Conditionals

More 2nd Conditional forms

1. Using "were to" + infinitive makes a 2nd conditional more formal.

If the government were to invest more in infrastructure, it would create more jobs.

If I were to propose to you, what would you say?

2. Inverting the "were to" structure makes it even more formal and fancy.

Were the government to invest more in infrastructure, it would create more jobs.

Were I to propose to you, what would you say?

Get rid of "if" and change subject/auxiliary order.

Change the following sentences using both forms:

If I moved to another country, I would choose................

If the world ended tomorrow, I would...........

If I met my hero, I would.............

If the company improved conditions, workers would be more productive.

If the local council spent more on maintenance, the metro stations wouldn't leak when it rained.

Note

We generally don't use the "were to" structure in conditionals with the verb "to be".

If I were the President, I would...........

If I were to be the President, I would...... (Grammatically correct but not used.

Inverted form:

Were I the President, I would....

If I moved to another country, I would choose................

If I were to move to another country, I would choose....

Were I to move to another country, I would choose.....

If the world ended tomorrow, I would...........

If the world were to end tomorrow, I would..........

Were the world to end tomorrow, I would.........

If I met my hero, I would.............

If I were to meet my hero, I would.........

Were I to meet my hero, I would..........

If the company improved conditions, workers would be more productive.

If the company were to improve conditions, workers would be more productive.

Were the company to improve conditions, workers would be more productive.

If the local council spent more on maintenance, the metro stations wouldn't leak when it rained.

If the local council were to spend more on maintenance, the metro stations wouldn't leak when it rained.

Were the local council to spend more on maintenance, the metro stations wouldn't leak when it rained.

1st Conditional

Conditionals CAE

If + present, result = future

Likely/probable future events.

If the weather is nice, we'll go to the beach.

2nd Conditional

If + past simple, result = would/wouldn't

Hypothetical situations.

3rd Conditional

Other Conditional Phrases

2nd Conditional:

If it weren't for the satnav, we would be completely lost by now.

Still more conditional phrases

On condition that/provided/providing/as long as/so long as - can all be used as an alternative to "If" in 1st conditional sentences.

I'll cook, if/on condition that/provided/providing/as long as/so long as you wash up afterwards.

Even if - is used to emphasize the conditional clause

What does "If it weren't for" mean in this sentence?

Even if we never see each other again, I will always love you.

Even if you miss the the wedding, you should get them a present.

Even if you paid me €100,000, I wouldn't do that job.

Without/if we didn't have the satnav, we would be completely lost by now.

If I won the lottery, I would buy a mansion.

We're going to the beach on Sunday, unless it rains.

Unless - means "but not if"

Suppose/supposing - can be used in 2nd/3rd conditional questions to introduce a hypothetical situation. (great for article introductions)

We use "If it weren't for" with a noun phrase to express "without".

If it weren't for my friends, I would go crazy.

Supposing/suppose you won the lottery, what would you buy?

If you take up yoga, you'll lose weight.

Suppose/supposing you hadn't studied Maths, what would you have studied?

Otherwise/or else - can be used to introduce an alternative situation. (if not)

You'd better not be late, otherwise/or else you'll be in trouble.

Don't miss the last train, otherwise/or else you'll have to get a taxi.

Put a scarf on, otherwise/or else you'll catch a cold.

We can also use "but for" in place of "If it weren't for"

But for the satnav, we would be completely lost by now.

But for my friends, I would go crazy.

We can also use these phrases with the 3rd conditional, try to change the satnav sentence to 3rd conditional.

3rd Conditional:

If it hadn't been for the satnav, we would have got completely lost.

But for the satnav, we would have got completely lost.

If it hadn't been for/But for Batman, the Joker would have destroyed the city.

Inverted 3rd Conditionals

If it hadn't been/But for your help/advice, I would have failed the exam.

Had it not been for your help, I would have failed the exam.

Speaking:

Try to think of a time in the past when something could have happened differently if you hadn't had something. REMEMBER you can only use this structure with noun phrases: a friend/relative, an object/device, some help/advice. Try to think of some with more advanced nouns: enthusiasm/insistence/determination etc.

But for Sarah's enthusiasm, the project wouldn't have been so successful.

You can also invert 3rd conditionals. Does anybody want to try?

If I had known you were coming, I would have bought more beer.

Had I known you were coming, I would have bought more beer.

Get rid of "if" and change order of subject and auxiliary (had).

Careful with the negative:

If I hadn't seen the warning sign, I would have crashed into the river.

If + past perfect (had/hadn't + past part.) , result with would/could/might have + past part.

Hypothetical past events/actions.

Had I not seen the warning sign, I would have crashed into the river.

"not" comes after the subject.

Invert the following conditionals.

If she hadn't caught the earlier train, she wouldn't have caught her husband in bed with another woman.

Had she not caught the earlier train, she wouldn't have......

If I had seen John at the party, I'd have said hello.

Had I seen John at the party, I'd have said hello.

If I hadn't had to work last Saturday, I'd have gone to the concert.

Had I not had to work last Saturday, I'd have gone to the concert.

If I had more time, I would join a gym.

If he had woken up earlier, he wouldn't have missed the train.

Zero Conditional

If/When + present, result = present.

Things that always happen.

If I pass the exam, I'll be ecstatic

If I should/happen to pass the exam, I'll be ecstatic

More Conditionals

Should I pass the exam, I'll be ecstatic

If I get the job, I'll be over the moon.

If I should/happen to get the job, I'll be over the moon

Should I get the job, I'll be over the moon.

If I win the marathon, I'll........

If I should/happen to win the marathon, I'll.......

If you heat water, it boils.

Should I win the marathon, I'll.............

1. If you see John, can you tell him to call me?

2. If you should see John, can you tell him to call me?

3. If you happen to see John, can you tell him to call me?

What's the difference between 1 and 2+3?

In the first conditional, "happen to" and "should" can be used in the if-clause to express that something is possible but not very likely.

If you find my keys anywhere, please let me know.

If you should/happen to find my keys anywhere, please let me know.

If the goalkeeper hadn't been sent off, Arsenal might have beaten Bayern Munich.

Inverted Conditionals. How do we invert a conditional?

If I'm late for work, my boss gets angry

Should you see John, can you tell him to call me?

Should you find my keys anywhere, please let me know

The subject and the auxiliary change places and "if" is omitted.