CONDITIONAL CLAUSES OF OPEN/REAL CONDITION

A. Distribution of tenses:
a) all the tenses of the indicative may be used except the future tense* with will/shall and the conditional with
should/would; there are many possible combinations of tenses in the subordinate and the main clauses; the
imperative is often used in the main clause:

If Mary left London two hours ago, she will (may/can/must/should) reach Paris by 5 o’clock.
If he has been studying for two months as hard as he says he has, he will pass the exams.
If the sky is really clearing, we have no reason to stay at home.
What was he doing if he wasn’t sleeping?
If she did that, she did wrong.
If you have really lost the documents, you’d better inform the police.
If I said that, I apologize.
If she has bought a new hat, she has bought a new coat, too.
If what you say is right, then what I said is wrong.
If it is fine, we go the country.

b) if the subordinate clause refers to the future an appropriate present tense is used:

If he comes, we shall let you know.

I shall help you if I can.
If she is sleeping when you get there, don’t disturb her.

B. Exceptions to the rule that will cannot appear in if-clauses

1. Will can be used in if-clauses where the future contingency (= an event that may or may not occur) determines a
present decision:

If it will make any difference, I’ll gladly lend you some money.
If he won’t arrive before nine, there’s no point in ordering dinner for him.
I shall send you a copy of my book if that will be of any interest to you.

2. Will and would in conditional clauses of open/real condition

The modals will and would can be used in subordinate clauses when indicating willingness; this structure is common in
polite requests.

If you will cook the lunch, I’ll do the washing up afterwards.

(= If you are willing/if you don’t mind cooking the lunch, …)
I’ll tell you the news only if you will promise not to tell anyone else.
If he won’t come (= refusal), I’ll ask someone else.
Would is more tentative and more polite.

If you would wait a moment, I’ll ask the doctor to see you.
(= If you would be so kind as to wait, …)
Also: If you would like to come, I’ll get a ticket for you.

C. Should in conditional clauses of open/real condition

a) Should in conditional clauses of open condition can be synonymous with ought to.
Should = ought to
If you shouldn’t say that, don’t say it.

b) Should can also indicate that the fulfillment of the condition is possible but unlikely/not particularly probable.

if … should → a smaller degree of probability/a greater degree of doubt

If anyone should ring up, tell them I’ll be back by five.

(= If by any chance anyone rings up, tell them …)

If you should be passing by, do come and see us.

If you should run into Peter, tell him he owes me a letter.

 If … happen to has a similar meaning.

If you happen to pass a supermarket, perhaps you could get some eggs.
 Should and happen to can be used together.
If you should happen to finish early, give me a ring.
 Note: Would is not common in the main clause in these structures.
(Not common: If he should be late, we’d have to start without him.)
 If … should + the perfect infinitive → the conditional clause refers to past time
If he should have passed the exam, he will go to grammar school.
(= If by any chance he has passed the exam, …)

D. The present subjunctive in conditional clauses of open/real condition

In literary English and in very formal legal contexts the present subjunctive can be used in the subordinate clause to
express some reserve on the part of the speaker.

If that be the official view, it cannot be accepted.

If it be so, why is she dissatisfied?