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Conditionals

1.1 Using if to refer to habitual situations


We can use the pattern if + Simple Present tense + Simple Present tense to refer
to habitual actions. Then if means when.
(a) If there is no rain, plants soon die.
(b) If signal is hoisted, most people stay at home.
!"ercise #
$omplete these sentences b% putting in the Simple Present tense of the &erbs in
brac'ets. In some cases, a passi&e &erb form is nee(e(.
#. If an%bo(%)))))))))))))))('noc') on our (oor, our (og ))))))))))))))(bar')
fiercel%.
*. +ogs )))))))))))))))(not attac') strangers if %ou ))))))))))(train) them
properl%.
,. If a bus )))))))))))))))(brea') (own, another one ))))))))))))))(come) to
ta'e the passengers.
-. If %ou ))))))))))))(heat) metals, the% ))))))))))))(e"pan().
.. If a home ))))))))))))(ma'e) of woo(, it )))))))))))))))(burn) more easil%
when there ))))))))))(be) a fire.
1.2 If + the Simple Present tense + the Simple Future or canma! or the
Imperati"e
This is a common pattern, especiall% in speech. It is use( when we refer to a
(efinite situation.
(a) /e careful0 If %ou touch that (og, it may bite %ou.
(b) If it rains, please close the win(ows.
(c) If all %our homewor' is finished, Peter, %ou can go out.
!"ercise *
$omplete these sentences b% putting in a suitable form of the &erbs in brac'ets.
#. 1eat will not go ba( 2uic'l%, if %ou )))))))))))))('eep) it in a refrigerator.
*. If %ou brea' an% of the (ishes, 1other ))))))))))))(be) angr% with %ou.
,. If somebo(% ))))))))))))(phone) while we3re out, please ta'e a message.
-. /e careful, 1ar%0 If %ou touch that saucepan, %ou ))))))))))))))(burn) %our
fingers.
.. 4ish will sta% fresh longer if it )))))))))))('eep) in a refrigerator.
1.# If + the Simple Past tense +the Present Conditional tense
This pattern is use(5
(i) when we refer to a general possibilit% rather than to a particular situation.
$ompare these situations5
#.* (I am spea'ing to a frien( who has 6ust ha( a minor acci(ent.)
If %ou (ri&e more carefull% in future, %ou won3t ha&e another acci(ent.
#.,(I am writing a composition about traffic acci(ents, an( I am referring to
motorists in general rather than to a particular person.
If motorists drove more carefull%, there would be fewer acci(ents.
(ii) when we refer to a h%pothetical situation, i.e. one which is put forwar( for
(iscussion an( (oes not refer to an actual situation5
(a) If I were %ou, I wouldnt go to the we((ing.
(b) If Peter were a girl, he would understand the problem better.
(iii) when we refer to something which is unli'el% to happen5
(a) 1an% people would be killed if an earth2ua'e occurred here.
(b) Some people would be &er% unhapp% if the &alue of flats fell b% .78.
1.$ If + the Past Perfect tense + the Perfect Conditional tense
This pattern refers to past time an( mentions something which might ha&e
happene( but (i( not happen.
(a) If %ou had shut the win(ows, the rain would not have come in (but %ou (i(n3t
shut them, so the rain came in.
(b) If 1ar% had told me about the acci(ent, I would have helped her. (/ut she (i(
not tell me, so I (i( not help her.)
(c) I would have repaired the ra(io if %ou had told me about it.
1.% Using e"en if
We can emphasi9e if b% putting e&en before it. When %ou use this t%pe of
e"pression, (o not omit if.
(a) I won3t bu% that ra(io e&en if %ou re(uce the price.
(b) I woul(n3t mo&e to another countr% e&en if somebo(% offere( me a goo( 6ob
there.
!"ercise ,
$omplete these sentences b% putting in a suitable form of the &erbs in brac'ets.
#. What shall we (o if the car ))))))))))(run) out of petrol:
*. I3m sure the table will brea' if %ou ))))))))))))(stan() on it.
,. ;ou won3t ha&e a hea(ache e&er% morning if %ou ))))))))))))(go) to be( before
ele&en o3cloc' e&er% night.
-. If %ou lea&e ice in the sun, it alwa%s ))))))))))))(melt).
.. I coul( carr% that cupboar( b% m%self if it )))))))))))(be) empt%.
<. Tell 1ar% that 1r. Wong will help her if she ))))))))))(go) to see him (uring the
recess.
=. >ccor(ing to m% uncle, the acci(ent coul( ha&e been a&oi(e( if the (ri&er
)))))))))))))(stop) at the re( light.
. If I ))))))))))))(ha&e) enough mone%, I woul( pa% for the tic'ets.
?. @ow terrible it ))))))))))))(be) if I were the last person left on earth0
#7. If 1ar% ha( been careful with that &ase, she )))))))))))))))(ne&er brea') it.
##. If %ou ))))))))))))(spea') !nglish well, %ou will fin( it &er% useful later on.
#*. >s' that policeman if %ou ))))))))))(want) to 'now the wa% to the nearest
clinic.
#,. There woul( be fewer traffic acci(ents if there )))))))))))(be) a pe(estrian
crossing here.
#-. If the weather is &er% col( on a Sun(a%, m% brother usuall% )))))))))))(prefer)
to sta% at home.
#.. I3m sorr% about the mista'e. I )))))))))))))(come) to the part% if I
))))))))))))(recei&e) the in&itation but it ne&er arri&e(. I thin' it was lost in the
post.
#<. What woul( %ou (o if %ou ))))))))))(be) me, 1ar%:
#=. If Peter sa&es si"t% (ollars a month, he ))))))))))))(ha&e) enough mone% in
less than two %ears.
#. I (i(n3t reali9e that he was so hea&il% in (ebt. If onl% he ))))))))))))(tell) me,
I3m sure I coul( ha&e helpe( him.
#?. I3m sorr%, I can3t go out unless m% brother ))))))))))))(come) home in the
ne"t few minutes.
*7. What will %ou (o with the mone% when it )))))))))))(arri&e) from the A.B.:
*#. Peter sai( that he woul( not ))))))))))))(go) with us if we went to the Ci(o
Theatre.
**. The plane might not ha&e crashe( if there )))))))))))))(not be) an% fog that
night.
*,. If %ou ha( been there, %ou ))))))))))))(en6o%) %ourself.
!"ercise -
Write T%pe * con(itions to match these situation.
#. I (on3t ha&e a spare tic'et. I can3t ta'e %ou to the concert.
If I had a spare ticket, I could/would take you to the concert.
*. She is not in %our position. She isn3t able to a(&ise %ou.
If she were in your position, she would be able to advise you.
,. She (rin's too much coffee. She (oesn3t feel calm.
-. @e can3t t%pe. @e isn3t able to operate a computer.
.. The% (on3t un(erstan( the problem. The% won3t fin( a solution.
<. I am in a hurr%. I won3t sta% to (inner.
=. @e3s not a millionaire. @e won3t bu% %ou a palace.
. The weather isn3t sunn%. We won3t sta% in(oors.
!"ercise .
$omment on the following situations with if (e"pressing regret, etc.)
#, Dohn ate too much birth(a% ca'e, so he was sic'.
If John hadnt eaten too much birthday cake, he wouldnt have been sick.
*. We came home from our holi(a% earl% because we ran out of mone%.
,. The house (i(n3t burn (own because the firemen came imme(iatel%.
-. 1% father (i(n3t earn much mone%, so life wasn3t eas% for us.
.. I (i(n3t en6o% school, so I (i(n3t (o &er% well.
&'pressing (ishes
1.) Present and past reference (ith I (ish and if onl!
>fter I wish an( if onl%, we go one tense bac'.
(i) The past tense refers to the present5 I wish I had a better watch! (i.e. !"#
(ii)The past perfect tense refers to the past5 I wish you had asked me first! (i.e.
T@!E)
1.* &'pressing (ishes and regrets (ith I (ish and if onl!
I wish
We often use I wish for things that might (still) happen or to e"press regret for
things that can (now) ne&er happen5
I wish I knew the answer!
I wish %our mother were ali&e now0
If only
We can use if onl% in an e"clamation or in a complete sentence to gi&e a stronger
tone5
(a)If only you had been more careful! (FI wish %ou ha( been more careful.)
(b)If only $ncle were here now! (FI wish Ancle were here now.)
(c)Im sure you would pass if only you were more careful.
EGT!S
(i) We ma% use simple past of be after wish an( if onl%, especiall% in e&er%(a%
speech5
I wish I was on holiday now. If only %eresa was here now!
(ii) If we want to be more formal, we use were in all persons5
I wish I were on holiday now. If only %eresa were here now!
(iii) We ma% use the past perfect of be for things that can ne&er happen5
I wish I had been on holiday last week. If only %eresa had been here yesterday!
(i&) We use the past or past perfect forms of other &erbs5
I wish I knew the answer to your &uestion!
I wish I had known yesterday what I know now!
!"ercise <
!"press wishes an( regrets about these situations. Hefer to %ourself where possible.
#. ;ou3re not &er% fit.
I wish/If only I were fitter.
*. It3s &er% hot to(a%.
,. It3s raining.
-. ;ou were too impatient.
.. ;ou waste( a lot of time watching TI.
<. The% (on3t ha&e a lot of frien(s.
=. We (i(n3t loc' the bac' (oor0
. @e is abroa(.
?. Dane has rea( %our letter.
#7. Dohn (i(n3t ta'e %our a(&ice.
I wish.would
We use this pattern when 5
(i) we want something to happen or when we want somebo(% to (o something. The
spea'er is not happ% with the present situation.
!g. It is raining. Dim wants to go out, but it is raining. She sa%s5
I wish it would stop raining.
(She is complaining about the rain an( wants it to stop.)
!g. The phone has been ringing for fi&e minutes.
I wish somebody would answer it.
(ii)we refer to actions an( changes, not situations.
$ompare5 I wish 'eter would come. >E+ I wish 'eter were here now.
$ompare( I wish )other would buy me that dress. >E+ I wish I had that dress.
EGT!S
(i)We can use I wishJ..woul(n3tJ to complain about things people (o repeate(l%5
I wish you wouldnt keep interrupting me.
(iii) We must use coul(, not woul(, after I an( we. $ompare5
I can3t swim. K I wish I could swim!
@e is ma'ing a lot of noise0 K I wish he would be &uiet!

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