

10. You'd better keep to a diet, otherwise you will develop complications.

Unless you keep to a diet, you will develop complications.

11. Jane had better cut out the ad from the newspaper, otherwise she may forget the address.

If Jane cuts out the ad from the newspaper, she won't forget the address.

Unless Jane cut out the ad from the newspaper, she may forget the address.

thorough adjective BrE /ˈθʌrə/ ; NAmE /ˈθɜːroʊ/

1. done completely; with great attention to detail

a thorough knowledge of the subject

The police carried out a thorough investigation.

You will need a thorough understanding of the subject.

2. [not usually before noun] (of a person) doing things very carefully and with great attention to detail

She's very thorough and conscientious.

He was determined to be thorough in his research.

3. (British English, informal) used to emphasize how bad or annoying somebody/something is

synonym complete

Everything was in a thorough mess.

1. прил.

1) исчерпывающий, полный, основательный, всесторонний, доскональный; тщательный

а) законченный, полный, завершённый

б) совершенный, абсолютный

Exercise 2 Fill in the blancs with the appropriate tense forms.

1. I honestly think it will be better if we don't see each other for awhile. (to be, to see — negative) (Hansford Johnson)

2. If you are not already married, Mr. Clay, I will wait for you. (to be — negative, to wait) (Stone)

3. Now if only Betty is able to come this evening she will do it. But, of course, she had to choose this evening to go and see her mother, (to be, to do) (A. Wilson)

4. If he is ordinary, I won't love him (to be, to love — negative) (Galsworthy)

If he were ordinary, I wouldn't love him

5. And if anything happens to him, there will be something in the Press, (to happen, to be) (Priestley)

6. I believed it a few months ago, Mr. Chapin. (to believe) (Dreiser) <- из другого упражнения

7. If I were you, I think I would feel very much as you do. (to be, to feel) (Snow)

8. You first brought your friend into my sister's company, and but for you we would have never seen him. (to see) (Dickens)

9. I certainly won't leave you so long as you are in mourning. It would be most unfriendly. If I were in mourning you would stay with me, I suppose, (to be, to be, to stay) (Wilde)

10. He was a power in the College, and would be in any society, (to be) (Snow)

2 conditional/sunjunctive

He was a power in the College, and will be in any society <- not conditional?

11. If you have news before morning, ring me up at once, (to have) (Hansford Johnson)

main clause = imperative mood

Если ночью придут новости, позвоните мне сразу же (потом и при условии)

If you will have news before morning, ring me up at once

Сообщите мне сразу же, будут ли ночью новости (сейчас или потом)

НапИшите мне (потом и при условии), ЕСЛИ они позвонят.

НапишИте мне (сейчас или потом), позвонят ЛИ они.

12. I like the place. The air suits me. I won't be surprised if I settle down here, (to be — negative, to settle down) (Shaw)

13. There is nothing the Barkers won't do for a few pounds, (to do — negative) (Wilson)

литота

There is nothing the Barkers will do for a few pounds <- Cond I

There is nothing the Barkers do for a few pounds <- Cond 0

14. Well that wasn't true what she said and, if it is that will be no business of hers, (to be, to be) (A. Wilson)

Well that wasn't true what she said and, if it were that would be no business of hers

15, "She told me the other day that her heart stopped for five minutes when that horrid nurse was rude to her." "Nonsense! She wouldn't have been alive now if her heart had stopped for five seconds." (to be — negative, to stop) (Shaw)

She wouldn't be alive now if her heart had stopped for five seconds."

<- Mixed Cond (условие в прошлом, основа - сейчас)

16. I think it will do her so much good to have a short stroll with you in the Park, Dr. Chasuble. (to do) (Wilde)

17. The story I have to tell would have never happened if one day I had walked across the street, (to happen, to walk — negative) (Maugham)

18. "She is so wretched," I told him, "that she will gladly die tomorrow morning if it isn't for the baby." (to die, to be — negative) (Hansford Johnson)

"She is so wretched," I told him, "that she would gladly die tomorrow morning if it wasn't for the baby."

19. If I were you I would go abroad again.. (to be, to go) (Hardy)

20. "I think, Edward," said Mrs. Dashwood, "you will be a happier man if you have any profession to engage your time and give an interest to your plans and actions. Some inconvenience to your friends, indeed, might result from it: you won't be able to give them so much of your time." (to be, to have, to be — negative) (Austen)

21. Jago was longing for me to say that he ought to be the next Master. A few years before I would have said yes on the spot, (to say) (Snow)

22. And if I had known I was going to meet you, I would have dressed differently. (to know, to dress) (I.Shaw)

23. If he returns here, send him to us at once, (to return) (Priestley)

Если (при условии) вернется - пошлите его к нам

24. I wouldn't have been what I am but for him. (to be— negative) (Maugham)

I wouldn't be what I am if he hadn't help me. <- Mixed

25. "Why are you talking this rubbish," he said, "and making me talk it too?" "If what you say was/were true, women would be either poisonous or boringl" (to be, to be) (Murdoch)

26. Just think, if I had bought the pictures I would have been a rich woman now. (to buy, to be) (Maugham)

Just think, if I had bought the pictures I would be a rich woman now. <- Mixed

(unreal in the past)(unreal at the present) - mixed

27. Mr. Gresham, this marriage will, at any rate, put an end to your pecuniary embarrassment, unless, indeed, Frank proves a hard creditor, (to prove) (Trollope)

prove = be

2. linking verb if something proves dangerous, expensive, etc. or if it proves to be dangerous, etc., you discover that it is dangerous, etc. over a period of time

synonym turn out (4)

+ adj. The opposition proved too strong for him.

It was proving extremely difficult to establish the truth.

+ noun Shares in the industry proved a poor investment.

His lack of experience may prove a problem in a crisis.

prove to be something The promotion proved to be a turning point in his career.

Their fears proved to be groundless.

28. Anyhow, a fire started, and if a young fellow who's working here hadn't instantly set about with an axe, their big storage tank of gasolene would have gone up in the air and God knows what would have happened then, (to set about — negative, to go up, to happen)

We all would have gone with it. (to go)

Honestly, we're all lucky to be alive. If it hadn't gone for this chap, we wouldn't have been (to be — negative, to be — negative) (Priestley)

we wouldn be < Mixed

mourning noun BrE /ˈmɔːnɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/ [uncountable]

1. sadness that you show and feel because somebody has died

synonym grief

The government announced a day of national mourning for the victims.

She was still in mourning for her husband.

2. clothes that people wear to show their sadness at somebody’s death

The queen was dressed in mourning.

long verb BrE /lɒŋ/ ; NAmE /lɔːŋ/ , /lɑːŋ/

[intransitive] to want something very much especially if it does not seem likely to happen soon

synonym yearn

long for somebody/something Lucy had always longed for a brother.

long for somebody to do something He longed for Pat to phone.

long to do something I'm longing to see you again.