Conditional sentences
Conditional sentences are sometimes confusing
for learners of English as a second language.
Watch out:
1.
Which type of
conditional sentences is it?
2.
Where is the if-clause
(e.g. at the beginning or at the end of the conditional sentence)?
There are three types of conditional sentences.
|
type
|
condition
|
|
I
|
condition possible to fulfill
|
|
II
|
condition in theory possible to fulfill
|
|
III
|
condition not possible to fulfill (too late)
|
1. Form
|
type
|
if-clause
|
main clause
|
|
I
|
Simple Present
|
will-future or (Modal + infinitive)
|
|
II
|
Simple Past
|
would + infinitive *
|
|
III
|
Past Perfect
|
would + have + past participle *
|
2. Examples (if-clause at the
beginning)
|
type
|
if clause
|
main clause
|
|
I
|
If
I study,
|
I will pass the exam.
|
|
II
|
If
I studied,
|
I would pass the exam.
|
|
III
|
If
I had studied,
|
I would have passed the exam.
|
3. Examples
(if-clause at the end)
|
type
|
main clause
|
if-clause
|
|
I
|
I will pass the exam
|
if
I study.
|
|
II
|
I would pass the exam
|
if
I studied.
|
|
III
|
I would have passed the exam
|
if
I had studied.
|
4. Examples
(affirmative and negative sentences)
|
type
|
Examples
|
||
|
long forms
|
short/contracted forms
|
||
|
I
|
+
|
If
I study, I will pass the exam.
|
If
I study, I'll pass the exam.
|
|
-
|
If
I study, I will not fail the exam.
If I do not study, I will fail the exam. |
If
I study, I won't fail the exam.
If I don't study, I'll fail the exam. |
|
|
II
|
+
|
If
I studied, I would pass the exam.
|
If
I studied, I'd pass the exam.
|
|
-
|
If
I studied, I would not fail the exam.
If I did not study, I would fail the exam. |
If
I studied, I wouldn't fail the exam.
If I didn't study, I'd fail the exam. |
|
|
III
|
+
|
If
I had studied, I would have passed the exam.
|
If
I'd studied, I'd have passed the exam.
|
|
-
|
If
I had studied, I would not have failed the exam.
If I had not studied, I would have failed the exam. |
If
I'd studied, I wouldn't have failed the exam.
If I hadn't studied, I'd have failed the exam. |
|
* We can substitute could or might for would (should, may or must are sometimes
possible, too).
·
I would pass the exam.
·
I could pass the exam.
·
I might pass the exam.
·
I may pass the exam.
·
I should pass the exam.
·
I must pass the exam.
Uses of the Conditional
1.
First conditional
a. Nature: Open condition, what is said in the
condition is possible.
b. Time: This condition refers either to present or
to future time.
e.g. If he is late, we will have to go without him.
If my mother knows about this, we are in serious trouble.
e.g. If he is late, we will have to go without him.
If my mother knows about this, we are in serious trouble.
2.
Second
conditional
a. Nature: unreal (impossible) or improbable
situations.
b. Time: present; the TENSE is past, but we are
talking about the present, now.
e.g. If I knew her name, I would tell you.
If I were you, I would tell my father.
Compare: If I become president, I will change the social security system. (Said by a presidential candidate)
If I became president, I would change the social security system. (Said by a schoolboy: improbable)
If we win this match, we are qualified for the semifinals.
If I won a million pounds, I would stop teaching. (improbable)
e.g. If I knew her name, I would tell you.
If I were you, I would tell my father.
Compare: If I become president, I will change the social security system. (Said by a presidential candidate)
If I became president, I would change the social security system. (Said by a schoolboy: improbable)
If we win this match, we are qualified for the semifinals.
If I won a million pounds, I would stop teaching. (improbable)
3.
Third conditional
a. Nature: unreal
b. Time: Past (so we are talking about a situation
that was not so in the past.)
e.g. If you had warned me, I would not have told your father about that party.(But you didn't, and I have).
e.g. If you had warned me, I would not have told your father about that party.(But you didn't, and I have).
Remember!
1. The conditional construction does not normally use will or would in
if-clauses. EXCEPTION: If will or would express
willingness, as in requests, they can be used in if-clauses.
e.g. If you will come this way, the manager will see you now.
I would be grateful if you would give me a little help.
(= ± please, come this way; please, give me...)
I would be grateful if you would give me a little help.
(= ± please, come this way; please, give me...)
2. For the second conditional, were replaces was:
If I were a rich man...
3. After if, we can either use "some(-one,
-where...)" or "any(-one, -where...).
If I have some spare time next weekend....or :
If I have any spare time...
If I have any spare time...
4. Instead of if not, we can use unless.
e.g. I'll be back tomorrow unless there is a plane strike.
He'll accept the job unless the salary is too low.
He'll accept the job unless the salary is too low.
5.There is a "mixed type" as well, for the present results
of an unreal condition in the past:
If + Past Perfect - would + inf.
If you had warned me [then], I would not be in prison [now].
If you had warned me [then], I would not be in prison [now].
English
grammar – Wish
Wishes about the present and future
1.
wish + past simple is
used to express that we want a situation in the present (or future) to be
different.
·
I wish I spoke Italian. (I don’t speak Italian)
·
I wish I had a big car. (I don’t have a big car)
·
I wish I was on a beach. (I’m in the office)
·
I wish it was the weekend. (It’s only Wednesday)
2.
wish + past continuous is
used to express that we want to be doing a different action in the present (or
future).
·
I wish I was lying on a beach now. (I’m sitting in the office)
·
I wish it wasn’t raining. (It is raining)
·
I wish you weren’t leaving tomorrow. (You are leaving tomorrow)
Wishes
about the past
wish
+ past
perfect is
used to express a regret, or that we want a situation in the past to be
different.
·
I wish I hadn’t eaten so much. (I ate a lot)
·
I wish they’d come on holiday with us. (They didn’t come on holiday)
·
I wish I had studied harder at school. (I was lazy at school)
Wish +
would
wish
+ would + bare infinitive is
used to express impatience, annoyance or dissatisfaction with a present action.
·
I wish you would stop smoking.
You are smoking at the moment
and it is annoying me.
·
I wish it would stop raining.
I’m impatient because it is
raining and I want to go outside.
·
I wish she’d be quiet.
I am annoyed because she is
speaking.
Wish and
hope
To
express that you want something to happen in the future (not wanting a
situation to be different, and not implying impatience or annoyance) hope is used instead of wish.
·
I hope it’s sunny tomorrow.
“I wish it was sunny tomorrow” is not correct.
·
I hope she passes her exam next week.
“I wish she were passing her exam next week” is not
correct.
·
I hope the plane doesn’t crash tomorrow.
“I wish the plane wouldn’t crash tomorrow” is not correct.
Wish and
want
wish
+ infinitive or wish +
object + infinitive is
used to meanwant in
a formal situation.
·
I wish to leave now. (+ infinitive)
·
I wish to speak to your supervisor please. (+
infinitive)
·
I do not wish my name to appear on the list. (+ object + infinitive)
Wish in
fixed expressions
I/we
wish you… is
used in fixed expressions.
·
I wish you a happy birthday.
·
We wish you good luck in your new job.
Pronunciation
See
the phonemic chart for
IPA symbols used below.
·
I wish I’d studied harder: /wI ʃaɪd/
(catenation – the last consonant sound of wish is joined to the vowel sound in I)
·
I wish he hadn’t done that: /wI ʃiː/
(catenation and elison – as above, and the first consonant
sound in he is elided)
- https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/wishes-and-hypotheses
- http://www.eslbase.com/grammar/wish
- http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/if.htm
