Conditionals
1. Introduction This chapter explains the form and use of conditionals. There are also exercises with the conditionals. Click on the logo to go back to the table of contents. A conditional is a sentence containing a condition and a consequence. One part of the sentence, usually starting with if or unless, contains a condition. The other part indicates what happened or will happen after fulfilment of the condition. Example: Condition Consequence If I win the lottery I will be rich. This type is often confused with sentences starting with when. Sentences with when usually indicate that something will definitely happen. Conditionals (with if) indicate that something may happen. • When I get the prize money I will give it to charity. • If I get the prize money, I will give it to charity. In the first sentence the I person has won the prize and explains what he will do when the money arrives. In the second sentence the I person hopes that he will win the prize.
2. Form There are 3 types of conditionals. Each type contains a fixed combination of tenses and forms: Type 1: Condition Consequence if/unless + present tense will/may + infinitive If the plan succeeds, we will make a profit Unless we get some big orders, we will go bankrupt. Type 2: Condition Consequence if + past tense would/might + infinitive If I had a lot of money, I would buy a Rolls Royce. Note: if the condition contains a form of ‘to be’, were is used for all persons. Example: If I were you, I would phone the manager Type 3: Condition Consequence if + past perfect tense would/might+ have + past participle If you had phoned me in advance, I would not have waited for you. < • In all three types of conditionals it is also possible to use the continuous form of the mentioned tenses. If it is raining, we will not go by bike. If we were working now, we would wear company clothing. If he had been working on that report for hours, it would have been finished. • Although conditionals are mostly made with if, they can also be made with other words.
I will bring my lap top in case we have to look at the documents.
3. Use Type 1: Conditional sentences of type 1 refer to real or possible conditions at present or in the future. If share prices drop, we will lose money. This sentence indicates that it is possible that share prices will go down in the future. However, they may also stabilise or go up. This type of conditional contains a condition that may or may not be fulfilled. Type 2: Conditional sentences of type 2 refer to unreal or unlikely conditions at present or in the future. If France were a monarchy, the French would have a king or queen. This sentence is about an unreal situation; France is not a monarchy, but a republic. This type of conditional contains a condition that cannot be fulfilled. Type 3: Conditional sentences of type 3 refer to conditions in the past. If I had read the manual I would not have made this mistake. This sentence is about something that did not happen in the past; the I person did not read the manual. This type of conditional contains a condition that was not fulfilled in the past