CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

I. Structure
Function
1 Probability

Truth
Request
2

Unreal
present

Unreal past

If- clause
Simple Present
Verb: V1/s/es/ dont/ doesnt
Be: am/ is/ are (not) + .
Simple Preset
Simple Present
Past Subjunctive
Verb: V2/ed / didnt V1
Be: were/ werent .
Past Perfect Subjunctive
Verb: had (not) + V3/ed
Be: had (not) been

Main clause
Simple Future
Verb: will (not) + V1
Be: will (not) be +
Simple Present
Imperative
(dont) V1
Future in the past
Verb: would (not) V1
Be: would (not) be ..
Verb: would(nt) have V3
Be: would not have been

Ex:
- If it (not rain) ________________, we will have a picnic.
- If you heat ice, it (melt) _____________.
- If she comes, please (let) ____________ me know.
- If I were in your shoes, I (not, do) _____________ that.
- If I (water) ___________ the plants, they wouldnt have died.
*Note:
1. Adv of time
- Present: now, today, right now, at the moment, Type 2
- Past: last, ago, yesterday, Type 3
- Future: next week, tomorrow Type 1
Ex:
- If you (be) ____________ busy tomorrow, can you let me know ?
- If she (study) ______________ hard yesterday, she (pass)
_______________ the exam
2. Mix type:
- Usually mix between type 2 and 3
Ex:
- If she (eat) _______________ something last night, she (not, be)
________________ hungry now.
- If I (take) _______________ the train last night, I (be) ______________
here with you now.

- If it (rain) _______________ an hour ago, the streets (be) __________

wet now.
- If the students (know) _______________ that is not good for them, they
(do) ________________ that yesterday.
- If she (finish) _____________ the job earlier, she (be) _____________
going to the party tonight.
3. Special types
If + S + should (not) + be/ V1 , S + will (not) + be/ V1 +
Unexpected things
Ex: If she should come, please tell me immediately so I can prepare
something for her.
If + S + will + V1, S + will (not) + be + V1 +
Polite request (for type 1)
Ex: If you will just wait a moment, I will find someone to help you.
= Please wait a moment, I will find someone to help you.
If + S + should (not) / were to + V1, S + would + (not) be/ V1 +
Unsure things
Ex: If she were to see you here, she would very surprised.
If + S + would + V1, S + would (not) + be + V1 +
Polite request (for type 2)
Ex: If you would come this way, the doctor would see you now.
4. Continuous tense in conditional sentences
Ex:
- If you are waiting for the bus, please join the line.
- If we were going by boat, we would feel more relaxed.
- If I hadnt been wearing seatbelt at that moment, I would have been
seriously injured.
Emphasize the continuance
5. Alternative modal verb
- Instead of will/ would in main clause, we can use:
+ must/ have to obligation
+ may/ might probability
+ can/ could ability
Ex:
- If it rains, we are going to stay at home.
- If you were in Britain, you had to drive on the left side.
- If Mary jogs regularly, she may lose weight.
II. Alternative of If clause

- Unless = If not
Ex: Unless you study hard, you will fail the exam.
(= If you dont study hard)
- Provided/ Providing that/ As soon as/ On condition (that): min l
Ex: You can use my car, provided that you drive carefully.
- Suppose/ Supposing that: gi s l (NOT with type 1)
Ex: Suppose the meeting is put off, what will we do?
- In case = in the event that: trong trng hp
Ex: In case it rains, please bring along a raincoat.
- Even if: ngay c khi
Ex: Even if we are poor, we will always help other people.
- But for = Without: nu khng c
If it werent for = Were it not for
If it hadnt been for = Had it not been for + Nphrase, S + would V1
But for
or: would have V3
Without
Ex: But for your help, I couldnt have passed the exam.
- or/ or else/ ortherwise

S + (dont/ doesnt) V1/s-es + or/ or else + S + will (not) + V1

S + (dont/ doesnt) V1/s-es . Otherwise, S + will (not) + V1
Ex: Hurry up or you will miss the train!
III. Inversion of If clause
If + S + should V1 = Should + S + V1
Ex: - If he should come ____________________________________
- If they should do _____________________________________
If + S + was/ were + O = Were + S + (not) + O
Ex:
- If he were not here now ____________________________
- If I were you _____________________________________
If + S + were to + V1 = Were + S + to V1
Ex - If you werent lie to her ________________________________
If + S + V2/ed + = Did + S + (not) + V1
Ex: If she watered the plants ________________________________
If + S + had V3/ed = Had + S + (not) + V3
Ex: If I had known you were ill ______________________________

III. Transformation
- A so/ therefore/ thats why B If (A), M (B)

- A because B If (B), M (A)

- Prepositions: and/ or/ or else If 1
- Because/ So/ Thats why/ therefore If 2 or 3 or mix (based on Adverb
of time in each clause)
Ex:
- Peter gets bad marks because he doesnt prepare his lessons well
If Peter ________________________________________________
- Mary doesnt have enough money. She cant buy a new car.
If Mary ________________________________________________
- Go right now or youll be late for the train.
If you________________________________________________
- He doesnt apply for the job because he doesnt have enough time
If he ________________________________________________
- Hurry up, or we will be late for the exam.
If we ________________________________________________
- I didnt do the homework last night, so I am punished today.
If you ________________________________________________
- Because you speak English unnaturally, they do not understand you.
If you ________________________________________________
- I couldnt have made it without your help means
A. I couldnt have made it if you helped me.
B. I couldnt have made it if you had helped me.
C. I couldnt have made it if you hadnt helped me.
D. I couldnt have made it if you didnt help me.
- She didnt stop her car because she didnt see the signal.
A. If she saw the signal, she would stop her car.
B. If she had seen the signal, she would stop her car.
C. If she had seen the signal, she would have stopped her car.
D. If she saw the signal, she would have stopped her car.
- His flight was delayed so he couldnt be here on time.
A. He would be here in time if his flight were not delayed.
B. He would have been here in time if his flight hadnt been delayed.
C. He would be here in time if his flight hadnt been delayed.
D. He would have been here in time if his flight werent delayed.

EXERCISES

A. Put the verb in brackets into the correct form.

1. If the earth suddenly (stop) _____spinning we all (fly) _____ off it.
_____________________________
2. If you (smoke) _____ in a non-smoking compartment the other
passengers (object) _____ _____________________________
3. (your parents / not / be) _____ proud if they could see you now?
_____________________________
4. Im broke, but I (have) _____ plenty of money now if I (not / spend)
______ so much yesterday. _____________________________
5. If we (work) _____all right, we (finish) _____ in time; but we have no
intention of doing it _____________________________
6. If we (have) _____ a submarine now, we (use) _____ it to investigate the
seabed. _____________________________
7. Were he ten years younger, he (take) _____ part in the voyage around
the world. _____________________________
8. Should you come late, they (not let) _____ you in.
_____________________________
9. He might get rid of his cough if he (not smoke) _____ so much
_____________________________
10. If someone (give) _____ you a boat what you (do) _____ ?
_____________________________
11. Water (freeze) _____ if the temperature falls below zero
_____________________________
12. I (warn) _____ you if I had seen you last week.
_____________________________
13. He always says hello if he (see) _____ you.
_____________________________
14. What would you do if he (resign) _____ tomorrow?
_____________________________
15. I wouldnt have been so upset if Judy (write) _____ to me earlier.
_____________________________
16. Shout if you (see) _____ anything unusually.
_____________________________
17. The engine starts if you (turn) _____ this key _______________
18. If he werent so bad-temperature, his wife (not leave) _____ him so soon
after the marriage. _____________________________
19. What (you / say) _________ if I offered you a job?
_____________________________
20. The children always (get) _________frightened if they watch horror films.
_____________________________
21. If I (take) _____ your advice yesterday, I (punish) _____ now.
__________________________________
22. I think it stands still. If it (fall) ______, tell me immediately. ______

B. Complete each of the following sentences so that it means the

same as the sentence before i.t
1. She doesnt live in London because she doesnt know anyone there
Shed __________________________________________________
2. I cant live in the country because I cant find a job there
Id __________________________________________________
3. I dont have a spare ticket. I cant take you to the concert
If I __________________________________________________
4. The schoolchildren sowed some seeds, but they forgot to water them so
they didnt grow.
If the children ____________________________________________
5. They dont understand the problem. They wont find a solution
If they __________________________________________________
6. He sits around too much. He isnt fit.
If he __________________________________________________
7. Carol didnt answer the phone because she was studying..
If Carol ________________________________________________
8. Rita is exhausted today because she didnt get any sleep last night.
Had __________________________________________________
9. Shes very thin; perhaps thats why she feels cold so much.
If she __________________________________________________
10. He never polishes his shoes, so he never looks smart
If he __________________________________________________
11. He cant park near his office; thats why he doesnt come by car
If he __________________________________________________
12. My house is guarded by two big dogs. Thats the only reason it isnt
broken into every night
If my house _____________________________________________
13. The flats are not clearly numbered, so it is very difficult to find anyone.
If the flats _______________________________________________
14. I dont know her e-mail address, so I cant tell you
If I __________________________________________________
15. She works in the evening. She has no time to play with her children
If she __________________________________________________
16. Do the homework now. Otherwise, you will be punish.
If ______________________________________________________
17. They didnt have enough money, so they didnt buy the house.
Had ___________________________________________________
18. I advised you to take that job.
Were __________________________________________________
19. He wasnt paying attention, so he didnt see the tree.
Had ___________________________________________________

C. Choose the best answer among A, B, C or D to complete each

sentence.
1. I would have visited you before if there _____ quite a lot of people in
your house.
A. hadn't B. hadn't been
C. wouldn't be
D. wasn't
2. If you had caught the bus, you _____ late for work.
A. wouldn't have been
B. would have been
C. wouldnt be
D. would be
3. If I _____, I would express my feelings.
A. were asked
B. would ask C. had been asked D. asked
4. If _____ as I told her, she would have succeeded.
A. she has done B. she had done C. she does
D.
she did
5. Will you be angry if I _____ your pocket dictionary?
A. stole
B. have stolen C. were to steal
D. steal
6. You made a mistake by telling her a lie. It _____ better if you _____ to
her.
A. would have been / hadn't lied B. would be / didn't lie
C. will be / don't lie
D. would be / hadn't lied
7. John would be taking a great risk if he _____ his money in that
business.
A. would invest
B. invested C. had invested
D. invests
8. She wouldn't have given them all that money if we _____ her to.
A. wouldnt advise B. won't advise C. hadn't advised D. didn't
advise
9. If the tree hadn't been so high, he _____ it up to take his kite down.
A. could have climbed B. climb C. is climbing D. climbed
10. If the wall weren't so high, he _____ it up to take his ball down.
A. climbed B. could climb
C. is climbing D. climb
11. If I _____ her phone number, I _____ her last night
A. had known / could have phoned B. knew / would have phoned
C. know / can phone
D. knew / could phone
12. If he ______ the truth, the police wouldnt arrest him.
A. tells
B. told
C. had told
D. would tell
13. If you press that button what _____?
A. would happen B. would have happened
C. will happen
D. happen
14. She says if she _____ that the traffic lights were red she _____.
A. had realized / would stop
B. realized / could have stopped
C. has realized / stopped D. had realized / would have stopped
15. I am very thin. I think, if I _____ smoking, I might get fat.
A. stop
B. had stopped
C. will stop
D. stopped
16. If I _____ that yesterday, I _____ them.
A. had discovered / would inform B. had discovered / would have informed

C. had discovered / could inform

D. discovered / can inform
17. If you _______ to the course regularly, they ________ a certificate
last year.
A. go / gave
B. go / give
C. had gone / would have given
D. went / would give
18. I think he is not at home. If he _____ in, he ______ the phone.
A. was / answered
B. were / would answer
C. were / would have answered
D.had been / would have
answered
19. If I ______ in London now, I could visit British Museum.
A. were
B. had been C. have been
D. would be
20. If Columbus _______ money from Queen Isabella, he _______
across the Atlantic.
A. do not receive / could not sail
B. had not received / might not have sailed
C. did not receive / might not have sailed
D. would not receive / might not sail
21. If you didn't wear shabby clothes, you _______ more good-looking.
A. will be
B. would be C. would have been D. can be
22. If your hair _______
grey now, what ______ you ________?
A. went / would / do
B. goes / would /do
C. had gone / would/do
D. had gone / would have / done
23. If you ______ be someone, who______ you ______?
A. could / would / have been
B. could / would / be
C. can / will / be
D. are able to / will / be
24. If I ________ an Angel, I would try to make happy all the children.
A. am
B. have been
C. were
D. had been
25. John would be taking a great risk if he _____ his money in that
business.
A. would invest
B. invested
C. had invested
D. invests
26. It ________ if nobody had reminded them.
A. would have be forgot
B. would have been forgot
C. would have forget
D. would have been forget
27. The car ________ if somebody takes it there.
A. will be repaired
C. will been repaired

B. would be repaired
D. is repair

28. You ______ to prison if you did that.

A. would be send

B. would have been sent

C. would be sent

D. were sent

29. You would study Italian if it _____ here.

A. was teaching

B. were taught C. would be taught

30. It _______ if nobody reminded them

A. was forgotten B. would be forget C. would be forgot D. would forgot

D. is taught