Conditional/ if clauses

Conditional/ if clauses

Before we start, let’s compare these examples:

(1)   Linda has lost her wallet. She tells Susan.: Linda: I’ve lost my wallet. Have you seen it anywhere? Susan: No, but if I find it, I’ll tell you. In this example, Susan feels there is a real possibility that she will find the wallet. So she says: If I find …, I’ll … .

(2)   Josh says: If I found a wallet on the street, I’d take it to the police station. This is a different type of situation. Here, Josh doesn't expect to find a wallet in the street; He is imagining a situation that will probably not happened. So he says: If I found …, I’d (= I would) … .

In the first example, Susan is talking about a situation that may be true in the future. The meaning of “if” is quite similar to that of “when”.

Ex: No, but if I find it, I’ll tell you. = No, but when I find it, I’ll tell you.

It is called the first conditional à talking about what may be true in the future.

In the second example, Josh is imagining something that is not true at the moment.

Ex: If I found a wallet on the street, I’d take it to the police station. à He doesn’t have a wallet now, and maybe he never will.

It is called the second conditional à When we imagine something that is not true at the moment, we use it.

The first conditional (Video)

1.     We use the first conditional to talk about something or a situation that may be true or happen in the future. The meaning of “if” is very close to that of “when”.

Form

If + the present tense, the future tense with “will”, “may” or “can” The future tense with “will” , “may” or “can” if + the present tense. (Without a comma)

Ex: 1. If they return the book to me later, I’ll give it to you. = I’ll give the book to you if they return it to me later.

   2. If I shout in the classroom, I’ll be punished by my teacher.

   3. If you get up earlier, you can watch the sunrise.

   4. If he goes out now, he may see the parade.

The second conditional (Video)

1.      We use the second conditional when we imagine something that is not true.

Form

If + the past tense, … would/could/might … would/ could/ might if + the past tense. (Without a comma)

PS. we use would/could/might when we imagine a situation or action. For more information – Modal Verbs (lessons and exercises)

Ex: 1. What would you do if you won a million dollars? (We don’t really expect this to happen and it’s not true at the moment.)

   2. If I were rich, I would try to help as many people as possible. (I don’t really expect this to happen and I’m not a rich person.)

Notice

The second conditional and were In the second conditional, we always use “were” instead of was. Ex: 1. If I were (correct); it’s not “If I was (incorrect) (x)”    2. If he were (correct); it’s not “If he was (incorrect) (x)”

   3. If Peter took more exercise, he might feel better. (= it is possible that he would feel better.)

   4. If it stopped raining, we could go out. (= we would be able to go out.)

Note: Comparing “would”and “will” and “be going to”
Note: Noun Clause - Comparing wish clause and hope clause

The third conditional (video)

Study this example before we proceed:

Last month Pete was in hospital for a few days. Nina didn't know this, so she didn't go to visit him. They met a few days ago. Nina said: If I had known you were in hospital, I would have gone to see you. # Nina said: If I had known … This tells us that she didn't know he was in hospital and thus she didn't go to visit him.

Form

If + had Vpp, … would/could/might, etc. have Vpp …… would/could/might, etc. have Vpp if + had Vpp. (Without a comma)

1. We use if + had Vpp (past perfect) … to talk about the past (if I had known/done/been/seen etc.)

Ex: 1. I didn’t see you when you passed me in the street. If I’d (I had) seen you, I would certainly have said hello. (The fact: I didn’t see you.)

   2. If he had been looking where he was going, he wouldn’t have walked into the wall (The fact: he wasn’t looking)

   3. If I had studied a little harder, I would have done better on my math test. (The fact: I didn’t study hard enough.)

2. We use had Vpp in the same way after wish. (For more information, please visit: Note: Noun Clause - Comparing wish clause and hope clause)

If clause exercises:
Adverbial Clauses - (if - the 1st conditional) (1).doc answer keys: Adverbial Clauses - (if - the 1st conditional) (1) answer keys.doc
Adverbial Clauses - (if - the 2nd conditional) (1).doc answer keys: Adverbial Clauses - (if - the 2nd conditional) (1) answer keys.doc
Adverbial Clauses - (if - the 2nd conditional) (2).doc answer keys: Adverbial Clauses - (if - the 2nd conditional) (2) answer keys.doc
Adverbial Clauses - (if - the 2nd conditional) (3).doc answer keys: Adverbial Clauses - (if - the 2nd conditional) (3) answer keys.doc
Adverbial Clauses - (if - the 1st and 2nd conditional) (1).doc answer keys: Adverbial Clauses - (if - the 1st and 2nd conditional) (1) answer keys.doc
Adverbial Clauses - (if - the 3rd conditional) (1).doc answer keys: Adverbial Clauses - (if - the 3rd conditional) (1) answer keys.doc
Adverbial Clauses - (if - the 3rd conditional) (2).doc answer keys: Adverbial Clauses - (if - the 3rd conditional) (2) answer keys.doc
Adverbial Clauses - (if - the 3rd conditional) (3).doc answer keys: Adverbial Clauses - (if - the 3rd conditional) (3) answer keys.doc
Adverbial Clauses - (if - the 2nd+3rd conditional).doc answer keys: Adverbial Clauses - (if - the 2nd+3rd conditional) answer keys.doc
More If clause exercises on the Web:
If clause exercises on Perfect English Grammar
If clause exercises on Agenda Web
If clause exercises on English Club
If clause exercises on English Grammar Secrets(練習在右手邊)
If clause exercises on Lean English Feel Good
If clause exercises on Lean English Online
If clause exercises on University of Victoria
If clause exercises on SpeakSpeak
If clause exercises on Ego4U
If clause exercises on Englisch Hilfen