Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Type 0 Conditionals
They express something which is always true. ( when can be used instead of
if)
e.g. If / When the sun shines, snow melts.
Type 1 Conditionals
They express real or very probable situations in the present or future.
e.g. If he doesnt study hard, he wont pass his exam.
If I finish the project on time, I may take a few days off.
If she hasnt cooked dinner, we will order a takeaway.
If the fire alarm goes off, evacuate the building immediately.
Type 2 Conditionals (unreal present)
They express imaginary situations which are contrary to facts in the present.
e.g. If I got up early, I would arrive at work on time.
Were is generally used instead of was for all persons.
If I were you, I would attend a computer course. (advice)
Type 3 Conditionals (unreal past)
They express imaginary situations which are contrary to facts in the past.
They can show regrets or criticism.
If they had invited us, we would have gone to the party.
If John hadnt got up late, he wouldnt have missed the bus.
If - clause
Main clause
Use
Type 0
general
truth
Type 1
real
present
If + present
simple
present simple
If + present
simple, present
continuous,
pps/ppc
Future/imperative/can/may/might/must/should/coul
d + infinitive
Type 2
Unreal
present
If + past simple
or continuous
Would/could/might + infinitive
Sth which
is always
true
Reallikely to
happen in
the
present or
future
Imaginary
situation
Type 3
Unreal
past
If + past perfect
simple/continuous
Imaginary
situation
contrary
to facts in
the past
Will/ Would can be used after if only to make a polite request or express insistence or
uncertainty (usually with expressions such as I dont know, I doubt, I wonder,etc)
Should is used after if to talk about something which is possible, but not very likely to happen.
e.g. If you will fill in this form, Ill process your application.
If you will call me later, I will be able to give you an answer.
polite request
If you will not stop shouting, youll have to leave.
Insistence
I dont know if he will pass his exams.
I wonder if theyll be back on time.
Uncertainty
If Tom should call, tell him Ill be late.
Possibility
We can omit if and use should/were/had before the subject.
e.g. Should you need my advice, you can call me. (If you should need my advice, .......... )
Were she more efficient, she would get a promotion. (If she were more efficient, ........... )
Had he arrived on time, we wouldnt have missed the bus. (If he had arrived on time, .......... )
We can use unless instead of if ..... not (in Type 1 conditionals)
e.g. Unless you leave now, youll miss the bus.
Other cases: provided/providing that, as long as, suppose/supposing.
Ill pick your clothes up from the dry cleaners providing/provided that I finish work before
Three oclock.
As long as you behave yourself you can come with me.
Suppose/Supposing the boss came now, what would you say?
Might or could can be used instead of would.
If you worked hard, you might pass the exam.
If I borrowed Mums car, I could give you a lift.
The choice of will or would sometimes depends on how we see a situation.
If I get the job, well go out to celebrate. ( real possibility)
If I were manager, Id make a lot of changes. (imagining himself in the job)
Complete the sentences with your own ideas using will or would.
1. If I learn to speak English well, ..............
2. If I could live anywhere in the world, ..........
3. If I have time this week, .........
4. If I live to be eighty years old, .........
5. If I could live my life again, ............
6. If I were invisible, .............
Main clause
Type 2
If nobody paid the bill,
Type 2
If he had the money,
Type 3
If he had won the lottery,
Type 1
the electricity will be cut off.
Type 3
He would have bought her a gift.
Type 2
He wouldnt be asking for money now.
WISHES
Verb tense
Past simple/
I wish/
If only
continuous
Past perfect
I wish/
If only
Use
Subject +
would
To express regret
about sth which
happened or didnt
happen in the past
To express:
a) polite imperative
b) desire for a
situation or someones
behaviour to change.
Should/ ought to
should/ought to
had better
PREFERENCE
I prefer jogging to cycling.
I prefer to go out rather than stay at home.
She prefers orange juice to apple juice.
Id prefer to pay in cash rather than (pay) by credit card.
Shes rather have a salad than (have) a steak.
Fill in if or unless.
1. ............ you decide to come to the party, give us a call.
2. ............ you give up junk food, you wont lose any weight.
3. ............. you forget your keys, you can use my spare ones.
4. ............. there is a lot of traffic, Ill be home early.
5. ............. they call while Im out, tell them Ill be back later.
6. ............. she studies hard, shell pass the exams.
7. ............. he passes his driving test, he cant buy a car.
8. ............. they invite him to the party, he wont go.
9. ............. you find any clues, call me.
must
same subject
different subject
4. We regret
5. Id rather you
6. Youd better
7. If youd waited a bit longer
8. Its high time
9. Supposing you inherited a million euro
10. Had I listened to my mother
a. hurry up and finish your homework.
b. breaking up with John.
c. they stopped complaining and did something.
d. what would you do?
e. I wouldnt have made the same mistake twice.
f. to inform you that the show has been cancelled.
g. didnt talk while Im talking.
h. stop arguing.
i. you would have seen him arrive.
j. I hadnt eaten that extra pie.
What is the real situation in the following situations?
The first one has been done as an example.
0 If I had owned a car, I would have driven to work.
I didnt own a car, so I took the bus/I walked/I couldnt drive to work.
1. I would have travelled around the world if Id had more money.
................................................................................................................
2. I would have read more as a child if I hadnt watched so much TV.
.................................................................................................................
3. I would have gone to Spain if I had studied Spanish instead of French.
..................................................................................................................
4. If Roger had worked harder, he would have passed his course.
..................................................................................................................
Complete the spaces in the following sentences with the appropriate form of the verb in
brackets.
1. If I .......had (have) more time, I would help (help) you, but Im afraid Im just too busy.
2. I ............... (buy) you a new pair of football boots as long as you ................. (promise) to
look after them properly.
3. Why did you tell your parents? If you .................. (not/say) anything, we .............. (not/get)
into trouble.
4. If he .............. (sleep) for less than eight hours, he ..................... ((usually/be) bad-tempered
all morning.
5. Its a shame you werent at the party. If you ............... (go), you ................ (meet) my sister.
6. If we ............ (beat) United next Saturday, we ............................. (go) to the top of the league.
7. If I .............. (be) you, I .................... (go) to the doctors.
8. We ............... (be) there by 6 oclock this evening unless we ...................... (get) stuck in a
traffic jam.
9. I had to wait two hours to see the doctor. If I .................. (not/take) my book with me to read,
I .................. (get) so bored.
Rewrite sentences below to form second, third or mixed conditional sentences.
1. I dont have to pay to get into the museum because Im unemployed.
If I wasnt unemployed, Id have to pay to get into the museum.
2. We didnt go sailing because there wasnt enough wind.
..............................................................................................................
3. We dont go abroad on holiday because Im afraid of flying.
.............................................................................................................
4. Hes broken his leg so he cant drive.
..............................................................................................................
5. I couldnt take any photos because I forgot to pack my camera.
..............................................................................................................
6. He isnt going to the wedding because he hasnt got a suit.
...............................................................................................................
7. Hes feeling ill because he drank too much last night.
................................................................................................................
8. She didnt pass her exams so she couldnt go to university.
..................................................................................................................
9. They didnt watch the news so they didnt hear about the earthquake.
...................................................................................................................
Put the verbs into the correct tense.
1. You .................. (not pass) your science test unless you do some serious revision this
weekend.
2. If hed known what was going to happen, he ................... (not start) the experiment.
3. If you .................... (say) the word walk, our dog runs to the front door!
4. If you ..................... (do) a bit more exercise you would feel a lot better.
5. If you press this button, the machine ............... (add) extra sugar to your coffee.
6. Can I borrow your car, if I ...................... (promise) to take good care of it?
7. If you ........................ (come) to the party, you would have met my sister.
8. Tell Tom to ring me if he .................. (have) the chance.
Read the following text and then choose from the list A J the best phrase to fill each of
the spaces.
NEED
Need is followed by an -ing or a passive infinitive to show that it is necessary to improve
or
repair something.
e.g. The windows need cleaning.