Zero Conditional (Type 0)
Zero Conditional Sentences express a general or scientific truth which is true for present, past and future. It is a rule that result always depends on, follows from or is caused by condition.
(‘ If ’means ‘ when/whenever ’or‘ it is true that ’)
• If you add two and two, you get four.
• If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
• Water boils if you heat it to 100◦ C.
• If you spend over £20 at that supermarket, you get a 5% discount.
• If you boil water, it turns into steam.
• If you borrow money, you pay interest to the bank.
• Plants die if you don’t water them.
• If she heard it, she gave no sign.
• If I had time, I did a translation in writing.
• If it was raining, we stayed at home.
• We went home early if it was foggy.
• If you have a job like that, you are very lucky. (= If it is true that you have a job like that, you are very lucky.)
• If nothing happened, you were lucky. (= If it is true that nothing happened,...)
• If (Whenever) it rains, we play football indoors.
First Conditional (Type 1)
We use First Conditional Sentences to say that events or situations are possible in the future but not certain.
The Indicative and the Imperative Mood are used.
• If he goes now, he will catch the train. (perhaps he will catch or perhaps he won’t)
• I’ ll come back later if you are working now.
• What will you do if you don’t find a job?
• Don’t be angry if I stay out late.
• If I see Jack, I will give him your message.
• If I don’t hurry, it will be dark before I get to Grandma’s house.
• If you need something from the fridge, help yourself.
Note: There are some very common expressions with ‘if’:
If I can; If I have time; If you like; If you want (to).
Notice that in all these phrases we use a present tense to talk about the future:
| A: Will you do the shopping? A:Will you be home early tonight? A:Shall we go to the cinema? A:May I borrow this book? A:Will you call us when you get there? A:Can I borrow your pen? A:Could you help me with this? | B: Yes, if I have time. B: Yes, I will if I can. B: Yes, we can if you like. B: Yes, of course, if you want to. B: Yes, of course, if you want me to. B: Sure, if you like. B: Yes, I will if I can. |
In Second and Third Conditional Sentences the Subjunctive Mood is used to express an unreal condition in the subordinate clause and an unreal consequence/result in the principal clause.
Second Conditional (Type 2)
We use Second Conditional Sentences (unreal present)to talk about unreal, imaginary or unlikely events or situations in the present or future.
In sentences of unreal condition referring to the present or future the Past Subjunctive of the verb ‘ to be ’ (the form ‘ were ’) is used in the subordinate clause. With other verbs the same meaning is expressed by the Past Indefinite of the Indicative Mood. In the principal clause we find the analytical subjunctive consisting of the mood auxiliary should/would and the Indefinite Infinitive (or the Future Indefinite in the Past).
• I would give up my job if I didn’t like it. Я бы ушел с работы, если бы не любил её.
• If you drove carefully, you wouldn’t have accidents. Если бы вы ездили на машине внимательно, вы не попадали бы в аварии.
• If I were better qualified, I would apply for the job.
The structure If I were you,.... is used to give advice.
• If I were you, I would apologize to her. На твоём месте я бы извинился перед ней.
• If I were the president of the country, I would increase taxation. (But it’s not very likely that I will ever be the president)
The structure ‘ I would if I could ’ is often used to make an excuse.
• Will you give me a lift? - I would if I could, but I’m just too busy.
Third Conditional (Type 3)
We use Third Conditional Sentences (unreal past) to talk about unreal, imaginary or unlikely events or situations in the past.
We also use them to express regret or criticism.
In sentences of unreal condition referring to the past the Past Perfect of the Indicative Mood is used in the subordinate clause. In the principal clause we find the analytical subjunctive consisting of the mood auxiliary should/would and the Perfect Infinitive (or the Future Perfect in the Past or the form would have + past participle).
• If I had lived in the Stone Age, I would have been a hunter. Если бы я жил в каменном веке, я был бы охотником.
• If they had invited us last week, we would have gone to the party. Если бы они пригласили нас на прошлой неделе, мы бы пошли на вечеринку.
• If you had followed my direction then, you wouldn’t have got lost. (But you didn’t follow my directions and, therefore, you got lost)
• If I had left home on time, I would not have missed the bus. (I missed the bus because I didn’t leave home on time)
• If you hadn’t lent us the money yesterday, we would have gone to the bank.
• The view was wonderful. If I had had a camera, I would have taken some photographs.
In Second and Third Conditional Sentences the modal verbs could and might can be used.
• If she had private classes, she could pass the exam.
• If they had taught us how to use the machine safely, the accident might never have happened.
• I would be grateful if I could receive any information. Я был бы благодарен, если бы смог получить какую-нибудь информацию.
• “If a man could have half his wishes, he would double his troubles.” (B. Franklin) “Если бы человек мог иметь половину того, что он хочет, он бы удвоил свои проблемы”.
• If I could have bought the painting, I might have told you. Если бы я смог купить картину, я бы, может быть, сказал тебе.
Note that you can have modal verbs in both clauses: the principal clause and subordinate clause.
Conditional Sentences:
| with RealCondition | with Unreal Condition | ||||
| First Conditional (Type I) The action refers to the future | Second Conditional (Type II) The action refers to the present or future | Third Conditional (Type III) The action refers to thepast | |||
| Subordinate Clause | Principal Clause | Subordinate Clause | Principal Clause | Subordinate Clause | Principal Clause |
| If + Present Simple /Pr. Cont. / Pr. Perf. / Present Perfect Continuous | Future / Imperative / can/may/might/must/ should + bare infinitive | If + Past Simple or Past Continuous or were/was | would/could/might + bare infinitive or the Future Indefinite in the Past | If + Past Perfect or Past Perfect Cont. | would/could/might + have + past participle or the Future Perfect in the Past |
| 1. If I am free tomorrow, I will help you. - Если я буду свободен завтра, я помогу тебе. 2. If the weather is nice, we will go on an excursion. 3. If you have a headache, take an aspirin. 4. If he calls, I’ll tell him the news. (but he might not call) 5. If you have done your homework, you can watchTV. 6. If they are studying. I won’t make any noise. 7. If I get paid today, I’ll treat you to a meal tonight. 8. If I finish the project on time, I may take a few days off. 9. If she hasn’t cooked dinner, we will order a takeaway. 10. If you can find my purse, I might buy you an ice-cream. 11. If you have never been to Wales, you should try to get there one day. 12. You may go away if it bothers you. 13. Pleasecall me if you hearfrom Jane. 14. If it is fine tomorrow,... we can go to the beach. (= we are free to go to the beach.) we could go to the beach. (= would be able to go to the beach.) we may go to the beach (= it’s possible) we might go to the beach. (= it’s possible) we should go to the beach. (= it’s advisable) we ought to go to the beach. (= it’s advisable) we must go to the beach. (= it’s necessary) 15. If you need something from the fridge, help yourself. 16. If there isn’t a hotel, where will you stay? 17. I’ll take my umbrella in case it rains. 18. Unless you practise hard, you’ll never play the guitar well. 19. Unless you have finished before 5.00, I won’t be able to pick you up. 20. If you don’t leave now, you will miss / are going to miss / might miss the train. 21. If I stay till May, I will have been working here for 20 years. 22. Colloquial omission of ‘ if ’. An imperative can be used instead of an ‘ if-clause ’ in everyday speech: (or/or else/otherwise = иначе, или же, в противном случае) Stop shouting, or / or else / otherwise you’ll wake up the neighbours. (= If you don’t stop shouting, you’ll wake up the neighbours.) 23. Go at once; otherwise you will miss your train. Идите немедленно, иначе опоздаете на поезд. 24. Don’t lose your money, or / or else / otherwise you won’t be able to get home. (= If you lose your money, you won’tbe able to get home.) 25. Sit down, and I’ll make us a cup of tea.(= If you sit down, I’ll make us a cup of tea.) Note the difference between imperative + or and imperative + and in threats: Drop that gun, or I’ll shoot you! (i.e. If you don’t drop it, I’ll shoot you.) Drop that parcel, and I’ll kill you. (i.e. If you do drop it, I’ll kill you.) 26. What will you do if you loseyour job? - If I losemy job, I will go abroad. | 1. If I were free tomorrow, I would help you. - Если бы я был свободен завтра, я бы помог тебе. (but I’m busy and won’t be able to help you) 2. If she had a lot of time, she would go on foot. 3. If I won a million dollars, I shouldn’t work. 4. If I were you, I would changea job. - На твоем месте я бы поменял работу. If I were her/him,... If I were in your shoes,.... If I were in your position,... In your place I... 5. If you were in my position, what would you do? 6. If I were you, I would attend a computer course. 7. If I were earning more money, we could buya house by the sea. 8. You would get there in time if you went by taxi. 9. If I didn’t read newspapers, I wouldn’t know what was happening in the world. 10. If there were no television, people would go out more. 11. I would be very frightenedif somebody pointed a gun at me. 12. If he didn’t eat so many sweets, he wouldn’t havea problem with his teeth. (but he eats a lot of sweets) 13. If I could live anywhere, I would choose Mexico City. 15. Many crimes could be preventedif the public tookmore care. - Многие преступления могли бы бытьпредотвращены, если быобщественность проявляла внимание. 16. If I had a big garden, I would grow a lot of flowers. (= a definite consequence, = certainly - несомненно) 17. If I had a big garden, I could grow a lot of flowers. (= possible, = I would be able togrow - смог бы вырастить) 18. If I had a big garden, I might grow a lot of flowers. (= perhaps, = I would perhaps grow) 19. What would you do if you saw someone shoplifting? 20. If you needed help, who wouldyou ask? 21. If I saved a little every week, I might be able to save up for a car. 22. I could buy some new clothes if I had some money. 23. If I had longer legs, I would be able to run faster. 24. I don’t really want to go to their party, but I probably will go. They would be offended if I didn’t go. 25. If it stopped raining, we could go out. 26. If you asked him nicely, he might agree. 27. What would you do now if you lost your job? - If I lostmy job now, I would go abroad. | 1. If I had been free yesterday, I would have helped you. - Если бы я был свободен вчера, я бы помог тебе. (but I was busy, therefore I didn’t help you) 2. If I had had the money yesterday, I would have bought a new car. (I had no money, therefore I didn’t buy a car) 3. We would have arrived sooner if we hadn’t lost our way. 4. If I hadn’t helped you last week, what wouldyou have done? 5. If she had realized he was lonely, she would have called him. 6. I wouldn’t have cooked a vegetarian meal unless I had thought they were vegetarians. 7. You could have passed the exam if you had taken it. (= You would have been able to pass the exam if...) 8. If you had asked me, I might have said “Yes”. (= I would perhaps have said “Yes”) 9. If I had not been wearing my seat belt, I might have hurt myself badly. 10. If I could have played tennis then, I would have taken part in the competition. 11. If you had told me you were coming, I would have prepared you a nice meal! 12. I could have seen a lot if I hadn’t had to leave Paris so soon. 13. If I had not got married, I would still have been living abroad. 14. If I could have stopped, there wouldn’t have been an accident. 15. We could have had a good time, if we had had the money 16. If I had been trying harder, I would have succeeded. 17. If I had been you/in your position/Jane, I would have acceptedtheir offer. 18. If he had been listening, he might have heard what the teacher said. 19. If I had worked harder at school, I could have got a better job. 20. I wasn’t hungry. If I had been hungry, I would have eaten something. 21. Now we‘re lost! If you had writtenMary’s directions, this would not have happened. 22. If I hadn’t borrowed your tools, I wouldn’t have been able to fix the car. 23. If you had gone through the red light, you might have hit another car. 24. It would have been better if you hadn’t talked to him like that. 25. What would you have done last year if you had lost your job? - If I had lostmy job last year, I would have gone abroad. |