I.E.S. Infante don Fadrique English Department 2º Bachillerato- Unit 4- Grammar __________________________________________________________________

CONDITIONAL CLAUSES A) DEFINITION: They are subordinate clauses that express one condition (conditional clause) for the realization of the main clause (result clause), which expresses the resulting consequence. They are usually introduced by the conjunction IF. The order of the clauses can be inverted and, when the IF clause comes first, it is followed by a comma: If we phone, they’ll tell us the news > They’ll tell us the news if we phone. B) TYPES -> 0, 1, 2 & 3 o

TYPE 0 

General or habitual situations that are always like that: If you have a microwave, you cook more quickly.

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Present simple+ present simple -> the present simple is used both in the main and subordinate clause. In this case, IF can be substituted by WHEN/WHENEVER: Water boils whenever/when/if it reaches 100ºC.

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TYPE I 

Real condition: they express what will happen (the consequence) if the condition is accomplished: If you come with us, you will have a good time.

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Present simple (if clause) + will and infinitive -> the most common structure is with the present simple in the IF clause and WILL + infinitive in the subordinate: If you click twice, you will download the attached file.

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But there are other possibilities: Modal: If you come with us, you must not complain. We might/ may visit our relatives if we have got

some

time. If I should see her, I will tell her to come. Imperative: If you come with us, take your coat. Search on the Internet if you want to learn more about the Amish. Present continuous: If they are coming for lunch, we will have to buy some more food. 

The conjunction UNLESS can be used as an alternative to IF… NOT (a no ser que; a menos que; si no...): Unless you make a daily backup copy, you will lose all the information = If you don’t make a daily backup copy, you will lose all the information. 1

I.E.S. Infante don Fadrique English Department 2º Bachillerato- Unit 4- Grammar __________________________________________________________________

I won’t watch TV unless there is something different = I won’t watch TV if there is not anything different. *Ten en cuenta que unless se usa con bastante asiduidad en el primer condicional, pero es menos frecuente en el Segundo condicional y nunca se emplea en el tercero. o

TYPE II 

Probable or hypothetical condition, possible situations but not quite likely (they are unlikely): If I had a dictionary, I would look up this word.

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Past simple (if clause) + would/could/might and infinitive -> the structure is past simple in the IF clause, and conditional (WOULD, COULD, MIGHT + infinitive) in the main clause: If we won the lottery, we would/could/might buy a new car. * Could y might indican que la probabilidad de que se realice la acción es menor. If we were not certain, I wouldn’t say anything to him = Unless we were certain, I wouldn’t say anything to him.

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We can use WERE with the first and third person singular of the verb TO BE, although WAS is more frequent: If I were/was rich, I would move to a huge house. If that camera weren’t/wasn’t so expensive, I would buy it. *Except in the sentence: If I were you, I wouldn’t drive so fast. (Yo en tu lugar... -> para dar consejo).

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TYPE III 

Impossible condition, as it refers to past situations that cannot become true and cannot be changed: If we had stayed at home, we would have seen him.

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Had and past participle (if clause) + would/could/might have and past participle -> the structure is past perfect in the IF clause, and conditional perfect (WOULD/COULD/MIGHT HAVE+ participle) in the main clause: If we hadn’t spent so much money, we would/could/might have saved up. Sarah would have learnt French if she had gone to the lessons.

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I.E.S. Infante don Fadrique English Department 2º Bachillerato- Unit 4- Grammar __________________________________________________________________

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Would and Had can be shortened with ‘d: If you’d (had) been here, you’d (would) have enjoyed the meal.

C) OTHER ASPECTS 

In formal English, when the conjunction IF is followed by an auxiliary verb, we can invert the order of the auxiliary and the subject and omit IF: Type I: If I should see her, I will tell her to come -> Should I see

her, I will tell

her to come. Type II: If he were my son, I wouldn’t let him out -> Were he my son, I wouldn’t let him out. Type III: If I had known they were coming, we’d have stayed in -> Had I known they were coming, we’d have stayed in. 

If we want to emphasize the condition, we can use the conjunctions AS LONG AS, PROVIDED (THAT), PROVIDING (THAT), ON CONDITION THAT: Providing (that) you work harder (condition), you will have a rise. Many animals will become extinct as long as hunting continues (condition).

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We use IN CASE to say why someone does or doesn’t do something. You do something now in case something happens later. We don’t use WILL after in case because the present tense refers to the future: I don’t want to go out in case Ann phones. COMPARE: We’ll buy some more food in case Tom comes = We’ll buy some more food if Tom comes. IN CASE + past refers to the past: I drew her a map in case she couldn’t find the house. IN CASE OF is followed by a noun phrase, and means if there is….: In case of fire, phone this number = If there is a fire, phone this number.

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WHETHER can be used instead of if, and it expresses doubt (duda): I don’t know if / whether he is telling the truth. Whether no se cambia por if en estos casos: Cuando depende de una preposición -> It depends on whether he is ready to cooperate. Seguido de OR NOT -> I don’t know whether he will come or not. 3

I.E.S. Infante don Fadrique English Department 2º Bachillerato- Unit 4- Grammar __________________________________________________________________

Delante de un verbo en infinitivo con to -> I don’t know whether to go by train or by car. D) TEMPORAL CLAUSES are introduced by the conjunctions: when, whenever, while, before, after, as long as, as soon as, by the time (that), the moment (that), since, till, until. There are different types of temporal clauses: 

When we refer to the future -> will + conjunction + present simple. When we refer to the future, we use the present simple after the conjunctions: after, as soon as, before, by the time, the moment, till, until, when. I’ll phone her when I get home. She will buy a car as soon as she passes her driving test. I will wait here until = till you arrive.

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When we refer to the past, we use the past simple: We looked though the window when we heard the noise.

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The past continuous expresses two simultaneous actions: I was reading while she was playing chess.

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With two short actions happening at the same time, we use as: As we arrived home, the dog started to bark.

We can use the structure It’s + time period + SINCE + subordinate clause in the past simple: It’s a long time since we (last) saw you. It means the same as: We haven’t seen you for a long time. WISHES AND PREFERENCES CLAUSES A) WOULD LIKE / WOULD PREFER They can be followed by: 

a noun: I would like some more tea.

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an infinitive with “to”: I’d (would) prefer to leave soon.

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an object + infinitive with “to”: I’d (would) like him to visit us.

B) WOULD RATHER / WOULD SOONER  They are followed by infinitive without “to” and mean preferiría: I’d rather go to the disco. 4

I.E.S. Infante don Fadrique English Department 2º Bachillerato- Unit 4- Grammar __________________________________________________________________

You’d rather not do it. I’d sooner stay here.  If there are two subjects, the second verb is in the past tense when we refer to the present or future: I would rather you went by taxi. If the sentence refers to a preference in the past, we use the past perfect: I would rather you hadn’t said that.  If we compare two actions, the second verb is preceded by THAN: I’d rather laugh than cry.  These expressions can be followed by a THAT-clause with the verb in the past tense: I’d rather (that) she spent the night with us. C) IT’S TIME… This expression can be followed by:  an infinitive: It’s time to go to bed.  an infinitive with its own subject introduced by “for”: It’s time for them to go to bed.  a clause with its subject and the verb in the past simple: It’s time they went to bed. The expression can also be IT’S HIGH TIME / IT’S ABOUT TIME, to express complaint: It´s high time we left. / It’s about time he arrived.

D) I WISH / IF ONLY = Ojalá + subjuntivo  We can express wishes or preferences about past events by means of the expressions I WISH, or more emphatically IF ONLY. *El verbo WISH suele llevar como complemento directo una oración subordinada introductida por THAT, que se suele omitir. Equivale al condicional “desearía” o “gustaría”, excepto en 1ª persona del singular que se traduce por “Ojalá”. *La expresión IF ONLY significa “Ojalá”, “Si al menos…”

These expressions can be followed by:  Wish/ If only + past simple: situaciones presentes que quisiéramos cambiar -> I wish (that) I lived in a bigger house./ If only Mary had more patience. Si el verbo que va en pasado simple es TO BE, hay que usar were en todas las personas (es subjuntivo) -> I wish he weren’t angry with me/ If only we were rich!

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I.E.S. Infante don Fadrique English Department 2º Bachillerato- Unit 4- Grammar __________________________________________________________________

 Wish/ If only + past perfect: nos referimos a hechos pasados, lamentando lo que ha ocurrido -> I wish the exam hadn’t been so difficult./ If only they had arrived earlier.  Wish/ If only + would/ could and infinitive: Expresamos nuestros deseos sobre situaciones futuras, indicando que es poco probable que ocurran -> I wish it would rain tomorrow./ If only I could go to the party tomorrow. Expresar que una acción nos molesta, irrita y es difícil que cambie -> I wish you would/ could stop smoking. REPHRASING 1. IF/ UNLESS. Rewrite these sentences using the word in brackets. 1. He is going to fail the test unless he studies seriously. (if) ………………………………………………………………………………………… 2. The rock star won’t appear unless the reporters are there. (if) …………………………………………………………………………………………… 3. If you don’t go to the party, they’ll be disappointed. (unless) …………………………………………………………………………………………. 4. I can’t help her if she doesn’t want to talk to me. (unless) …………………………………………………………………………………………… 2. Rewrite the following conditional sentences: Types 0, I, II and III. 1. Tom went to the concert. He met Bon Jovi. If …………………………………………………………………………….............…… 2. She didn’t accept the offer. She didn’t get the job. If ………………………………………………………………………………...........…. 3. The boy was careless. He broke all his toys. If …………………………………………………………………………....................………. 6

I.E.S. Infante don Fadrique English Department 2º Bachillerato- Unit 4- Grammar __________________________________________________________________

4. John doesn´t look nice because his hair is always dirty If …................................................................................................................................... 5. When Barbie fell down the stairs, she broke her arm If….................................................................................................................................... 6. I didn't go to Helen's party because she didn't invite me. If Helen ………………………………………………………………………………………… 7. Ann can't buy a new car because she hasn't got enough money. If Ann ……………………………………..……………………………………………………… 8. She feels lonely since she hasn't got any friends. She ……………………………….……………………………………………………………… 9. Should you require more information, ask at the desk. If ………………………………………….……………………………………………………… 10.I didn't send them a postcard because I didn't know their new address. If I ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 11.I'd like to buy a bigger flat, but I haven't got enough money. I would ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 12. I never travel by plane because I get ear ache. If I ……………………………………………………………………………..………………… 13. I won't go to the party if you don't go with me. Unless ………………………………………………………..………………………………… 14. If I had been told about the situation, I would have dismissed them. Had …………………………………………………..………………………………………… 15. The restaurant was full so we couldn't get a table.

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I.E.S. Infante don Fadrique English Department 2º Bachillerato- Unit 4- Grammar __________________________________________________________________

We could …………………………………………………………………………………….. 16. You can attend the meeting as long as you are a club member. Provided that ………………..………………………………………………………………… 17. I'm too busy to go to the pub. If I ………………………………………..……………………………………………………… 18. Ice melts down when you heat it. If you ………………………………………………………………………………………… 19. She doesn't understand because you haven't explained the situation to her. If you …………………………….……………………………………………………………. 20. You won't get a promotion if your work doesn't improve. Unless …………………………….………………………………………………………….. 21. I never eat octupus because I get sick. I would …………………………………………………………………………………………. 22. We didn't pick you up at the station because you didn't phone us. If you …………………………………………………………………….……………………… 23. The government won't win the elections unless they create employment. If the government ………………………………………………………………………..…….. 24. I'll buy I new computer provided that I get a rise in salary. If I …………………………………………………………………….………………………….. 25. She wanted to buy that picture, but she didn't have enough money. She would ……………………..………………………………………………………………… 26. Whenever I make a promise, I keep it. If I ………………………………………………………………...……………………………….

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I.E.S. Infante don Fadrique English Department 2º Bachillerato- Unit 4- Grammar __________________________________________________________________

27. We haven't got any matches, so we can't light a fire. If we ……………………………………………………………………………………..……….. 28. I won't go to Rio unless I find a cheap flight. If I ……………………………………………………………………………………………..…. 29. She will understand you provided that you don't speak too fast. If you don’t ………………………………….…………………………………………………… 30. She's too young to get a driving licence. If she …………………………………………………..………………………………………… 31. I haven’t seen you for a long time. It’s a long time………………………………………………………………..................… 32. My father was cooking and my mother was reading the paper at the same time. My father was cooking ……………………………………………...................…………… 33. We haven’t been to the cinema for six months. It’s six months ……………………………………………………................………………. 34. My wife arrived at home at 9. I hadn’t cooked dinner yet. My wife arrived home before ………………………………................…………………….. 3. Rewrite the following wish/ if only sentences. 1. What a pity I didn’t watch the game. I wish ………………………………………………………………....................……………. 2. I’m sorry I couldn’t spend the evening with you. If only ………………………………………………………………....................……………. 3. I’d like to be a years older, but I’m not. I wish ………………………………………......................…………………………………… 4. Don’t you think it’s a pity you can’t speak French? 9

I.E.S. Infante don Fadrique English Department 2º Bachillerato- Unit 4- Grammar __________________________________________________________________

Don’t you wish……………………………………………………...........................……….? 5. I’m upset because my friend hasn’t come. I wish……………………………………………………................…………………………… 6. I prefer to go to the cinema this evening. I would rather ……………………………………………………………………..............…… 7. We would prefer her to stay with us. We would rather …………………………………………………………………………….. 8. She’d prefer to work on her own. She’d sooner …………………………………………………………………………… 9. It’s time for her to go back home. It’s time she ………………………………………………....……………………………… 10. It’s time to go to bed. It’s about time we …………………………………….......……………………………… 11. We’d like to go to Miami but we haven’t got enough money. If only ……………………………………………..........…………………………………. 12. Yesterday I drank a lot and now I’ve got a splitting headache. I wish ……………………………………………............…………………………………. 13. Fiona doesn´t know where Tim is now She wishes she….......................................................................................................... 14. Their neighbour´s car makes a terrible noise They wish it…................................................................................................................. 15. It´s a pity I don´t have money for a taxi now I wish…............................................................................................................................

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