Conditionals
Conditionals: imagined situations
Conditional sentences consider imagined or uncertain situations and the possible results of these situations. The most common types of conditional sentences involve if: [imagined situation]If I get the job in Milan, [result]I’ll be pretty happy.
[outcome]We’ll have the party in the garden[imagined situation]as long as it doesn’t rain. (or … if it doesn’t rain. or … on condition that it doesn’t rain.)
See also:
Conditionals: if
Conditionals: other expressions (unless, should, as long as)
If
Conditional sentences
Conditional sentences consist of a conditional clause and a main clause: [conditional clause]If a lot of people come, [main clause]we’ll have to get extra chairs.
[conditional clause]Unless you book weeks in advance, [main clause]you won’t get a flight.
The verb in the conditional clause reflects the speaker’s point of view on whether the imagined situation is likely or impossible: If you win the next match, will you be in the semi-final? (present simple + will indicates the speaker thinks winning the match is possible or likely)
If I won a million pounds, I would give this job up tomorrow! (past simple + would indicates the speaker thinks winning a million pounds is not likely to happen)
If we had won the competition, we would have had a free trip to Moscow. (past perfect + would have refers to an impossible condition – the event did not happen)
Order of clauses
Conditional clauses usually come before main clauses but they may also come after them: If you see Dora, will you give her a message? (conditional clause first; a comma is normally used in writing)
I’ll go to Bristol tomorrow if the weather is good. (conditional clause second; a comma is not normally used in writing)
Verb forms in the conditional clause
The verb in the conditional clause may be in the simple form or the continuous form, depending on the meaning: If you owe money, you must pay it back immediately. (simple)
If you’re feeling hungry, we can go and get something to eat. (continuous)
If he had time, he always called in to see us. (simple)
If they were working, we always tried not to disturb them. (continuous)
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