CONDITIONAL CLAUSES

Conditionalsalways have two

parts: the Main Clause

and the IF Clause

(When the If Clause goes first, it is followed by a comma, but you can also put the Main

Clause first without using a comma between the clauses.)

Conditional Conjunctions:

IF is the most common one.

Others are:

As long asProvided/ Providing (that)

UNLESS = If not

(0 &) 1st Type Conditional(Real Possibility)

It is used for real - or possible - situations.

The If Clause goes in the Present Tense (usually Simple):

If you want , …If you are late again, …If you have done your homework, …

The Main Clause can go in:- Present Tense

- Imperative- Present Modal Verb: can, may, must.

But usually in - FUTURE SIMPLE:

-If you want, I’ll help you-I ’ll be angry if you’re late again-If you’ve done your homework,

you can go out

UNLESS is the opposite of “If”:

If she doesn’t call soon, I’ll be angry =

Unless she calls soon, I’ll be angry.

He will be late if he doesn’t hurry up =

He will be late unless he hurries up

2nd Type Conditional

Often called the "unreal" conditional because it is used for unreal - impossible or improbable

- situations. This conditional provides an imaginary result for a

given situation.

The If Clause goes in

Simple Past Tense

The verb 'to be', when used in the 2nd conditional, is usually conjugated as 'were'.

The Main Clause goes in Conditional Tense:

Would(n’t) + infinitive (Could or Might are also possible but less common)

If I were you, I’d go to the doctor’s.If he studied more, he’d pass all his subjects.

They would buy a new house if they had more money.

3rd Type Conditional

Known as the "past" conditional because it refers only to past situations with hypothetical

results.

The If Clause goes in - Past Perfect

The Main Clause takes:WOULD(N’T) (Could/ Might) HAVE +

Past Participle

He would have found a new job if he had tried.We wouldn’t have seen this film if you hadn’t told me

about it.If you had studied for the exam, you would have passed.

To sum up:

(Taken fromhttp://www.xtec.es/~ogodoy/sac/rephrasing/conditionals.htm)