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Conditional_sentences_theory

conditionals and mixed conditionals in English

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Raul Calle Sierra
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11 views

Conditional_sentences_theory

conditionals and mixed conditionals in English

Uploaded by

Raul Calle Sierra
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

Conditional sentences have two clauses: the conditional clause (-if clause) and the
result clause. The order of the two clauses is flexible.

Examples:
If I had lots of money, I’d travel around the world
I’d travel around the world if I had lots of money

We distinguish between different types of conditionals: zero, first, second and third,
according to the degree of probability that they express.

Zero Conditional

If / When + Present Simple + Present Simple / Imperative

Ex: If you heat water at 100ºC, it boils


When you hear your name, stand up!

Uses:
- For a situation which is true.
- For commands.

First Conditional

If / Unless + Present Simple + will / can / may / could + infinitive

Ex: If it rains, the match will be cancelled


Unless you do your homework, you won’t go out
If you take her things, she may get angry
If she’s guilty, she could go to prison

Uses:
- For possible or probable future situations (real situations, likely to happen).
- For promises and warnings.

Second Conditional

If + Past Simple + would / could/ might + infinitive

Ex: If I were rich, I would travel the world


If I didn’t smoke, I could be healthier
If there were a ban, people might become very angry
If you studied harder, you would pass your exams

Uses:
- For hypothetical present or future situations (imaginary and improbable).
Third Conditional

If + Past Perfect + would have/could have/ might have + past participle

Ex: If she had driven more carefully, she wouldn’t have crashed into that tree
If I had studied harder, I might have passed my exams
If we hadn’t protested, many innocent people could have been killed

Uses:
- For hypothetical past events which did never happen.

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES CONNECTORS

Even if:

Even if describes how something will happen whatever the condition.


We use even if in the first, second and third conditional.

Ex: Even if it rains, we’ll still go for a picnic.


Even if you offered me 1,000 pounds, I wouldn’t sell the painting.
Even if I had won millions, I wouldn’t have given you a cent.

As long as / Providing that /On condition that:

If one situation depends on another, if can be replaced by as long as / providing that /


on condition that.
We can use as long as / providing that / on condition that to mean but only if.
We use these phrases with the first conditional.

Ex: You can take me to the concert providing that / as long as / on condition that you
pay.
I’ll return the wallet providing that / as long as / on condition that there’s a reward.
Her parents will let her go to Italy for the holidays providing that/ as long as /
on condition that she passes her exams.

Unless:

We use unless to express negative conditions.


We use unless with the first conditional.

Ex: If you don’t tell your parents the truth, you can’t expect them to trust you
Unless you tell your parents the truth, you can’t expect them to trust you
MIXED CONDITIONALS

Mixed conditionals do not follow the tense rules strictly. We can make combinations
according to the context. When we talk about mixed conditionals, we are referring to
conditional sentences that combine two different types of conditional patterns. These
combinations are not all that frequent, but the most common combination is when we
have a type 3 conditional in the if-clause (if + past perfect) followed by a type 2
conditional (would + infinitive) in the main clause.

Types 3 & 2

If + Past Perfect + would + infinitive

This is the most common combination. With this combination we are contrasting an
imagined or real event in the past with the present result of that. (past unreal
condition/present unreal condition)

Examples:

If I had won the lottery, I would be rich.


(But I didn't win the lottery in the past and I am not rich now. )

If I had taken French in high school, I would have more job opportunities.
(But I didn't take French in high school and I don't have many job opportunities).

If she had been born in the United States, she wouldn't need a visa to work here.
(But she wasn't born in the United States and she does need a visa now to work here).

Types 2 & 3

If + Past Simple + Would have + Past Participle

This combination is less common.


With this combination, we are describing ongoing circumstances in relation to a
previous past event. (Present unreal condition/past unreal condition)

Examples:

If I were rich, I would have bought that Ferrari we saw yesterday.


(But I am not currently rich and that is why I didn't buy the Ferrari yesterday.)

If Sam spoke Russian, he would have translated the letter for you.
(But Sam doesn't speak Russian and that is why he didn't translate the letter.)

If I didn't have to work so much, I would have gone to the party last night. (But I have to
work a lot and that’s why I didn’t go to the party last night.)

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