5703 conditional types and structures

Type Use Formation ExampleIf clause Effect clause 0 General truth, law of nature If + present simple Present simple If you heat ice, it melts.. If + present simple Future simple will /i

Type Use Formation Example

If clause Effect clause

0 General truth, law of nature If + present simple Present simple If you heat ice, it melts

Something possible to happen If + present simple Future simple (will) /imperative /

Can / must + bare infinitive (will go, can / must

go)

 If Mary goes to the supermarket, she will buy pasta

 If you go to Italy, you can visit the Coliseum

Imaginary situation, something

impossible to happen

If + past simple Would / could /

should + bare infinitive (would/should/could

go)

 If I knew that, I would tell you

Imaginary situation opposite to the

reality

If + past perfect Would have

+ past participle (would have gone)

 If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exams

Unless Unless you promise me not to tell it, I won’t tell you

Suppose / supposing Supposing you won the lottery, what would you buy?

Provided / providing (that) Provided you drive carefully, Dad will lend you his car

On condition (that) I’ll come on condition that you come, too

As / so long as I’ll tell you as long as you don’t tell anybody

I, he, she, it was  I, he, she, it were ex If I were you, I wouldn’t do it

 Were / should / had, used instead of if

1 Were the in London, they would phone Bill

(If the were in London, they would phone Bill.)

2 Should you change your mind, call me

(If you change your mind, call me.)

3 Had I known he was there, I wouldn’t have gone (If I had known he was there, I wouldn’t have gone.)

would go with Patrick to the party, but for Judy

If it hadn’t been for