By Mariusz Mirecki

Conditional sentence

If they go for this merger, this will be a shock for the stock exchange.

The comma is more usual when the if-clause comes first.

if-clause main clause

It will be a shock for the stock exchange if they go for this merger.

if-clausemain clause

How likely is it …• How likely is that …

– you get a payrise soon?– you eat something good today?– your boss is now thinking of you?– you fly to New York this month?– you go out with friends this weekend?

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?

Types of conditions

Tenses in conditionals

The grammar of a conditional sentence does not inform us about the time reference, but about the type of condition.

The grammar of any other structure usually tells us about when the action takes place (present, past or future).

Conditionals vs Time reference

1a) If I get the money, I’ll be very happy

2a) If I got the money, I’d be happy

3a) If I had received the money, I would have been happy.

I am positive about receiving the money.

I’m not so optimistic about it. I think it is rather unlikely.

I didn’t receive the money, but I make a conditional of it. Imaginary past.

My laptop was stolen, but I had bought an insurance policy on it. I could say …

Open – 1/3• likely conditions• speaker knows the fact and makes a

condition out of it• speaker does not know the fact• past, present or future time

reference

Open – 2/3FUTURE TIME REFERENCE• If I work a lot, I will earn a lot of money• I’ll lend you my car provided you fill it up with petrol.

PRESENT TIME REFERENCE• If I have time, I study English.• If you can’t meet the deadline, we’ll have to find another supplier.

PAST TIME REFERENCE• If she learned a lot, she could speak English fluently.• If Peter and Anna broke up, you could ask Anna for dinner.• If he has opened his new shop, he should have invited us to the

opening.• If they were reading the papers, they might know what happened.

Open – 3/3

FUTURE = PRESENT SIMPLE

PRESENT = PRESENT SIMPLE

PAST = PAST SIMPLEPAST CONTINUOUSPRESENT PERFECT

TIME

RE

FER

EN

CE

Unlikely– 1/3• less possible, tentative condition• hypothetical condition • present or future time reference

UNLIKELY– 2/3PRESENT TIME REFERENCE• If I were English, I could speak it perfectly.• If she were at her desk, she would have answered the

phone.

FUTURE TIME REFERENCE• If he were rich, he will pay for us.• If I won the game, I may go to Olympics next year.• If I told him the truth, he would fire me.

Unlikely– 3/3

FUTURE = PAST SIMPLE

PRESENT = PAST SIMPLEPAST CONTINUOUS

TIME

RE

FER

EN

CE

TENSES AND CONDITIONStime

reference

type of condition

PAST PRESENT FUTURE

OPENpast simple

present perfectpast continuous

present simplepresent

continuouspresent simple

HYPOTHETICAL / UNREAL past perfect

past simplepast continuous

past simple

TENSES AND CONDITIONS - ex

time

reference

type of condition

PAST PRESENT FUTURE

OPEN

If he was awake, she

certainly heard the noise.

If he is working, he

always smokes.

If he comes, I’ll see him

HYPOTHETICAL / UNREAL

If he had come, I’d have seen

him.

If I were rich, I wouldn’t have

to work.

If he came, I’d see him.

introducing condition – 1/2• If

If we get the contract, we will celebrate.

• When I’ll tell you when we have some news

• Unless We’ll lose the contract unless we give them a discount.

• Imagine/supposing Supposing you would have a million dollars, how would you invest it?

• In case I’m going to give you my mobile telephone number, in case you need to contact me.

• provided that / providingThe product will be ready in time, providing everyone does overtime.

• on condition thatWe can make a concession on condition that you do the same.

• as long as / so long asSo long as there is new technology, consultants will continue to be in demand

• as soon as I’ll phone you as soon as I get the report.

introducing condition – 2/2

We use if for something that might happen in the future, or something imaginary. We use when for something that we know will definitely happen.

• I’ll call you, If I get a chance. (I’m not sure)• I’ll call you when I arrive. (I will definitely call you)

We can use if or when where the meaning is „every time”

• If/When anyone rings my mobile, this person’s image pops up on my screen.

If and When

Unless means the same as if … not. It always refers to the conditional part of the sentence and not the result part of the sentence:

• If he doesn’t get here soon, we will have to start the meeting without him.• Unless he gets here soon, we will have to start the meeting without him.• Unless he arrives soon, he’ll miss the start of the presentation.• Polish attitudes are dominated by the belief that unless Poland joins the

EU, things can only get worse.

We often use not + unless, which means only … if, when we want to emphasize a condition.

• They will only sign the contract if we give them an additional contract.• They won’t sign the contract unless we give them an additional discount

If and Unless

We use in case to talk about precautions we will take before a problem happens. We use if to talk about what we will do after a problem happens.

• We are going to ensure the shipment in case the goods get damaged in transit.

• If the goods get damaged in transit, we’ll make a claim.

Note that in sentence with „in case”, we often use going to rather than will because we are often talking about something we have already decided to do.

If and In case

We can use provided that/providing, as long as, and so long as when we want to emphasize a condition. Provided that and as long as mean if and only if.

• I will agree to these conditions provided that you increase my salary by 10%

• The strike will be successful as long as we stay together.

Provided that, as long as, etc.

It is more common to use the form if I were you instead of If I was you in imaginary futures, particularly when we give advice.

• If I were you, I’d wait until tomorrow with this news.• I’d be more careful if I were you

If I were you

The End … of the theory