Conditionals: Level b

	If - clause	Main clause	Use
TYPE 0 General truth	If + Present Simple	Present Simple	Express smth which is always true
	If you heat water, it boils.
TYPE 1 Real present	If + any Present form	Future/Imperative can/may/might/should + bare inf.	Real – likely to happen in the present or future
	If he leaves early, he’ll be on time for the meeting. If you are tired, go to bed. If you have finished your work, we can go for a walk.
TYPE 2 Unreal present	If + Past Simple or Past Continuous	Would/could/might + bare infinitive	Unreal- unlikely to happen in the present or future; also used to give advice
	If I saw a ghost, I would run away. (not likely to happen) If I were you, I wouldn’t go out with him.(advice)
TYPE 3 Unreal past	If + Past Perfect or Past Perfect Cont.	Would/could/might + have + V3/past participle	Unreal situation in the past; also used to express regrets and criticism
	If I had locked the car, it wouldn’t have been stolen.(regret) If he had behaved well, the teacher wouldn’t have punished him. (criticism)
When the if-clause is before the main clause, we separate the two clauses with a comma. If you come early, we can go for a walk. BUT: We can go for a walk if you come early.
We do not normally use will, would, or should in an If –clause. If you hurry, you will catch the train. We can use will/would in Type 1 Conditionals to make a request or to express insistence or annoyance, and should when we are less sure about a possibility. If you will give me a hand with the dishes, we can go out together. (Please, give me a hand with the dishes). If you will continue to go out every night, you’ll fail your exams. (insistence; if you insist on going out) If I meet her, I’ll ask her. = If I should meet her, I’ll ask her. (I may meet her, but I doubt it.)
After if, we can use were instead of was in all persons. If I was/were you, I would try harder.
Unless means if not. Unless she studies, she won’t pass her test. (If she doesn’t study, she won’t pass her test.)
As long as, as soon as, providing/provided that, supposing/supposed that, should can be used instead of if. As long as he’s on time, we won’t be late for the meeting. (If he’s on time, we won’t be late for the meeting.) We’ll come by car provided/providing that Father lends us his. (We’ll come by car if Father lends us his.)

Mixed Conditionals

All types of conditionals can be mixed. Any tense combination is possible if the context permits it.

	If-clause	Main clause
Type 2	If nobody phoned him,	he won’t come to the meeting.	Type 1
Type 2	If he knew her,	he wouldn’t have spoken to her.	Type 3
Type 3	If he had found a job,	He wouldn’t be searching for one now.	Type 2

EXERCISE 1. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses.

A. 1. If I see him I (give) him a lift. 2. The table will collapse if you (stand) on it. 3. If he (eat) all that he will be ill. 4. If I find your passport I (telephone) you at once. 5. The police (arrest) him if they catch him. 6. If he (read) in bad light he will ruin his eyes. 7. Someone (steal) your car if you leave it unlocked. 8. What will happen if my parachute (not open)? 9. She won’t open the door unless she (know) who it is. 10. Unless he (sell) more he won’t get much commission.

B.1. If I had a typewriter I (type) it myself. 2. If I (know) his address I’d give it to you. 3. He (look) a lot better if he shaved more often. 4. If you (play) for lower stakes you wouldn’t lose so much. 5. If he worked more slowly he (not make) so many mistakes. 6. More tourists would come to this country if it (have) a better climate. 7. If I were sent to prison you (visit) me? 8. I could get a job easily if I (have) a degree. 9. I (be) ruined if I bought her everything she asked for.

C.1. If I had known that you were in hospital I (visit) you. 2. The ground was very soft. But for that, my horse (win). 3. If you (arrive) ten minutes earlier you would have got a seat. 4. You would have seen my garden at its best if you (be) here last week. 5. But for his quickness I (be) killed. 6. I shouldn’t have believed it if I (not see) it with my own eyes. 7. If he had slipped he (fall) 500 meters. 8. If he had asked you, you (accept)? 9. Rome (be captured) by its enemies if the geese hadn’t cackled. 10. He would have been arrested if he (try) to leave the country.

EXERCISE 2. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses.

Yesterday the famous bank robber, Fingers Smith, robbed another bank in the centre of town. As usual, he only stole £10. If he (1) ___ (leave) any clues, he (2) ___ (be) in prison now, but he’s much too clever. He disconnected the security cameras; if he (3) ___ (not do) that, the police (4) ___ (have) him on film now. The strange thing is, Fingers doesn’t seem to be interested in the money; if he (5) ___ (be), he (6) ___ (can/steal) thousands of pounds by now. The police are determined to catch him, and the Chief is confident that they will. He says that if he (7) ___(think) they weren’t going to arrest Fingers eventually, he (8) ___ (leave) the police force long ago.

EXERCISE 3. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses.

A: What time will you be home tonight?

B: I'm not sure. If I ...have to... (have to) work late, I’ll . .call... (call) you.

A: I felt very tired at work today.

B: Well, if you ….. (not/watch) the late film, you ... .(not/feel) so tired.

A: Should I buy that car?

B: Why not? If I …..(have) the money, I….. (buy) it myself.

A: If you….. (pass) a chemist's, ….. (you/get) me some cough medicine?

B: Yes, certainly.

A: My sister seems very upset at the moment.

B: Were I you, I …..(talk) to her about it.

A: Unless you ….. (hurry), you ….. (be) late again.

B: No, I won't. There's plenty of time.

A: Oh! I forgot to ask Sarah over for dinner.

B: If I ….. (speak) to her today, I …..(ask) her for you.

A: May I join the club, please?

B: Provided you ….. (be) over eighteen, you can join the club.

A: What a lovely restaurant! I'm glad we came here.

B: If you ….. (not/burn) the dinner, we ….. (not/come) here!

A: Just think. If I ….. (not/move) to York, I ….. (never/meet) you.

B: I know, wasn't it lucky?

A: Jo doesn't spend enough time with me.

B: Well, if she ….. (have) the time, I'm sure she ….. (try), but she's very busy.

A: Did you give Bill the message?

B: No, but when I ….. (see) him, I ….. (tell) him the news.

EXERCISE 4. Choose the correct answer.

1) If you are bored, ...C... something else.

A you would do B you will do C do

2) ….. I you, I would look for a new job.

A Would be B Were C Had been

3) I ….. you if I had known you were in hospital.

A would visit B would have visited C will visit

4) If you ….. well, lie down for a while.

A hadn't felt B don't feel C didn't feel

5) Ice ….. if the temperature rises above 0°C.

A will melt B would melt C melts

6) Had I known about the meeting, I ….. it.

A would have attended B attended C will attend

7) If he ….. in the garden, he would have heard the doorbell.

A isn't B was C hadn't been

8) I ….. to the bank manager if I were you.

A would talk B will talk C talked

EXERCISE 5. Rewrite the sentences, as in the example.

Example: He doesn't know her. That's why he didn't speak to her.

If he knew her he would have spoken to her.

1. She doesn't have a mobile phone. That's why she couldn't be contacted yesterday.

2. Tom didn't see the boss earlier. He's waiting for him now.

3. He is allergic to seafood. That's why he didn't eat paella last night.

4. I lost my map. That's why I'm asking for directions now.

5. She doesn't speak French. She didn't have a good time in Paris.

6. He lost the race. He is not a champion now.

7. She didn't go to the bank yesterday. That's why she hasn't got any money now.

8. They went to a party last night. That's why they are tired now.

9. I crashed my car. That's why I'm taking the bus today.

EXERCISE 6. Translate into English.

1.- Будь она моей сестрой, я бы нежно ее любила. ­– Правда? 2. Если бы она умела хорошо готовить, то ее муж был бы счастлив. 3. Если бы я жил в Африке, то ел бы одни фрукты: бананы, апельсины, киви. 4. Будь он более энергичным, то давно мог бы сде­лать отличную карьеру. 5. Мы были бы очень при­знательны, если бы вы извинились. 6. Если ты бу­дешь стирать свою майку в горячей воде, то она ся­дет и полиняет. 7. Розы стояли бы гораздо дольше, если бы ты добавила в воду две столовые ложки са­хара. 8. Если бы она носила короткие юбки, то выг­лядела бы моложе. 9. Если бы ему были нужны день­ги, то он мог бы обратиться к нам. 10. Не будь дело таким серьезным, Давид не нанял бы частного сы­щика. 11. Когда она узнает результат, то не поверит, что ей так повезло. 12. Если бы не запутанные об­стоятельства, детектив сумел бы найти преступника намного раньше.

Wishes

	Form	Use
I wish (= if only) (wish/regret about the present)	+ Past Simple/Past Continuous	Regret about a present situation which we want to be different
I wish I were/was more patient. (It’s a pity. I’m not patient enough.) I wish I could ride a bicycle. (But I can’t.)
I wish (= if only) (regret about the past)	+ Past Perfect	Regret that something happened or didn’t happen in the past
I wish I had gone to Ann’s party last night. (But I didn’t – It’s a pity I didn’t go.)
I wish (= if only) (impossible wish for a future change)	+ would + bare inf. (-“wish” and “would” should have different subjects -wish + inanimate subject + would is used to express the speaker’s lack of hope or disappointment)	Wish to express dissatisfaction; polite request implying dissatisfaction or lack of hope
I wish Jane would go to university. (Jane has refused to do so and I’m unhappy about it. - dissatisfaction) I wish you would be quiet. (Please be quiet; but I don’t expect you will. – request implying lack of hope) I wish it would stop snowing. (But I’m afraid it wouldn’t stop snowing – wish implying disappointment)
In wishes we go one tense back. This means that we use Past Simple in the present and Past Perfect in the past. I’m poor. I wish I were rich. (present) I lost my watch yesterday. I wish I hadn’t lost it. (past) After I wish we can use were instead of was in all persons. I wish I was/were taller. If only means the same as I wish but it is more dramatic. If only I was/were taller.

EXERCISE 7. Explain the relative use of the tenses in the following sentences.

1. Kate wished her boyfriend were more attentive to her. 2. Now she wishes she had agreed to marry him. 3. We wish it would rain. It’s too hot. 4. I wish you wouldn’t talk about that, Dad. 5. She wishes she were in love again. 6. I wish you would stop contradicting me! 7. We wished the police were more efficient and hadn’t just turned everything upside down in the house. 8. I wish I could change his mind! I wish he would give up that silly idea. 9. Sometimes I wish I were thousands of miles away from civilization. 10. Many people wish life were not so hectic.

EXERCISE 8. Using the sentences, write wishes as in the example:

1. You are leaving for the airport. You can’t find your passport.

You say: “I wish I could find my passport.”

2. You live in the suburbs. You prefer the city centre.

3. You argued with your mother yesterday. Today she is upset.

4. You didn’t clean your bedroom and your mother is angry.

5. You want to go on holiday but you can’t afford it.

EXERCISE 9. Rephrase the following sentences using the beginnings given.

1. You’d better see a doctor. = If I were you, I’d see a doctor.

2. He won’t help you if you don’t ask him. = Unless … .

3. Take your medicine, otherwise you won’t get better. = If … .

4. You won’t make any spelling mistakes provided you use a dictionary.=If …

5. If you park here, you’ll be fined £20. = Don’t … .

6. You’d better confess your crime. = If … .

7. She went home early because she was exhausted. = If … .

8. You won’t understand the story unless you finish the book. = If … .

9. She can’t go out if she doesn’t promise to be back early. = Unless … .

10.The bee won’t sting you as long as you stay still. = Provided… .

EXERCISE 10.Translate into English.

1. Хотелось бы, чтобы люди были более дружелюбными. 2. Жаль, что люди так напряжены. 3. Хорошо бы он позвонил мне вечером. 4. Напрасно я позвонила ему первой. 5. Зря я научилась работать на компьютере. Это как наркотик. 6. Хотелось бы, чтобы этот психолог не испытывал свои методы на моем ребенке. 7. Напрасно я не принял это лекарство от головной боли. 8. Жаль, что Нина не всегда искренна со мной. 9. Напрасно вы были так откровенны. Ведь он наш конкурент. 10. Как жаль, что она не умеет петь. 11. Я бы хотела, чтобы мой день рождения длился и длился, и чтобы я всегда была также счастлива! 12. Жаль, что он не смог предупредить нас, что это дело очень рискованное.