FIRST CONDITIONAL
USE - TO DESCRIBE REAL
AND POSSIBLE FUTURE
SITUATIONS // PROMISES,
THREATS.
A. IF + SUBJECT + V
(PRESENT SIMPLE), SUBJECT + WILL + V.
If you reveal this secret,
I won’t talk to you again.
If the Maths teacher is angry,
he will scold his students.
B. SUBJECT + WILL
+ V + IF + SUBJECT + V
(PRESENT SIMPLE).
I won’t talk to you again if
you reveal this secret.
The Maths teacher will scold
his students if he is
angry.
C. IF + SUBJECT + V (PRESENT SIMPLE), IMPERATIVE.
If you miss
the train, get the bus.
I. REPLACING “IF” WITH OTHER CONNECTORS
→ IF = AS
LONG AS, PROVIDING THAT / PROVIDED THAT (formal): “siempre y cuando”, “siempre
que”.
You will continue to pass the
exams as long as you study every day.
You will continue to pass the exams providing that you study every
day.
- “As long as” and “providing that” are emphatic, they
mean “ONLY IF”.
- Also emphatic: “EVEN IF”
(“incluso si”): Even if he apologised to me, I wouldn’t forgive him.
→ IF … NOT
= UNLESS
You will not pass the exams if
you don’t study every day.
You will not pass the exams unless
you study every day.
II. USING MODALS IN THE FIRST CONDITIONAL
- “Will” in the result clause can be replaced with
modals:
1. Permission: Can. If you need to correct that exam, you can use my red pen.
2. Possibility: May, might. If you call him, he may/might
come.
3. Obligation: Must. If you accept that job offer, you must
leave your current job.
4. Suggestion: Should. If you are in love with Jane, you should
ask her out.
SECOND CONDITIONAL
USE - TO DESCRIBE IMAGINARY
PRESENT OR UNLIKELY FUTURE
SITUATION // HYPOTHETICAL FUNCTION.
A. IF + SUBJECT + V
(PAST S.), SUBJECT + WOULD// COULD/ MIGHT (- probable) + V
If I won the lottery (improbable situation), I would/could/ might buy a huge house.
If Mary decided to accept
that job (improbable situation), she wouldn’t inform you about it.
B. SUBJECT + WOULD // COULD/MIGHT + V + IF + SUBJECT + V (PAST SIMPLE)
I would/ could/ might buy a
huge house if I won the lottery.
Mary wouldn’t inform you
about her new job if she decided to
accept it.
→
TO BE: IF I/HE/SHE/IT
+ WAS (informal) / WERE...
If I was/were older, I would buy a car.
If he was/were a good
student, he wouldn’t fail all the
subjects.
→ IF I WERE
YOU…. (ONLY TO GIVE ADVICE)
If I were you, I would go on a diet.
If I were you, I would be more patient with your little
sister.
THIRD CONDITIONAL
USE - TO DESCRIBE IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE
PAST EVENTS (Regret over a past action).
A. IF + SUBJECT + V
(PAST PERFECT S.), SUBJECT + WOULD//COULD/MIGHT HAVE + Past Participle.
If I had listened to my
parents, I would/could/might have been more successful in life.
If I had applied for that
job, I would/could/might have got it.
B. SUBJECT + WOULD// COULD/ MIGHT HAVE + Past Participle , IF + SUBJECT + PAST PERFECT SIMPLE.
I would/could/might have been
more successful in life if I had
listened to my parents.
I would/could/might have got
that job if I had applied for it.
ATTENTION - HAD (’D) / WOULD
(’D). Example: If I’d applied for that job, I’d have got it.
"WISH" / "IF ONLY"
USE – WISH FOR A CHANGE, REGRET FOR A PRESENT OR PAST
SITUATION
1. WISH / IF ONLY + PAST
SIMPLE/ COULD: PRESENT WISH / REGRET
I wish I had a car! He wishes he could go on holiday. If only we were on the beach.
2. WISH / IF ONLY + WOULD: DISATISFACTION WITH SOMEBODY’S ACTIONS
(NOT OUR OWN) IN THE PRESENT / DESIRE OF (UNLIKELY) FUTURE CHANGE
I wish he would stop talking.
I wish my neighbours wouldn’t
disturb me. I wish you would come to the cinema with me. I wish it would rain tomorrow.
Attention - "I WISH I WOULD...." is incorrect because "would" implies a desire for a different person's willingness or choice to change.
3. WISH / IF
ONLY + PAST PERFECT SIMPLE: PAST REGRET
I wish I had
studied harder at school. If only
my mother hadn’t punished me!
SUMMARY
I. IF + S + V (PRESENT SIMPLE), S + WILL + V
II. IF + S + V (PAST SIMPLE), S + WOULD// COULD/ MIGHT (- probable) + V
III. IF + S + V (PAST PERFECT SIMPLE), S + WOULD//COULD/MIGHT HAVE + PP.
