Getting to Grips with English: Grammar

CONDITIONALS

There are two parts in a conditional sentence:

· if or conditional clause

· main clause or result

Study the following conditional sentences:

1.If you order now, you will get 5% discount.

2.If I had more money, I would lend you some.

3.If they launched a good marketing campaign, the products would be sold easily.

4.If a product represents high quality, customers will pay a high price.

5.If we had bought it before, it would have been much cheaper.

Examples in the 1^stConditional describe a possible condition and its probable result.

The 2^nd Conditional describes an unlikely condition, a hypothetical situation.

The 3^rd Conditional describes an impossible condition because it refers to the past.

The order of the two parts, if and result clause, can change. But when the if-clause goes first, you need a comma to separate them.

Study the chart:

	Conditional clause	Main clause
1^st conditional (PROBABLE)	If + present simple	Future simple Present simple Modal Imperative
2^nd conditional (IMPROBABLE)	If + past simple	would + verb might/could + verb
3^rd conditional (IMPOSSIBLE)	If + past perfect	would have + past participle might/could have + past participle

The condition can be introduced by if or unless = if not.

I won’t buy this model unless I get a discount. (if I do not get… )

Sometimes when is used instead of if to introduce the condition:

Braking begins at the brake pedal. When you push on it, it will lever and tell the brake master cylinder to compress brake fluid into the brake lines.

Notes on the 1^st conditional

The most common form is: if + present simple in the if clause and future simple (will + base form) in the result clause.

But you can also use an imperative or a modal + base form in the result clause:

If you fill the tank with petrol now, you can drive without stopping for hours.

If you are sleepy, stop right now to have a coffee.

When you refer to something that always happens, natural facts, for example, you use a present simple in the result clause too:

If you are a wholesaler, you get better prices.

Notes on the 2^nd conditional

Apart from a simple conditional (would + base form), you can use a modal (might/could) + base form in the result clause.

If you were here, you could help me. (but you aren’t here)

If I were you… is used to give advice:

If I were you, I would check tyre pressure.

If verb “to be” appears in the if clause, always use “were” and translate it as a subjunctive.

If he were more fluent, he would give the presentation.

Notes on the 3^rd conditional

In the result clause of 3^rd conditionals you can use modal perfects (might have/could have) + past participle.

If the shipping hadn’t been delayed, we could have got the goods yesterday, but they had lots of problems and they couldn’t arrive on time.

1. Match the following main and if clauses.

1. If you are not fully satisfied with the products you ordered...

2. If a product is customer-friendly...

3. If she worked from home...

4. If they reduced the price...

5. If my boss listened to me...

a. ...she would not spend such a lot of money and time every day.

b. ...you can return them within a fortnight.

c. ...he would make a lot of money.

d. ...you are very likely to buy it repeatedly.

e. ...customers would be delighted.

1	2	3	4	5

2. Complete the following conditional sentences with the right verb tense.

If you _______ (be) a good trader, you will get a bonus.

The company ________ (launch) a new product if the market were favourable.

We would have got more discounts if we __________ (negotiate) the price.

If I had the mailing list, I ________ (start) the mailing campaign immediately.

If he is ambitious, he ________ (have) a promising future in business.

They would lower their prices if they _________ (join) an association of producers.

If the team _______ (design) a good advertising campaign, the product would be sold very easily.

They ________ (send) us the product immediately if it had been available.

Customers will be contacted if the order _______ (be) delayed.

If she ________ (can) speak Chinese she would get a job in Beijing.

Discuss in pairs.

What would you do if...

...you had a great idea for promoting a product?
...you launched a product and it didn’t work?
...you spent a lot of money launching a product but you didn’t meet your target?
...a colleague asked you for help?
…a colleague criticised you?
...you arrived late at an important meeting?
...your boss didn’t accept any of your ideas or suggestions about marketing?