Conditional sentences (if-clauses, main clauses)

A. Summary
The conditional sentences are sometimes confusing for learners of English. Watch out: 1) Which type of the conditional sentences is used? 2) Where is the if-clause (e.g. at the beginning or at the end of the conditional sentence)? There are three types of the if-clauses. type I II III Form type I II III if clause Simple Present Simple Past Past Perfect main clause will-future (or Modal + infinitive) would + infinitive * would + have + past participle * condition condition possible to fulfill condition in theory possible to fulfill condition not possible to fulfill (too late)

Examples (if-clause at the beginning) type I II III if clause If I study, If I studied, If I had studied, main clause I will pass the exam. I would pass the exam. I would have passed the exam.

Examples (if-clause at the end) type I II III main clause I will pass the exam I would pass the exam I would have passed the exam if-clause if I study. if I studied. if I had studied.

Examples (affirmative and negative sentences) type Examples long forms + If I study, I will pass the exam. I If I study, I will not fail the exam. If I do not study, I will fail the exam. short/contracted forms If I study, I'll pass the exam. If I study, I won't fail the exam. If I don't study, I'll fail the exam. If I studied, I'd pass the exam. If I studied, I wouldn't fail the exam.

+ If I studied, I would pass the exam. II If I studied, I would not fail the exam.

If I did not study, I would fail the exam. If I didn't study, I'd fail the exam. If I had studied, I would have passed the exam. If I had studied, I would not have If I'd studied, I'd have passed the exam. If I'd studied, I wouldn't have failed the exam. If I hadn't studied, I'd have failed the exam.

III -

failedthe exam. If I had not studied, I would have failedthe 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.

B. Conditional sentences Type I

Use
It is possible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.

Form
if clause main clause will-future or Simple Present infinitive or Modal + infinitive

Examples
If I study, If you see John tonight, If Ben gets up early, I will pass the exams. tell him to e-mail me. he can catch the bus.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. If I study, I will pass the exams I will pass the exams. if I study.

C. Conditional sentences Type II

Use
It is theoretically possible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.

Form
if clause main clause would + infinitive or Simple Past could + infinitive or might + infinitive

Examples
If I studied, If I studied, If I studied, I would pass the exams. I could pass the exams. I might pass the exams.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. If I studied, I would pass the exams I would pass the exams. if I studied.

D. Conditional sentences Type III

Use
It is impossible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.

Form
if clause main clause would + have + past participle or Past Perfect could + have + past participle or might + have + past participle

Examples
If I had studied, If I had studied, If I had studied, I would have passed the exams. I could have passed the exams. I might have passed the exams.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. If I had studied, I would have passed the exams I would have passed the exams. if I had studied.

E. Special types and structures

Structure
If-clauses can be clause-initial (1), clause-medial (2) as well as clause-final (3). (1) (2) (3) If you like, we can catch a movie. We, if you like, can catch a movie. We can catch a movie if you like.

Types
Aside from the typical type I, II, III strucure, conditionals can be divided into two categories: real and unreal conditionals. Real Condition If I have money, I spend it. If I had money, I spent it. Present Real Conditional - type I Past Real Conditional - type I

If I have money, I will/am going to spend it. Unreal Condition If I had had money, I would have spent it. If I had money, I would spend it. If I had money, I would spend it.

Future Real Conditional - type I

Past unreal Conditional - type III

I think about spending the money TODAY. I think about spending the money NEXT WEEK.

Present unreal Conditional - type II

Future unreal Conditional - type II

Special Features
Modal verbs Main clauses with real conditional tenses can have modal verbs. If I have money, I can spend it. You can use could and might instead of would in unreal conditional clauses. If I had money, I could spend it. (I would be able to spend it.) If I had money, I might spend it. (I would possibly spend it.)

F. Mixed Conditionals
Mixed Conditionals
Unreal conditionals (type II + III) sometimes can be mixed, that is, the time of the if clause is different from the one of the main clause. Past --> Present If I had taken an aspirin, I wouldn't have a headache now.

Past --> Future If I had known that you are going to come by tomorrow, I would be in then.

Present --> Past If she had enough money, she could have done this trip to Hawaii.

Present --> Future If I were you, I would be spending my vacation in Seattle.

Future --> Past If I weren't flying to Detroit, I would have planned a trip to Vancouver.

Future --> Present If I were taking this exam next week, I would be high-strung.

G. if I were you - if I was you - which is correct?

The word were in the phrase if I were you is special form. It is known as the subjunctive mood (from the grammatical point of view). Today you also find the phrase if I was you. Here the Simple Past form of be is used. But there are people who say that this phrase is incorrect and would never use it (mainly Americans). Others say that this phrase can be used. If I were you I would phone him. - subjunctive mood If I was you I would phone him. - Simple Past

H. will and would in if-clauses

will in if-clauses
When the situation or action depicted in the if-clause is a result of the main clause, the will future is used in the if-clause. He'll pay me $10 if I'll help him do the dishes. (Doing the dishes is the result of paying ten dollars.)

would in if-clauses
In polite requests would is possible in if-clauses. It would be nice if you would help me in the kitchen. (Are you ready to help me in the kitchen?)

I. Replacing if - Omitting if - if vs. when - in case vs. if

Replacing if
If can be replaced by words or expressions with a similar meaning. The most common are: as long as assuming (that) on condition (that) on the assumption (that) provided (that) supposing (that) unless with the condition (that)

Omitting if
Had I known... (instead of If I had known...) Were you my daughter,... (instead of: If you were my daughter,...) Should you need my advice,... (instead of: If you should need my advice,...)

if vs. when
if and when are interchangeable when the statement of the conditional clause is a fact or a general issue (also known as zero conditonal) If you heat ice, it melts. When you heat ice, it melts. if is used for something that, according to the speaker, might happen. We can spend the afternoon on the beach if the weather is fine. when is used for something that, according to the speaker, will happen. I will clean up the kitchen right away when I'm back from work.

in case vs. if
in case of can be used to shorten an if-clause as shown below:

If there is a fire, leave the room.

In case of fire, leave the room.

While if expresses a condition (1), in case is used to express a possibility (2). (1) (2) I need painkillers if I'm in severe pain. I need painkillers in case I'm in severe pain.

The expression just in case is used pretty much the same way. I got you a pizza just in case you were hungry. (I don't know whether you are hungry.)

Source : http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en