IF – CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE
TYPE 1 - Present simple
- Present continuous
- Present perfect
Examples:
If he runs, he'll get there on time.
If you are looking for Peter, you'll find him upstairs.
If he has written the letter, I'll post it.
- WILL Future
- Modal auxiliary (may, can, must, should)
- Imperative
- Expression of request
Examples:
If your documents are in order, you can leave.
If you want to lose weight, eat less bread.
If you see Tom later, could you ask him to ring me?
TYPE 2 - Past simple
- Past continuous
Examples:
If I had a map, I would lend it to you.
If my car were working, I would drive you home.
- Conditional simple (would + infinitive)
- Conditional continuous (would + be + gerund)
- Past simple (expressing a past habit)
Examples:
If I were on holiday, I would be visiting Italy.
If anyone interrupted him, he got very angry.
TYPE 3 - Past perfect
- Past perfect continuous (had+been+gerund)
Examples:
If I hadn't been so tired, I would have gone out.
If they had not been wearing a seat belt, they would
have been seriously injured.
- Conditional perfect (would+have+past
participle)
- Could/might + have + past participle
- Conditional perfect continuous
(would+have+been+gerund)
Examples:
If I had found him earlier, I might have saved his life.
He would have been sitting on a comfortable chair if
he had worked harder at school.
EXERCISES:
1.- Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense:
a. If it ... (rain), none of us will go out.
b. We ……… (not/go) to that show even if it were free.
c. If the Smiths get rid of their old piano, they ……… (offer) it to me first.
d. She would have gone to college if it ………. (be) possible.
e. If they can get their parents’ consent, they ………. (get married) before the end of the year.
f. If you ………(see) his clothes, you’d never believe he was so rich.
g. I shouldn't drink that wine if I ... (be) you .
h. I'd climb over the wall if there ... (not/be) so much broken glass on top of it.
i. He would spend a lot of money on clothes if he ……….. (can) afford it.
j. If I ……….. (smoke) less, my sore throat would get better.
2.- Answer the questions in the same way as in sentence 1.
1. Someone describes you as “miserly”. Are you pleased or annoyed?
If someone described me as “miserly” I would be annoyed.
2. Someone describes you as “witty”. Are you flattered or insulted?
3. In a restaurant you order “leek”. Do you drink it or eat it?
4. There’s a “leak” in your bathroom. Do you call the plumber or a carpenter?
5. You buy a “badge”. Do you put it on your finger or on your jacket?
6. You have a “budgie” as a pet. Do you keep it in a tank or a cage?
7. Someone gives you a pair of “mittens”. Do you wear them or give them some milk?
8. You have to change a wheel on your car. Do you need a “saw” or a “spanner”?
3.- Retell the story below using conditional sentences:
Ex:
If Peter’s alarm clock had worked, he wouldn’t have woken up late.
If he hadn’t woken up late, he wouldn’t have been late for work.
Peter’s alarm clock didn’t work.
He woke up late.
He was late for work.
His boss was annoyed.
His boss criticised him.
He made a sarcastic remark.
He was dismissed.