CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
I. Structure
Function If- clause Main clause
1 Probability Simple Present
Verb: V
1/s/es
/ don’t/
doesn’t
Be: am/ is/ are (not)
+ ….
Simple Future
Verb: will (not) + V
1
Be: will (not) be +
Truth Simple Preset Simple Present
Request Simple Present Imperative
(don’t) V
1
2 Unreal
present
Past Subjunctive
Verb: V
2/ed
/ didn’t V
1
Be: were/ weren’t
….
Future in the past
Verb: would (not)
V
1

know ?
- If she (study) ______________ hard yesterday, she (pass)
_______________ the exam
2. Mix type:
- Usually mix between type 2 and 3
Ex:
- If she (eat) _______________ something last night, she
(not, be) ________________ hungry now.
- If I (take) _______________ the train last night, I (be)
______________ here with you now.
- If it (rain) _______________ an hour ago, the streets (be)
__________ wet now.
- If the students (know) _______________ that is not good for
them, they (do) ________________ that yesterday.
- If she (finish) _____________ the job earlier, she (be)
_____________ going to the party tonight.
3. Special types
If + S + should (not) + be/ V
1
, S + will (not)
+ be/ V
1
+ …
 Unexpected things
Ex: If she should come, please tell me immediately so I can
prepare something for her.
If + S + will + V
1
, S + will (not) + be
+ V

5. Alternative modal verb
- Instead of will/ would in main clause, we can use:
+ must/ have to  obligation
+ may/ might  probability
+ can/ could  ability
Ex:
- If it rains, we are going to stay at home.
- If you were in Britain, you had to drive on the left side.
- If Mary jogs regularly, she may lose weight.
II. Alternative of If clause
- Unless = If … not …
Ex: Unless you study hard, you will fail the exam.
(= If you don’t study hard)
- Provided/ Providing that/ As soon as/ On condition (that):
miễn là
Ex: You can use my car, provided that you drive carefully.
- Suppose/ Supposing that: giả sử là … (NOT with type 1)
Ex: Suppose the meeting is put off, what will we do?
- In case = in the event that: trong trường hợp
Ex: In case it rains, please bring along a raincoat.
- Even if: ngay cả khi
Ex: Even if we are poor, we will always help other people.
- But for = Without: nếu không có
If it weren’t for = Were it not for
If it hadn’t been for = Had it not been for + N
phrase
,
S + would V
1
But for or: would have

- If I were you 
_____________________________________
If + S + were to + V
1
= Were +
S + to V
1
Ex - If you weren’t lie to her 
________________________________
If + S + V
2/ed
+ … = Did + S +
(not) + V
1
Ex: If she watered the plants 
________________________________
If + S + had V
3/ed
= Had + S +
(not) + V
3
Ex: If I had known you were ill 
______________________________
III. Transformation
- A so/ therefore/ that’s why B  If (A), M (B)
- A because B  If (B), M (A)
- Prepositions: and/ or/ or else  If 1
- Because/ So/ That’s why/ therefore  If 2 or 3 or mix
(based on Adverb of time in each clause)
Ex:

- She didn’t stop her car because she didn’t see the signal.
A. If she saw the signal, she would stop her car.
B. If she had seen the signal, she would stop her car.
C. If she had seen the signal, she would have stopped her
car.
D. If she saw the signal, she would have stopped her car.
- His flight was delayed so he couldn’t be here on time.
A. He would be here in time if his flight were not delayed.
B. He would have been here in time if his flight hadn’t been
delayed.
C. He would be here in time if his flight hadn’t been
delayed.
D. He would have been here in time if his flight weren’t
delayed.
EXERCISES
A. Put the verb in brackets into the correct form.
1. If the earth suddenly (stop) _____spinning we all (fly)
_____ off it.
 _____________________________
2. If you (smoke) _____ in a non-smoking compartment the
other passengers (object) _____ 
_____________________________
3. (your parents / not / be) _____ proud if they could see you
now?
 _____________________________
4. I’m broke, but I (have) _____ plenty of money now if I
(not / spend) ______ so much yesterday. 
_____________________________
5. If we (work) _____all right, we (finish) _____ in time; but
we have no intention of doing it 

18. If he weren’t so bad-temperature, his wife (not leave)
_____ him so soon after the marriage. 
_____________________________
19. What (you / say) _________ if I offered you a job?
 _____________________________
20. The children always (get) _________frightened if they
watch horror films.  _____________________________
21. If I (take) _____ your advice yesterday, I (punish) _____
now.
 __________________________________
22. I think it stands still. If it (fall) ______, tell me immediately.
 ______
B. Complete each of the following sentences so that it
means the same as the sentence before i.t
1. She doesn’t live in London because she doesn’t know
anyone there
 She’d
_________________________________________________
_
2. I can’t live in the country because I can’t find a job there
 I’d
_________________________________________________
_
3. I don’t have a spare ticket. I can’t take you to the concert
 If I
_________________________________________________
_
4. The schoolchildren sowed some seeds, but they forgot to
water them so they didn’t grow.
 If the children

_________________________________________________
_
12. My house is guarded by two big dogs. That’s the only
reason it isn’t broken into every night
 If my house
_____________________________________________
13. The flats are not clearly numbered, so it is very difficult
to find anyone.
 If the flats
_______________________________________________
14. I don’t know her e-mail address, so I can’t tell you
 If I
_________________________________________________
_
15. She works in the evening. She has no time to play with
her children
 If she
_________________________________________________
_
16. Do the homework now. Otherwise, you will be punish.
 If
______________________________________________
________
17. They didn’t have enough money, so they didn’t buy the
house.
 Had
______________________________________________
_____
18. I advised you to take that job.
 Were

A. would invest B. invested C. had invested D.
invests
8. She wouldn't have given them all that money if we _____
her to.
A. wouldn’t advise B. won't advise C. hadn't advised D.
didn't advise
9. If the tree hadn't been so high, he _____ it up to take his
kite down.
A. could have climbed B. climb C. is climbing D.
climbed
10. If the wall weren't so high, he _____ it up to take his ball
down.
A. climbed B. could climb C. is climbing D.
climb
11. If I _____ her phone number, I _____ her last night
A. had known / could have phoned B. knew / would have
phoned
C. know / can phone D. knew / could phone
12. If he ______ the truth, the police wouldn’t arrest him.
A. tells B. told C. had told D.
would tell
13. If you press that button what _____?
A. would happen B. would have happened
C. will happenD. happen
14. She says if she _____ that the traffic lights were red she
_____.
A. had realized / would stop B. realized / could have
stopped
C. has realized / stopped D. had realized / would have
stopped

22. If your hair _______ grey now, what ______ you
________?
A. went / would / do B. goes / would /do
C. had gone / would/do D. had gone / would
have / done
23. If you ______ be someone, who______ you ______?
A. could / would / have been B. could / would / be
C. can / will / be D. are able to / will / be
24. If I ________ an Angel, I would try to make happy all the
children.
A. am B. have been C. were D. had
been
25. John would be taking a great risk if he _____ his money
in that business.
A. would invest B. invested C. had invested D.
invests
26. It ________ if nobody had reminded them.
A. would have be forgot B. would have been forgot
C. would have forget D. would have
been forget
27. The car ________ if somebody takes it there.
A. will be repaired B. would be repaired
C. will been repaired D. is repair
28. You ______ to prison if you did that.
A. would be send B. would have been sent
C. would be sent D. were sent
29. You would study Italian if it _____ here.
A. was teaching B. were taught C. would be taught
D. is taught
30. It _______ if nobody reminded them