Grammar Notes - Condition (Working)

Conditionals
A conditional sentence lays down a condition. It tells that a certain action will take place if
certain condition is fulfilled. We normally use an adverb clause of condition in a complex
sentence to express condition. It is a subordinate clause starting with the conjunction ‘if’
or ‘unless’. ‘Unless’ has the meaning ‘if…not’.
If you help me, I will help you.

Unless you hurry, you will be late.
Subordinate clause Main clause
If you help me I will help you.

Unless you hurry you will be late.
The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a
comma.
I will help you if you help me.
You will be late unless you hurry.
Main clause Subordinate clause
I will help you if you help me.

You will be late unless you hurry.
Conditions can also be expressed without using adverb clauses.

1. Admit your mistake and I will pardon you.
2. Stop borrowing money or you will be in trouble.
3. My father pays my fees. But for that I wouldn’t be here.
4. The car broke down. But for that we would have been in time.
5. We must be back before midnight; otherwise we will be locked out.
6. I used my calculator; otherwise I would have taken longer.
Conditions can also be expressed using other conjunctive phrases.

1. So long as you return the book by Saturday, I will lend it to you with pleasure.
2. He will accept the post provided/on condition that the salary is satisfactory.
3. You can camp here provided you leave no mess.
4. You’d better take an umbrella with you in case it rains.
5. Supposing the enemy wins the war, what will happen to us?
Let’s consider 3 common types of condition using ‘if’ or ‘unless’.
I. Open Condition
In an open condition the speaker does not declare whether an action will be carried out or
not. She leaves the question open. She merely puts forward the possibility.
Main clause Subordinate clause
simple present simple future
If you help me, I will help you.

More examples:
1. If I see Sunita, I will tell her.
2. What will happen if my parachute does not open?
3. If they do not pass the exam, their teacher will be sad.
4. If I lend you Rs.1000, when will you repay me?
5. If he likes the house, will he buy it?
6. Unless I have a quiet room, I won’t be able to do any work.
7. Unless you are more careful, you will have an accident.
8. What shall we do if it rains?
9. If you come late, they won’t let you in.
10. I will be very angry if he makes any more mistakes.
Variations
1. If it is a holiday tomorrow, we may go for a swim. (simple present + may)
2. What can we do if he doesn’t come? (simple present + can)
3. If you have finished your homework, you can go out and play. (present perfect + can)
4. If I should see him, I will ask him to write. (simple present + should)
5. If he is sleeping, he won’t wake up until morning. (present continuous + will not)
6. Alan is going to post me the recipe if he finds it. (simple present + future equivalent)
7. If they are late, I’m going to be angry. (simple present + future equivalent)
8. If you have finished the essay, leave it on my desk. (present perfect + imperative)
9. If you don’t believe what I say, ask your mother.
10. If you heat water, it boils. (simple present + simple present)
11. If you have been travelling all night, you probably need rest. (present perfect continuous
+ present simple)
12. If my mother knows about it, we are in serious trouble. (simple present + simple present)
13. If the sum of the digits of a number is divisible by three, the number is divisible by three.
(simple present + simple present)
14. If you see Mr. Pathy, tell him I am ill. (present simple + imperative)
15. If you do not get there before five o’clock, he’ll have left the office. (simple present +
future perfect)
16. Unless he has done the work to my satisfaction, I shall not pay him for it. (present perfect
+ future simple)
17. If you will look after my luggage, I will go to the booking counter and buy the tickets. (will
+ will : sounds more like a request than a condition)
18. If he will listen to me, I will be able to help him. (will + will : indicating willingness)
19. If they won’t accept cheque, we will have to pay cash.
20. If you will help me, we can finish by six.
II. Hypothetical/Imaginary Condition

A hypothetical or imaginary condition states something that is impossible or not likely to
happen.
simple past conditional past (would, should, could, etc.)
If I became the President, I would put things right at once.

(said by a schoolboy)
Compare with
If I become the President, I will put things right at once. (said by a presidential candidate)
In the first sentence, the use of past tense has the effect of making the condition seem
‘remote’ or distant (unlikely).
More examples:
1. You could do it if you tried.
2. If you went to London, you might see the Queen.
3. He wouldn’t do it unless you specially asked him.
4. If I knew the answer, I would tell you.
5. If I knew her number, I could ring her up.
6. If someone gave you a helicopter, what would you do with it?
7. If you fell off the wall, you would hurt yourself.
8. If I had time, I would drop you off at school.
9. What would you do if you found a burglar in your house?
10. If I had wings, I would fly.
11. If I lived near my office, I would be in time for work.
12. If a burglar came into my house at night, I’d scream.
13. If you saw someone drowning, what would you do?
14. If I dyed my hair blue, everyone would laugh at me.
15. If he left his bicycle outside, someone would steal it.
16. If you knew you had only six weeks to live, how would you spend those six weeks?
variations
1. If you were coming with us, you would have a great time.
2. If we were going by boat, I would feel much happier.
3. If my car was working, I would/could drive you to the station.
4. If anyone interrupted him, he got angry. (simple past + simple past)
5. If you should be passing my house, you might return the book you borrowed from me.
(polite request)
6. If I were you, I would take my work more seriously.
7. If I were you, I would plant some trees round the house.
8. If Raghu were here, he would know what to do.
9. Were I Tom, I would refuse.
10. If I were sent to prison, would you visit me?
Here we are using the subjunctive mood to express the hypothetical condition. Use of plural
verb with singular subject in the past tense sounds incorrect, but that is correct in
subjunctive mood. In spoken English If I was you… is more common.
III. Unfulfilled Condition

The unfulfilled condition talks about something that did not happen in the past but which
might have happened. It is used to comment on something that did or did not happen, to
express regret or to excuse your action or criticize others.
past perfect conditional perfect (would have done, etc.)
If you had asked me, I would have helped you.

More examples:
1. If I had known that you were in hospital, I should have visited you.
2. If they had waited, they would have seen what happened.
3. If I had known that you were coming, I would have baked a cake.
4. If you had left that wasp alone, it would not have stung you.
5. If he had tried, he would have succeeded.
6. If you had helped, I would have finished in time.
7. If he had asked you, would you have accepted?
8. The cup would have broken if he had not caught it in time.
9. My father would have come if he had had the time.
10. If the shop had been open, we would have bought some fruit.
11. If we had found him earlier, we could/might have saved his life.
12. If our document had been in order, we could have left at once.
variation:
1. If I had not been wearing a seat belt, I would have been seriously injured. (perfect
continuous in if clause)
2. If my brother had not been there, I would have been sitting in the front. (continuous
conditional perfect)
3. If he had taken my advice, he would be a rich man now.
4. Had you obeyed orders, this disaster would not have happened.
5. Had the shop been open, we would have bought some fruit.
This inverted construction sounds more formal or literary.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Links
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/conditional-sentences
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/conditional2.htm
http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditionalintro.html
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-conditional_1.htm
http://www.tesol-direct.com/guide-to-english-grammar/conditional-sentences

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Conditionals

If you help me, I will help you.

Subordinate clause Main clause

If you help me I will help you.

Main clause Subordinate clause

I will help you if you help me.

Conditions can also be expressed without using adverb clauses.

Conditions can also be expressed using other conjunctive phrases.

Main clause Subordinate clause

simple present simple future

If you help me, I will help you.

II. Hypothetical/Imaginary Condition

Subordinate clause Main clause

simple past conditional past (would, should, could, etc.)

If I became the President, I would put things right at once.

III. Unfulfilled Condition

Subordinate clause Main clause

past perfect conditional perfect (would have done, etc.)

If you had asked me, I would have helped you.

This inverted construction sounds more formal or literary.

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