CONDITIONAL

PRESENT CONDITIONAL TENSE

USES a) In conditional sentences (Type 2) b) In special uses of would and should c) As a past equivalent of the future simple in reported speeches when the main verb in the sentence is in the past tense Ex: I hope there will be a rise in benefits for us I hoped there would be a rise in benefits for us

PRESENT CONDITIONAL TENSE

USES b) In special uses of would and should i) To express past habits, instead of used to: ex. On Sundays he used to/would get up early and go fishing; ii) To express past intentions. In this case, would is used as the past equivalent of will when will is used for the ordinary future: Ex: He knows he will be late / He knew he would be late

PRESENT CONDITIONAL TENSE

USES b) In special uses of would and should iii) After certain verbs (advise, agree, arrange, ask, decide, demand, insist, order, propose, request, suggest, urge, etc.) followed by that + subject + should as an alternative to a gerund or infinitive construction: Es: Ci sugger di tener chiuso il cancello He advised that we should keep the gate locked Decisero di riparare il tetto They decided that the roof should be repaired

PRESENT CONDITIONAL TENSE

USES b) In special uses of would and should iv) In sentences in which that should follows expressions such as it is/was advisable, better, desirable, important, natural, necessary, fair, right, just. This patter is used as an alternative to a for + infinitive construction: Ex: meglio per te andare dal medico e sentirti uno stupido per It is better that you should go to the doctor and feel foolish for having imagined it It is better for you to go to the doctor and feel foolish

PRESENT CONDITIONAL TENSE

USES b) In special uses of would and should v) In sentences in which that should follows expressions such as it is/was absurd, amazing, annoying, odd, ridiculous, strange, surprinsing, ecc. as an alternative to the that + present/past tense: Ex: strano che tenga una tale somma di denaro sul proprio conto corrente It is strange that he should keep such a sum on current account It is strange that he keeps such a sum

PRESENT CONDITIONAL TENSE

b) In special uses of would and should v) In sentences introduced by expressions such as cant think why/dont know why/see no reason why etc. Ex: Non vedo la ragione per cui non dovremmo riuscire a raggiungere quellobiettivo I see no reason why we shouldn't be able to achieve that goal vi) In sentences with lest (i.e. for fear that): Ex: Rideva per le sue pagliacciate, anche se temeva che qualcuno lo sentisse She was laughing at his antics, but anxious lest he should be heard

PAST CONDITIONAL TENSE

Affirmative I/We would have gone I(We) should have gone I/Wed have gone Negative I would not have/I wouldnt have gone Interrogative Would you have gone? /Should we have gone? Interrogative Would you not have gone? / Wouldnt you have gone? Should we not have gone? / Shouldnt we have gone?

PAST CONDITIONAL TENSE

USES a) In conditional sentences (Type 3) b) In special uses of would and should c) As a past equivalent of the future perfect tense in reported speeches when the main verb in the sentence is in the past tense Ex: I hope he will have finished before we get back. I hoped he would have finished before we got back

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
In general, we distinguish in English three types of conditional: Type 1: PROBABILITY Type 2: IMPROBABILITY

Type 3: UNREALITY NEVERTHELESS, we must also include a zero conditional and other forms of mixed conditional sentences

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
RULE: Conditional sentences consist of two parts: the if-clause + the main clause. Each kind of conditional sentence includes a different pair of tenses. We will focus on the zero conditional and the three basic forms

ZERO CONDITIONAL
We use the zero conditional when we talk of about things that are GENERALLY or USUALLY TRUE, when we are sure that the result will ALWAYS HAPPEN STRUCTURE:
If clause Main clause

If + present simple If water reaches 100 degrees, If you mix hydrogen and oxygen, If water penetrates window sills, or doors,

present simple it boils you get water the result is wet rot

ZERO CONDITIONAL
We use also use the zero conditional to GIVE INSTRUCTIONS or to TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO UNDER SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES STRUCTURE:
If clause Main clause

If + present simple If you have an Apple ID, If you go to Seville, If you are tired,

imperative use it when you first set up iPad visit the cathedral have a break

CONDITIONAL TYPE 1
This type of sentence implies that the action in the if-clause IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN (PROBABILITY). NOTA BENE: although the meaning is present or future, the verb in the if-clause is in a present, not a future tense STRUCTURE:
If clause If + present simple If you comply with my proposals Main clause future simple I will leave you

CONDITIONAL TYPE 1
VARIATIONS of conditional type 1 Ex: if you leave a child for a few minutes he may find the pills you keep in the bedside drawer and poison himself. The use of MAY emphasizes the POSSIBILITY that an event takes place
If clause
If + present simple

Main clause
may/might

CONDITIONAL TYPE 1
VARIATIONS of conditional type 1 Ex: If you you don't agree and are fired, you may take the new owner to an industrial tribunal.. The use of MAY emphasizes the addressees ABILITY to carry out and action
If clause
If + present simple

Main clause
may/can

CONDITIONAL TYPE 1
VARIATIONS of conditional type 1 Ex: If you really want to write for a living you should go to London and Edinburgh, go to Europe, too The use of SHOULD suggests the speakers ADVICE. MUST and SHOULD are also used to convey COMMAND or REQUEST
If clause
If + present simple

Main clause
must/should

CONDITIONAL TYPE 1
VARIATIONS of conditional type 1 Ex: If your documents are in order you may/can leave at once. The use of MAY/CAN emphasizes the addressees PERMISSION to carry out the action
If clause
If + present simple

Main clause
may/can

CONDITIONAL TYPE 1
VARIATIONS of conditional type 1 Ex: If you are intending to take out a Woolwich mortgage a copy of this report will be provided to you ... The use of the PRESENT CONTINUOUS in the if clause indicates a present action or a FUTURE ACTION.
If clause
If + present simple

Main clause
may/can

CONDITIONAL TYPE 2
Conditional sentences of Type 2 express some hypothesis. They describe an IMAGINARY or IMPROBABLE SITUATION in the present or in the future BASIC STRUCTURE:
If clause If + past simple If I had a map, Main clause would/wouldnt + bare infintive I would lend it to you

If someone tried to blackmail me

I would tell the police

CONDITIONAL TYPE 2
NOTA BENE: the past tense in the if-clause is not a true past but a subjunctive

If clause If + past simple If I had a map,

Main clause would/wouldnt + bare infintive I would lend it to you

If someone tried to blackmail me

I would tell the police

CONDITIONAL TYPE 2
USES: A) the supposition is contrary to known facts: if I were you, I wouldn't be in too much of a hurry (but Im not you) If I were a head teacher or a chair of governors now, I would use quite blatantly the annual meeting (but Im not a head teacher) B) we don't expect the action in the if-clause to take place If I took your silver, I would only be a thief. (But I don't intend to take it.)

CONDITIONAL TYPE 2
VARIATIONS of conditional type 2
Ex: If you tried again you would succeed. (certain result) If you tried again you might succeed. (possible result) If I knew her number I could ring her up. (ability) If he had a permit he could get a Job. (ability or permission) If clause
If + past simple

Main clause
Might/could

CONDITIONAL TYPE 2
VARIATIONS of conditional type 2
Ex: If I were an American, I would be saying thank goodness there have been some musicals to keep Broadway alive for the last 10 years.

The continuous conditional form may be used instead of the simple conditional form
If clause
If + past simple

Main clause
would be + verb(ing)

CONDITIONAL TYPE 2
VARIATIONS of conditional type 2
Ex: If Britain had an interest in European co-operation it was as a way to withstand Soviet pressure and underpin British independence, not as a way to control Germany if + past tense can be followed by another past tense when we wish to express automatic or habitual reactions in the past: If clause
If + past simple

Main clause
past simple

CONDITIONAL TYPE 3
This type of sentence implies a condition which CANNOT BE FULFILLED because THE ACTION IN THE IF-CLAUSE DIDN'T HAPPEN.

BASIC STRUCTURE:
If clause If + past perfect
If Labour had won the election,

Main clause Would/wouldnt have + past participle

it would have abolished the Broadcasting Standards Council

CONDITIONAL TYPE 3
VARIATIONS of conditional type 3
Ex: Several states might have been willing to follow the Six in their ventures if Britain had been willing to join.

If clause
If + past simple

Main clause
Might/could

CONDITIONAL TYPE 3
VARIATIONS of conditional type 2
Ex: At the time of the accident I was sitting in the back of the car, because Tom's little boy was sitting beside him in front. If Tom's boy had not been there I would have been sitting in front The continuous form of the perfect conditional may be used may be used instead of the simple conditional form If clause
If + past simple

Main clause
would be + verb(ing)

INVERSION OF SUBJECT AND AUXLIARY

Were I inclined to a sense of responsibility, this factor alone would go no small way towards vitiating it. If I were inclined to a sense of responsibility, this factor alone would go no small way towards vitiating it. Should you make a written request for a change in your payment arrangements, we will act on this as promptly as possible If you should make a written request for a change in your payment arrangements, we will act on this as promptly as possible

UNLESS
You can use UNLESS + AFFIRMATIVE VERB instead of IF + NEGATIVE VERB Unless we work together to counter this threat, the contribution to knowledge, medicine and health that will come from research will be in jeopardy If we dont work together to counter this threat, the contribution to knowledge, medicine and health that will come from research will be in jeopardy

SOURCES
Thomson, A. J., and Martinet, A. V., A Practical English Grammar, Fourth Edition, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1986. Jenkins, J., La Parola degli Inglesi, Roma, La Nuova Italia Scientifica, 1991. Vince, M., Inside Grammar, Oxford, Macmilla Education, 2005. http://www.englishpage.com/