Condition If

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1:\Conditional Sentences (#1), by Dennis Oliver

Conditional ("if") sentences normally have two parts.

One part shows a result and the other shows a condition

on which the result depends. The condition is normally

preceded by if. In "He gets angry if he doesn't get what

he wants," the result is "he gets angry" and the condition

(introduced by "if") is "he doesn't get what he wants.

There are two main types of conditional sentences: real

and unreal. Real conditional sentences refer to situations

that are either true or possible. Unreal conditionals refer

to situations that are untrue, impossible or hypothetical;

conditional sentences of this type are often described as

being contrary to fact.

Let's look, first, at real conditionals.

Real Conditionals (#1)

There are two types of real conditional sentences. In the

first type, the result is known: it happens every time the

condition is met. In conditional sentences of this type,

when, whenever, or every time may be substituted for

if with no changein meaning:

If she studies, she gets good grades.

(When / Whenever / Every time she studies,

she gets good grades.)

If he's relaxed, he feels more confident.

(When / Whenever / Every time he's relaxed,

he feels more confident.)


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If they have extra money, they put it

in their savings account.

(When / Whenever / Every time they

have extra money, they put it in their

savings account.)

Special Notes:

1.

If may be at either the beginning or middle

of conditional sentences:

If she studies, she gets good grades. /

She gets good grades if she studies.

If he's relaxed, he feels more confident. /

He feels more confident if he's relaxed.

If they have extra money, they put it in their

savings account.

They put extra money in their savings account

if they have any.

Notice that a comma is used with the if clause

when it begins a sentence. Notice also that

there is no comma when the if clause is in the

middle of a sentence.

2. For predictable situations, the simple present

tense is normally used (see the examples above).

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2:Conditional Sentences (#2), by Dennis Oliver





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preceded by if. In "He'll get angry if he doesn't get what

he wants," the result is "he'll get angry" and the condition

(introduced by "if") is "he doesn't get what he wants."



that are either true or possible. Unreal conditionals referto situations that are untrue, impossible or hypothetical;



Let's take another look at real conditionals.

Real Conditionals (#2)

There are two types of real conditional sentences.

We saw that in the first, the result is known: it happens

every time the condition is met. In conditional sentences

of this type, when, whenever, or every time may be

substituted for if with no change in meaning.

The second type of real conditional sentence is used for

situations that are possible. In this type of real conditional

sentence, the if clause is usually present tense and the

result clause is usually shown by will + a simple verb.

The result is possible, but it hasn't happened: it depends onmeeting the condition (shown by the if clause):

If she studies, she'll get good grades.

(Getting good grades is very likely for her,

but first she needs to study.)

If he's relaxed, he'll feel more confident.

(It's very likely that he'll feel more confident,

but first he needs to relax.)

If they have extra money, they'll put it


(It's very likely that they'll put money in


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their savings account, but it depends on

having something extra.)

If I see him, I'll give him your message.

(It's very likely that I'll give him your

message, but I can't do that if I don't see him.)

Special Notes:

1. In this type of conditional sentence, if

does not = when / whenever / every time.

2.

It's possible, in this type of conditional, to usewill in both parts of the sentence. If will is

used in the if clause, it shows willingness

(volition), not future time:

If she'll study, she'll get good grades.

(If she'll study = If she's willing to study.)

If he'll relax, he'll feel more confident.

(If he'll relax = If he's willing to relax.)

If you'll help me, I'll be grateful.

(If you'll help me = If you're willing to

help me.)

3.

Will can be used in if clauses only whenit shows willingness:

illogical:

*If they'll have extra money, they'll put it


illogical:


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*If I'll see him, I'll give him your message.

4.

It's also possible to use may or might in this

type of conditional sentence:

If she studies, she may / might

get good grades.

(Getting good grades is possible

though not very likely for her, but

first she needs to study.)

If he's relaxed, he may / might

feel more confident.

(It's possible though not too likelythat he'll feel more confident, but

first he needs to relax.)

If they have extra money, they

may / might put it in their

savings account.

(It's possible though not too likely

that they'll put money in their

savings account, but it depends on

having something extra.)

If I see him, I'll give him your message.

(It's possible though not very likely

that I'll give him your message,

but I can't do that if I don't see him.)

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3: Conditional Sentences (#3), by Dennis Oliver



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If I were rich, I'd travel around the world. /

I'd travel around the world if I were rich.

(I'm not rich, so I can't travel around the world.)

If cars were affordable, I'd buy a new one. /

I'd buy a new car if they were affordable.

(New cars aren't affordable for me, so I can't

buy one.)

___________________________________

Other Verbs:

If + subject + past verb + other words,

subject + would ('d) + verb + other words.

OR

Subject + would ('d) + verb + other words +

if + subject + past verb + other words.

Examples:

If you asked him, he'd help you. /

He'd help you if he asked him.

(You haven't asked him, so he can't help you.)

If I had a lot of money, I'd travel

around the world. / I'd travel around

the world if I had a lot of money.

(I don't have a lot of money, so I can't

travel around the world.)

If companies sold affordable cars,

I'd buy one. / I'd buy a car if companies

sold affordable ones.

(Companies don't sell cars that are

affordable for me, so I can't buy one.)


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Important: In the examples above, there is a difference in

tense and time (that is, using past tense forms for situations

that are in present or future time). This difference in tense

and time signals that the situation is unreal, hypothetical, andcontrary to fact.

Special Notes:

1.

In formal writing, present / future unreal

conditionals with BE use were for I, you, he,

she, it, we, and they:

If I / you / he / she / it / we / they were here . . .

In casual conversation and very informal writing,

was (usually pronounced "wuz") is often used

instead of were.

2.

It's most common, in this type of conditional,

to use would in the result clause, but could and

might are also possible:

If he were here today, he could / might

help you.

If I were rich, I could / might travel

around the world.

If I had a lot of money, I could / might travel

around the world.

If companies sold affordable cars,

I could / might buy one.

3.

If would shows willingness, it may appearin both the condition and the result:

If she would study, she would get good grades.

(She isn't willing to study, so she probably

won't get good grades.)


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If he would play fair, we would ask him

to be on the team.

(He isn't willing to play fair, so we aren't

willing to ask him to be on the team.

4.

Would cannot be used in the condition if it

doesn't refer to willingness:

strange:

*If I would be young, I would have more energy.

strange:

*If he would have enough time, he would

help you.

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preceded by if. In "He'd have gotten angry if he hadn't

gotten what he wanted," the result is "he'd have gotten

angry" and the condition (introduced by "if") is "he hadn't

gotten what he wanted."





conditional sentences of this type are often described asbeing contrary to fact.

Let's take another look at unreal conditionals.

Unreal Conditionals (#2)


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There are several types of unreal conditional sentences.

They differ according to the time that they refer to, but

they are the same in one way: the situations that theyshow are unreal, hypothetical, and contrary to fact.

The second type of unreal conditional is used for past

time. Normally, unreal conditional sentences that refer

to past time use this form:

If + subject + had + past participle +

other words, subject + would have ('ve) +

past participle + other words.

OR

Subject + would have ('ve) + past

participle + other words if + subject +

had + past participle + other words.

(This form is used for BE and other verbs.)

Examples:

If he had been here yesterday, he would've

helped you. / He would've helped you if hehad been here yesterday.

(He wasn't here yesterday, so he couldn't

help you.)

If I had had enough money, I would've

traveled around the world. / I would've

traveled around the world if I had had

enough money.

(I didn't have enough money, so I couldn'ttravel around the world.)

If cars had cost less, I would've bought

a new one. / I would've bought a new car

if they had cost less.

(New cars cost too much for me, so


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I couldn't buy one.)

Special Notes:

1. Notice that in the if clause, the time is past,but the tense is past perfect.

2.

Notice also that had may be used as both

an auxiliary verb and a past participle:

If I had had enough money . . . .

If he had had time . . . .

If she had had a reason . . . .

In past unreal conditionals, had is frequently

contracted to 'd:

If I'd had enough money . . . .

If he'd had time . . . .

If she'd had a reason . . . .

3.

In the if clause, would have is not used.

wrong:

*If he would've been here yesterday,

he would've helped you.

wrong:

*If I would've had enough money,

I would've traveled around the world.

wrong:

*If cars would've cost less,

I would've bought a new one.

4.

Native speakers sometimes say *had've

instead of would've in the result clause.

This is completely wrong.

wrong:

*If I had've been here yesterday,

he would've helped you.


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wrong:

*If I had've had enough money,

I would've traveled around the world.

wrong:

*If cars had've cost less,

I would've bought a new one.

5.

It's also possible to use might have ( 've)

or could have ( 've) in the result clause:

If he'd been here yesterday,

he might've / could've helped you.

If I'd had enough money, I might've /

could've traveled around the world.

If cars had cost less, I might've /

could've bought a new one.





preceded by if. In "He'd be angry if he hadn't gotten

what he wanted," the result is "he'd be angry" and the

condition (introduced by "if") is "he hadn't gotten

what he wanted."

There are two main types of conditional sentences: realand unreal. Real conditional sentences refer to situations





Let's look at another possibility for unreal conditionals.


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they are the same in one way: the situations that they

show are unreal, hypothetical, and contrary to fact.

Another type of unreal conditional is used for mixed

times (that is, different times for the condition and the

result). There are several types of mixed-time unreal

conditionals. One has the condition in the past and

the result in the present or future:

Examples:

If she had left yesterday, she would be

at home today. / She would be at home

today if she had left yesterday.

(She didn't leave yesterday, so she isn't

at home today.)

If he had learned English when he wasvery young, his pronunciation would be

perfect. / His pronunciation would be perfect

if he had learned English when he was

very young.

(His pronunciation isn't perfect because he

wasn't very young when he learned English.)

If he had starting saving his money earlier,

he would be able to buy a car sometime

this year. / He would be able to buy a carsometime this year if he had started saving

his money earlier.

(He won't be able to buy a car at any time

this year because he didn't start saving his

money early enough.)


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If I had been born in 1940, I would be

61 years old on my next birthday. /

I would be 61 years old on my next birthday

if I had been born in 1940.

(I won't be 61 years old on my next birthday

because I wasn't born in 1940.)

Special Note:

A past condition can have a present or future result,

but (logically) a present or future condition can't have

a past result.

.




on which the result depends. The condition is normallypreceded by if. In "He would have been at the meeting

if he weren't so forgetful," the result is "he would have

been at the meeting" and the condition (introduced by

"if") is "he weren't so forgetful."







Let's look at more information on unreal conditionals.



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they are the same in one way: the situations that they

show are unreal, hypothetical, and contrary to fact.

Unreal conditionals may be used for situations in present /future time, past time, or mixed times. There are several

types of mixed-time unreal conditionals. One has the

condition in the past and the result in the present or future.

Another has the condition in general time and the result

in past time:

If he weren't so lazy, he would've finished

his work several days ago. / He would've

finished his work several days ago if he

weren't so lazy.

(He didn't finish his work several days ago

because he's very lazy.)

If I needed help, I would've hired a tutor. /

I would've hired a tutor if I needed help.

(I didn't want to hire a tutor because I don't

need help.)

If she drove more quickly, she would've

arrived several hours ago. / She would'vearrived several hours ago if she drove

more quickly.

(She didn't arrive several hours ago

because she doesn't drive quickly.)

If Bob's family were rich, he wouldn't

have needed to get a part-time job. /

Bob wouldn't have needed to get

a part-time job if his family were rich.

(Bob's family isn't rich, so he needed to

get a part-time job.)

Special Note:

In all the sentences above, the condition is in general time;

it shows a situation that is a fact, a habit, or a continuing


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situation. The results, in the sentences above, are in the

past--but they could also be in the present or future:

If he weren't so lazy, he would've

finished his work several days ago. /

He would've finished his work several

days ago if he weren't so lazy.

If he weren't so lazy, he would finish

his work on time. / He would finish

his work on time if he weren't so lazy.

If he weren't so lazy, he would finish

his work this week instead of sometime

next month.

If she drove more quickly, she would've

arrived several hours ago. / She would'vearrived several hours ago if she drove

more quickly.

If she drove more quickly, she would

arrive on time. / She would arrive

on time if she drove more quickly.

If she drove more quickly, she would

arrive later this morning instead of

this afternoon. / She would arrive later

lthis morning instead of this afternoon

if she drove more quickly


Negative Conditionals (#1)

All the examples we've seen up to now have been of

conditional sentences that were not negative, but negative

conditionals are certainly possible. It's possible to have

conditional sentences with negative conditions, with

negative results, and with both negative conditions

and results:


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If he isn't here, he's sick.

If he isn't here, he isn't feeling well.

If he doesn't know the answer,

he admits it.

If he doesn't know the answer,he doesn't admit it.

If they aren't here, we'll miss them.

If they aren't here, we won't miss them.

If they don't attend the meeting,

I'll be surprised.

If they don't attend the meeting,

I won't be surprised.

If he weren't here, we'd call him.

If he weren't here, we wouldn't call him.

If he didn't know the answer,

he'd admit it.

If he didn't know the answer,

he wouldn't admit it.

If he hadn't been here, we would've

called him.

If he hadn't been here, we wouldn't have

called him.

..


Conditional Sentences with Modal Verbs

Conditional sentences, both real and unreal, frequentlyuse modal auxiliaries--not only in the result, but also in

the condition. The modals which are most commonly

used in American English are can, could, may, might,

must, should, will, and would. The "modal equivalents"

have to and has to are also common:


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Real:

If he can help, he does. ( = He helps.)

If he can help, he will. ( = He will help.)

If I may help, ask me.*

If I might help, ask me.*

If we must help, we do. ( = We help.)

If you should need help, please ask us.*

If he has to help, he does. ( = He helps.)

If he will help, he'll do a good job.*

Unreal:

If he could help, he would. ( = He would help.)

If he could have helped, he would have.

( = He would have helped.)

If he would help, he'd do a good job.*

Special Notes:

1. "If I may ___" and "if I might ___" both mean

something like "if you will permit me to ___ ."

"If I might" is "softer" and more formal than

"if I may," but both are polite.

2.

When should is used in a condition, it suggests

that the condition is unlikely or unexpected but

still possible:

If I should see him . . . = It's unlikely that

I'll see him, but it's possible.

If the baby should wake up . . . = We don't

expect the baby to wake up, but it's possible

that he / she will.

If you should need any help . . . = It seems

unlikely that you'll need help, but it's possible.

3.


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When will or would are used in conditions,

they refer to volition or willingness:

If you'll help me, I'll pay you. ( = If you're

willing to help me, I'll pay you.)

If she'll work harder, she'll succeed. ( = If she's

willing to work harder, she'll succeed.)

If we'll all work together, we'll finish early.

( = If we're all willing to work together, we'll

finish early.)

If he would help me, I'd pay him. ( = If he

were willing to help me, I would pay him.)

If she would work harder, she'd succeed.

( = If she were willing to work harder,

she would succeed.)

If we'd all work together, we'd finish early.

( = If we were all willing to work together,

we'd finish early.)

4.

In present / future unreal conditionals, could

sometimes refers to permission, sometimes

refers to ability, and sometimes refers to either

permission or ability:

If I could go with you, I would. ( = If I wereable to / permitted to go with you, I would go.)

If she could do the work, she wouldn't need

help. ( = If she were able to do the work, she

wouldn't need help.)

If I could leave work early today, I'd be very

grateful. ( = If I were able / were permitted to

leave work early today, I'd be very grateful.

5.

In past unreal conditionals, could have issometimes used to refer to ability:

If I could have gone with you, I would have.

( = If I had been able to go with you, I would

have gone.)

If she could have done the work, she wouldn't

have needed help. ( = If she had been able to

do the work, she wouldn't have needed help.)


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If I could have left work early, I would've

been very grateful. ( = If I had been able to

leave work early, I would've been very grateful.

.


"Shortened" Conditional Sentences

In addition to the "normal" forms of conditional sentences

("if" sentences showing a condition and a result), you will

sometimes see a "shortened" type of conditional construction

in formal writing. This kind of "abbreviated" conditional is

most commonly seen in past unreal situations:

If we had known about the meeting,

we would have attended. --->

Had we known about the meeting,

we would have attended.

If he had been here, he could have

helped us. --->

Had he been here, he could have

helped us.

If she hadn't applied early, she wouldn't

have been accepted. --->

Had she not applied early, she wouldn't

have been accepted.

If you hadn't left an hour early, you would

have been late for the meeting. --->


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Had you not left an hour early,

you would have been late for the meeting.

This same pattern is also seen in present / future unrealconditional sentences that use should:

If I should see him, I'll give him

the message. --->

Should I see him, I'll give him

the message.

If you should need anything,please call me. --->

Should you need anything,

please call me.

If he should call you,

I also want to speak to him. --->

Should he call you,

I also want to speak to him.

Special Note:

Except with should, this pattern is not normally used with

present / future unreal conditionals.

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