Conditional sentences

 Zero, first, second, third and mixed conditionals

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IF, EVEN IF, ONLY IF, AS LONG AS, PROVIDED, SUPPOSING, UNLESS, BUT FOR, IF NECESSARY, IF SO, IN CASE etc.

IF and WHEN

When can replace if in zero conditionals:

If you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it boils.
When you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it boils.

In the other types of conditionals, we cannot use when instead of if.

EVEN IF

Even if emphasises that something will happen, would happen or would have happened whatever the condition:

Even if we leave right now, we still won't catch the train.
I wouldn't go into the water even if I could swim.
Even if we had booked our flight earlier, it wouldn't have been cheaper.

ONLY IF

Only if makes the condition more restrictive:

Acetaminophen is dangerous to children only if dosage is too high.

If the if-clause is first, the subject and the auxiliary in the main clause are inverted:

Only if you like classical music is it worth coming tonight.

SO/AS LONG AS, PROVIDING/PROVIDED (THAT)

So/As long as and providing/provided (that) can be used instead of if to express a condition. Note that providing/provided (that) is a bit formal:

You can stay here as long as you keep quiet.
Provided/Providing (that) the bills are paid, tenants will not be evicted.

SUPPOSE/SUPPOSING, WHAT IF

Suppose/supposing and what if can replace if, mainly in everyday conversation, and are often used without a main clause:

Suppose/supposing you won the lottery, what would you do?
Suppose/supposing you can't find a job?
What if you are not accepted to university? What will you do then?

UNLESS

Unless is followed by an affirmative verb to express "if ... not":

My leg's broken. I can't stand up unless you help me. (I can't stand up if you don't help me.)

IF IT WEREN'T FOR / IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR, BUT FOR

These expressions mean "without". They are used in second and third conditionals and are usually followed by a noun phrase:

If it weren't for Miguel, we wouldn't know what to do now. (Without Miguel...)
If it hadn't been for your foolishness, we wouldn't have got lost. (If you hadn't been such a fool...)
But for your help, I would have been in big trouble. (Without your help... / If you hadn't helped me...)

IF IN DOUBT, IF POSSIBLE, IF NECESSARY etc.

We can make the if-clause shorter by omitting the subject and the verb be:

If (you are) in doubt, consult a dictionary.

In certain idiomatic expressions, the subject and be are normally omitted:

If necessary, you can call Jake at home.
I'd like a seat by the window if possible.

IF SO, IF NOT

If so and if not can stand for an if-clause which is understood from the context:

"According to the weather forecast, it might rain tomorrow." "If so, we'll go hiking another day."
I hope Peter gets here soon. If not, we'll have to start without him.

IN CASE and IF

An in case-clause gives a reason while an if-clause describes a condition:

I'll buy a sandwich in case I get hungry. (I'll buy a sandwich because I may get hungry later.)
I'll buy a sandwich if I get hungry. (I'll buy a sandwich when I get hungry.)

We can use should after in case:

Take an umbrella in case it should rain.

Conditionals and inversion

In formal English, the subject and the auxiliary can be inverted in the if-clause with if omitted:

Had it not been for your foolishness, we wouldn't have got lost. (if it hadn't been for your foolishness) 
Had we booked our flight earlier, it would have been cheaper. (if we had booked our flight earlier).

Should you see Kate, say hi from me. (if you should see Kate)
Were he to propose to you now, what would you say? (if he were to propose to you)
Were I you, I would stop smoking. (if I were you)
Were it not for Miguel, we wouldn't know what to do now. (if it weren't for Miguel)

Conditionals review: Kahoot conditionals

Worksheets -exercises

  

Zero conditional - worksheet

First conditional - worksheet
First conditional - pdf exercises
Worksheet - first conditional
First conditional - download

Second conditional - worksheet
Conditional sentences - second
Second conditional - download
Worksheet - second conditional

Third conditionals - pdf exercises
The third conditional - pdf
Third conditional - pdf handout
Third conditional - pdf exercises

Zero / first / second / third
Conditional worksheet -> answers
Mixed conditionals - worksheet
Printables / worksheets
Conditional sentences - exercises
Conditionals - pdf exercises
If / unless - worksheet
If clauses - advanced 1
If clauses - advanced 2
If Clauses - all types 3
If Clauses - all types 4
If Clauses - all types 5
If Clauses - all types 7
If Clauses - all types 8
If clauses - worksheet
Worksheets pdf - print
If clauses - finish the sentences
Grammar worksheets - handouts
Conditional sentences - grammar

Mixed conditionals

We use mixed conditionals to mix talking about the present and the past in the same sentence. The mixed conditional is a combination of the second and the third conditional:

➪ We can use past simple or continuous in the if-clause (to refer to the present or future) and would/ should/ might have + past participle in the main clause (to refer to the past).

➪ We can also use past perfect in the if-clause (to refer to the past) and would/ should/ might + infinitive (to refer to the present).

• If I didn’t have (second conditional) so much work, I would have gone (third conditional) to the party last night.
• If I spoke (second conditional) German, I would have understood (third conditional) them.
• If I had won (third conditional) the lottery, I would be (second conditional) rich.
• If I hadn’t dropped (third conditional) school, I could have (second conditional) a better job now.

Alternatives to if in conditional sentences

As long as / provided (that) / providing (that) / on condition (that) / only if

We can use the expressions as long as, provided/ providing (that), on condition (that), or only if instead of if when we want to emphasise the condition that needs to be present so that something can happen or be done.

• I’ll tell you what really happened as long as you keep the secret.
• I’ll lend you the money provided (that) you pay me back next month.
• They will speak to the press on condition (that) they remain anonymous sources.
• We will invest the money, but only if you can prove that it’s a safe investment. 

Whether or not

We use whether or not when there are two alternatives, and we want to say that something will happen or will be true in any of those two alternatives. Compare:

• I’ll help him if he needs me. (=I will help him only if he needs me.)
• I’ll help him whether or not he needs me. (I will help him if he needs me, and I will help him if he doesn’t need me, too.)

Even if

We also use even if with a similar meaning to ‘whether or not’. It is used to emphasise that something will still be true or will happen if another thing happens.

• Even if you apologise, he’ll never forgive you. (=Whether or not you apologise, he’ll never forgive you.)

Suppose/supposing

We normally use suppose or supposing at the beginning of a sentence to make someone imagine a situation. It means ‘what would happen if’, or simply ‘if’ (imagining a situation).

• Supposing I got a job, I wouldn’t be able to travel with you next summer.
• Suppose she doesn’t believe you, what would you do then?

Inversion in conditional sentences

Should you find

In first conditional sentences, it’s possible to use should at the beginning of the sentence instead of if. This form is formal, and it’s common to use an imperative form in the main clause.

• Should you find the answer, please let me know as soon as possible. (=If you find the answer)
• Should you change your mind, you know where to contact us. (=If you change your mind)

Had we arrived

In third conditional sentences, we can invert the auxiliary verb had and leave if out. Had we arrived = If we had arrived.

• Had we arrived earlier, we could have prevented the incident. 
• Had they looked further into the data, they might have realised there was a mistake. 

Were we to announce

We can also find cases of inversion with this structure: were + subject + to. + infinitive. It is used to talk about future improbable events (like the second conditional).

• Were we to announce the truth, we would receive a lot of criticism. (=If we announced …)
• Were they to buy a new house, they would need to sell the old one first. (=If they bought …)