CONDITIONALS: NON-BASIC

FORMS
We can use a variety of verb forms in conditional sentences, not only those used in the four
‘basic’ conditionals.

A A modal is used instead of a present form: If a person doesn't want to leave forensic evidence,
they should just slide through a window. (variation of zero conditional; a general truth)

B The future with going to is used to show future intention: if you’re going to commit a
burglary, you’ll have to be careful what you wear. (variation of first conditional; a possible future
event)

C A continuous form is used instead of a simple form to emphasise an action in progress: If l

were committing a burglary, I’d be better off wearing gloves. (variation of second conditional; an
imaginary present/future event) One burglar would have got away with it completely if he
hadn’t been sweating. (variation of third conditional; an imaginary past event)

TIP

We can make variations of all of the four ‘basic’ conditional forms with these future, continuous
and modal forms. lf l‘m going to be late, I always ring home. (future used instead of the present
as a variation of a zero conditional)
MIXED CONDITIONALS

In mixed conditionals, the main clause and the if clause sometimes refer to a different time
period. The most common combinations are second and third conditionals.

Compare:

1. if the kidnapper hadn’t licked that envelope, he wouldn’t be in prison now. (mixed
conditional)
2. if the kidnapper hadn’t licked that envelope, he wouldn’t have gone to prison. (third
conditional)

In both conditionals we are referring to imaginary situations.

3. The first sentence is a ‘mixed’ conditional because the if clause refers to a situation in the
past and the main clause refers to a condition in the present (he is in prison now). In the if
clause, we use a standard construction for the third conditional and in the main clause we
use the construction of the second conditional (would + infinitive).

4. In the second sentence, the if clause and the main clause refer to the past (he licked the
envelope and went to prison) and we use a standard construction for a third conditional.
Compare:

1. If they weren’t such good actors, most of them would have been found out much earlier.
(mixed conditional)

2. If they hadn’t been such good actors, most of them would have been found out much
earlier (third conditional)

In both conditionals we are referring to imaginary situations.

3. The first sentence is a ‘mixed’ conditional because the if clause refers to a situation in the
present (they are good actors) and the main clause refers to a condition in the past. In the if
clause, we use a standard construction for the second conditional (Past Simple) and in the
main clause we use the construction of the third conditional (would + have + past participle).

4. In the second sentence the if clause and the main clause refer to a situation in the past (they
were good actors and they weren't found out) and we use a standard construction for a third
conditional.
TIP

In conditionals that refer to unreal situations, we can use other combinations of verb forms if
the time in the if clause is not the same as the time in the main clause. For example:

a. If I hadn’t lost my bag, l’d be leaving tomorrow. (if clause refers to the past and the main
clause refers to the future)

b. If he didn’t have to go back next week, I would have invited him to come. (if clause refers to
the future and the main clause refers to the past)

c. If we have to pay them next week, we would need to get the money now. (if clause refers to
the future and the main clause refers to the present)

d. If they arrest him now, they would have to charge him by tomorrow. (if clause refers to the
present and the main clause refers to the future)
FORMAL CONDITIONALS

• We use should in the if clause in the first conditional if we want to suggest that something is
very unlikely. If it should rain, we won’t go out. We can use happen to in a similar way or
combine them (should happen to):

… if anyone happens to come across a body…

• We can use inversion in unreal conditional sentences when the first verb in the if clause is
were, had or should. In these sentences, we can leave out if and we put the verb at the start of
the clause:

a. Were they to find out the truth, we would be in serious trouble. (= If they were to find out
the truth ...)
b. Had she not tried to sell the car, they would never have caught her. (= if she hadn’t tried to
sell the car, ...)
c. Should you see the man again, please call us immediately. (= If you should see the man
again, ...)