CONDITIONALS SWAN 256-265

Main clause + Conditional or Subordinate or ‘if’ clause

Apodosis + Protasis

1 REAL CONDITIONALS
Zero Conditional: present + present
Universal validity/if corresponds closely with whenever/factual or explanatory

If you heat water, it boils

If you yell at her she cries
If there’s anything that you want just call on me

First Conditional: present + will (+ infinitive)

Prediction based on previous information/possible result/It may convey a warning, a
command, an offer or a suggestion

If you talk to her, she will change her mind

If you’re lonely you can talk to me

2 UNREAL CONDITIONALS
Second Conditional: past (called ‘unreal past’) + would (+ infinitive)
Hypothesis: different degrees of supposition/tentative/contrary to present fact/It may be
used to give advice or polite requests

If she was/were here you would see her

if she had money she would pay for her trip
What would you think if I sang out of tune
If I fell in love with you would you promise to be true?

Third Conditional: past perfect + would have (+ past participle)

Impossible/unreal
If she had been here you would have seen her

3 MIXED CONDITIONALS
If the resort were still an attraction, last week’s trip should have been a success.
If you weren’t such an idiot, you wouldn’t have done a thing like that.
If Fleming hadn’t discovered penicillin, there would be more fatalities every year.

4 FALSE CONDITIONALS
If he moved his neck to the right he had a view of Central Park. (when)
If you don’t like the opera, why are you here. (he doesn’t like the opera)

1
MODALITY IN THE CONDITIONAL CLAUSE
1 Will/won’t
Refusal: If he won’t go, then we will/can/should stay too.
Polite Request: If you will hold this for me (, I will/can manage to open the door.)
Annoyance: If you will drive so fast, of course you are going to have accidents.

2 Would
Polite Request: If you would be so kind as to hold this for me (, I will manage to open the
door.)
Strong Wish: If you would just calm down (, we will be able to continue talking.)

3 Should/Were/Happen to
Remote Possibility: If you should/were to/happen to see her, tell her I’m still waiting.

Complete the following proverbs

If you can’t do the time…
If it ain’t broke…
If the cap fits…
If you can’t stand the heat…
She wouldn’t know a bargain…
If the worst…
If life gives you lemons…
Be good, but if you can’t be good…
If the push comes to shove…
If my memory serves me right…
If at first you don’t succeed…
If a thing’s worth doing…
…, if you catch my drift.
…, if you get my meaning.
If all else fails…
If you can’t beat them…