CONDITIONALS

IF...

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TYPE 1Probable

IF + PRESENT SIMPLE ... WILL/WON’T + VERBIf he wakes up early, we will go for a walk

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First conditionals and future time clauses

In the main clause the verb form is usually will + INF, but we can also use may, might, can, could, shall, should, ought to, have to, or an imperative, depending on the meaning. If you have a birthday party, you might get loads of cool presents. If you decide to have a birthday party, tell me.

Future time clauses (begining with when, as soon as, etc.) are followed by a present tense although they actually refer to the future.Until he arrives, I will read a book.They will make a cake before they go.

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TYPE 2Imaginary situations in the present/future

IF + PAST SIMPLE ... WOULD/WOULDN’T + VERBIf he woke up early, we would go for a walk

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Special rules for second conditionals

If he/she/it was… or If he/she/it were… We can use could or might in the main

clause instead of would, to mean would perhaps.If I really needed the money, I might keep it.

ADVICE: If I were / was you, I would think very carefully

about my future.

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TYPE 3Imaginary situations in the past

IF + PAST PERFECT ... WOULD + HAVE + VERBIf he had woken up early, we would have gone for a walk.

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Special rules for third conditionals

We can use could, might or should in the main clause to mean would perhaps.

If I had done some revision, I might / could / should have passed the exam.

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Alternatives for IF

Unless = if not

Unless we finish soon, we will miss the train.

If we don’t finish soon, we will miss the train.

Provided / Providing, As long as = only if (this happens)

He can come with us, provided he pays for his own meals.

As long as you can come by six, I'll be here.

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Assuming = accepting that something is true

Assuming your calculations are correct, we should travel northeast.

Imagine, Suppose / supposing (Alternatives for IF in questions)

Look, suppose you lost your job tomorrow, what would you do?

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EXERCISE

Finish the following sentences

1. People would be surprised if...

2. If I didn’t have a TV...

3. If I hadn’t lost my passport...

4. I wouldn’t have met my wife if…

5. If we had been born in Australia...