Inversion omission of "if"

1. If can be omitted in if-clauses containing the verbs had, were, could and should. In these cases we find inversion. (had, were, could, should come before the subject)

• If he should win the race, he will be very happy. Ò Should he win the race, he will be very happy.

• If I were you, I wouldn’t tell him. Ò Were I you, I wouldn’t tell him.

• If I had known the truth, I would have called the police. Ò Had I known the truth, I would have called the police.

• If it were not so late, I would stay longer. Ò Were it not so late, I would stay longer.

• If I could play tennis, I might take part in the competition. Ò Could I play tennis, I might take part in the competition.

• If the government were to cut Value Added Tax, prices would fall. Ò Were the government to cut Value Added Tax, prices would fall.

The sentences with inversion are rather more formal than those with ‘if’. (Бессоюзное присоединение условных придаточных предложений характерно для книжной письменной речи и в разговорном языке встречается довольно редко.)

Notice that in negative clauses with inversion, we don’t use contracted forms.

• If you hadn’t paid the telephone bill on time, your phone would have been cut off. Ò Had you not paid the telephone bill on time, your phone would have been cut off.

(not: Hadn’t you paid the telephone bill on time, ... )

• If it weren’t for the wind, the weather would be perfect. Ò Were it not for the wind, the weather would be perfect. (not: Weren’t it for the wind, ...)

• If it hadn’t been for Jim’s support, I wouldn’t have got the job.  Had it not been for Jim’s support, I wouldn’t have got the job.

‘If it were not for’ and ‘Were it not for’ are often followed by ‘the fact that’:

• Were it not for the fact that you helped me, I would be lonely.

2. Note that when ‘only if’ begins a sentence, the subject and the predicate of the principal clause are inverted.

• Only if we stop cutting down trees, can we save the rainforests. (inversion because of ‘if only’) (but We can save the rainforests only if we stop cutting down trees. - no inversion) (rainforest - тропический лес; влажные джунгли)

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES (if + will, if + would)

We do not normally use will and would in an if-clause. However, we can use will or would (modal verbs) after ‘if’ when we make a polite request or express annoyance, insistence or emphasize willingness or unwillingness or with an additional meaning of

‘wish’. A sentence of this type is often a conditional sentence only in form; it is actually a polite request. (= Если бы вы согласилась; Если бы вы захотели…)

• If you wouldn’t mind waiting for a moment, the porter will take your cases up to your room. (polite request)

• If you will call me later, I will be able to give you an answer. (polite request)

• If you will/would wait, I’ll see if Mrs. Green is free.

• If you will stay out late, no wonder you are tired. (If you insist on staying out late, no wonder you are tired.)

• If you won’t stop eating sweets, you can’t expect to lose weight easily. (= If you refuse to stop eating sweets, you can’t expect to lose weight easily.)

• I would be much better if you would stop asking me how I feel.

• Shall I close the door? - Yes, please, if you will. / Yes, please, if you would.

• If you would only come to our place, we’ll be very glad.

• If you will/would follow me, I’ll show you the way.

• If you will/would be quiet, we'll watch the video. (request - Please be quiet.)

• If you will be more patient, I’ll be with you in a minute.

• If you would be more patient, I’ll be with you in a minute. (If you want to make a request more polite, you can use ‘if... would’)