Transcript Conditionals

Conditionals
Conditionals
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If you heat water to 100˚C, it boils.
conditional clause
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main clause
Conditional clause => the clause that starts with if, the condition
Main clause => the clause that stands on its own, the result
Water boils if you heat it to 100 ˚C.
main clause
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conditional clause
When the if-clause comes at the beginning, it is followed by a comma.
The main clause may also come at the beginning of the sentence in
which case it is not followed by a comma
Types of Conditionals
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If you come with me to the party, you will have a nice time.
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If you came with me to the party, you would have a nice time.
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verb in the if clause: simple present
Verb in the main clause: will + base form
1st conditional
Likely to happen/true now or in the future
verb in the if clause: simple past
Verb in the main clause: would + base form
=> 2nd conditional
Unlikely to happen now or in the future (unreal, hypothetical)
If you had come with me to the party, you would have had a nice time.
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verb in the if clause: past perfect
Verb in the main clause: would have + past participle
=> 3rd conditional
Unreal, hypothetical situations in the past
First Conditional:
True/Likely in the Present or Future
IF – CLAUSE
V: simple present
If
he works hard
If it rains tonight
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,
MAIN CLAUSE
V: will + base form
,
he will pass the exam.
,
I will stay home.
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If you heat water to 100˚C, it boils.
Sometimes the verb in the main clause is in the simple present.
This is true if it refers to a fact or something that is always true.
Second Conditional:
Untrue (contrary to fact)/Unlikely in the Present or Future
IF – CLAUSE
V: simple past
If
I had more time,
If she won the lottery,
If he were* here
If I were you
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MAIN CLAUSE
V: would + base form
I would write a grammar book.
she would buy a house.
he would know what to do.
I would not listen to that man.
In the second conditional, were is used for both singular and plural
subjects in formal writing.
Third Conditional
Untrue (contrary to fact) in the Past
IF – CLAUSE
,
V: past perfect
(had + past participle)
If
you had invited me,
If you had studied more
MAIN CLAUSE
V: would have + past
participle
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I would have come.
,
you would have passed.
Omitting If in Conditional Sentences
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In conditional sentences, particularly types 2 and 3,“if” can
be omitted from the conditional clauses.
In this case the subject and the auxiliary are inverted.
First
Conditional
If Robert should come
early, we will start at 9 am.
Should Robert come early, we will
start at 9 am.
If I were rich, I would go on
a world tour.
Were I rich, I would go on a world
tour.
If Nicole had trained more,
she would have won.
Had Nicole trained more, she would
have won.
(only with should)
Second
Conditional
(only with were)
Third
Conditional
(all the time)
The expressions only if & as long as
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These two expressions are used when the cause is
absolutely necessary in order for the effect to take
place.
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We’ll go to Zara only if the sale is still on.
You can get a tattoo as long as it is a small one.
If the conditional clause is begun with the
expression only if, the subject and the auxiliary in
the main clause are inverted.
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Only if I see dramatic results will I stay on this horrible
diet.