14.1 What Is a Conditional?

Conditionals are used mainly to express a condition or decision taken over a certain situation. Here we will explain each conditional.

14.1.1 "If" Clauses

If clauses present possible conditions. The main clause expresses the result of that condition. Like this:

Examples:

If it rains, the streets get wet.

Possible condition: It rains.
Result: The streets get wet.

A present tense, not a future tense, is used in an if clause, even though the verb in the if clause may refer to a future event or situation, as in:

Examples:

If it rains tomorrow, I will take my umbrella.

The words that introduce clauses of condition; "If clauses" are the following:

If	In case (that)	Only if
Whether or not	In the event (that)	Providing
Provided (that)	Even if	Unless

        Exercise 1

From the given possibilities you should make two sentences using if. (answers will v ary)

Examples:

It may be cold tomorrow.
If it's cold tomorrow, I'm going to stay home.
If it's cold tomorrow, let's go skating.

1. Maybe it will be hot tomorrow.

2. Robert will probably study for the test.

3. The teacher may be absent tomorrow.

14.2 Real Conditional Vs. Unreal Conditional

Present Real Conditional	Present Unreal Conditional
If I have time, I visit my friends. (Sometimes I have time.)	If I had time, I would visit my friends. (I don't have time.)
Past Real Conditional	Past Unreal Conditional
If I had time, I visited my friends. (Sometimes I had time.)	If I had had time, I would have visited my friends. (I didn't have time.)

Future Real Conditional	future Unreal Conditional
If I have time, I visit my friends. If I have time, I am going to visit my friends. (I don't know if I will have time or not.)	If I had time, I would visit my friends. (I won't have time.)

        Exercise 2

Apply the rules. Use the Present Unreal Conditional.

• • Did you hear about the woman that lost her puppy last month? If I my puppy, I all of my friends to help me look for it. I posters with its picture and I until I . you me if that to me?
• • Sure, I there for you! In , I my uncle who is a reporter in channel 11, and I him to make a space for lost pets.
• • Oh...You are such a wonderful friend! Thanks!

        Exercise 3

Use either Present Real or Present Unreal Conditional to complete the following s tory.

• Sarah: Well, you (know). Patrick my boyfriend, he (want) me to (live) with him. Yesterday, he (ask) me if I loved him. And, of course that I told him that I (do) because I (do). He (want) me to move in with him. He (be) a great person and every time I (have) a problem, he (help) me out. If I (have) homework from the university, he (do) whatever he can to help me. When I (need) money, if he (have), he (lend) me what he can. He (be) honest, nice, a gentleman everything a woman (want). The problem is that my parents never (let) me live with somebody if I (be, not) married.
• Gina: If I you, First, I (analyze) what I really (want). Then, I (ask) for my parents' opinion. You have to (see) what is of your convenience now. If I (tell) you now to move in with him. It (be) too soon in my opinion because I really don't (know) what you want. But as I tell you, I (think) things with a cold head before making a decision, I (ask) my mother for her opinion, and I (make) it clear that I (be) old enough to make my own decisions.
• Sara: Another problem is that I always (tell) my mother about my problems and she is always against me. If I (tell) her something she (react) opposite to my point of view. So that is why I (be) scared. I (want) to live with him but I don't want to have problems with my parents! If I didn't have to depend upon them, I (say) yes to Patrick.
• Gina: Well, my decision (not, depend) on others even if they (be) my family because at the end it is my life not theirs. What Patrick (do) If you say no?
• Sarah: If I (say) no he (feel) very bad, but I (explain) the situation and he (understand). Well, Thanks I have to go. Talk to you later!
• Gina: No problem, bye! Good luck.

        Exercise 4

Use either Past Real or Past Unreal Conditional to complete the following story.

Mary: Hello! It has been so long since we see each other. Tell me, what have you been up to?
Pam: Well, a lot really, I (have) three kids!
Mary: Wow, three!
Pam: Yes, and you?
Mary: I didn't have three but I (have) one.
Pam: Great, and did he behave when growing up?
Mary: Oh yes, he (behave) very well.
Pam: Good for you, mine didn't behave much until five years ago when they were 5 and we got into a program where we got help from professionals!
Mary: That bad?
Pam: Oh yeah, for example, If my children (throw) fits, I (not punish) them, they (dominate) me in the past.
Mary: Very bad. If Raulito (throw) a fit when he was 5, I totally (punish) him, thank God he never did!
Pam: Well, mine (do) whatever they (want) before. If we (go) to the supermarket and they (ask) for something I (buy) it for them. That is why most of the time I (not have) money. I (spoil) them too much.
Mary: If I (be) there I (give) you advice. I (teach) you some things that I (learn) from my mother! When I was younger, If I (not obey) my parents they (ground) me for weeks! I remember that I (cry) so much those days!
Pam: I (let) everything pass, my children (own) me, not now, but before.
Mary: I (not be) like that if I (be) in your shoes. I (be) more strict like I (be) with Raulito when he was younger. If he (try) to dominate me then, I (not gain) the control over him that I have now.
Pam: Yes, congratulations looks like you are a great mother.
Mary: Thank you, but you (have) more experience in different situations than I have!
Pam: That is true. Now, I can say that I (learn) how to be with my children. If I (not go) to that psychologist for families I (never forgive) myself for being such a bad, easygoing mother and my children (grow) up to be very bad people!

        Exercise 5

Use either Present Real or Past Unreal Conditional to complete the following sentences.

• 1. If he (tell) me something, I (tell) you a long time ago.
• 2. If I (know) that she didn't want to go, I (not invite) her to my house last week.
• 3. This morning, I didn't hear the doorbell when you came. I (open) the door if I it. Please, don't think that I did it on purpose!
• 4. If I (know) that you were in town last week, I (visit) you!
• 5. She was very angry. If you (call) her to apologize, she (forgive). Now it is too late!
• 6. When I was in the university, if (have) time to party, I (do) it, but If I didn't I wouldn't.
• 7. If Margaret (study) more, she (be) the best student in the class.
• 8. If Margaret (study) last semester, she (be) the best student but since she didn't, she got 2nd place.

        Exercise 6

Use Future Real Conditional to complete the following story.

Next year, if my father sells the house, we (travel) to Paris and try to start a new life there. If I (decide) to study there, he said that it is ok as long as I am not far from home. I will (get) a job and If I (earn) enough money, I (live) alone in my apartment. Of course if the conditions (allow) it. He says that he (put) a restaurant of typical Colombian food.
If his friend, Anthony, (help) him by renting him a place in his shopping center, he (ask) Anthony to be his business partner. I (ask) there part-time and have another job. If this (happen), I (have) enough money not only to pay for my apartment but also to take trips to come back and visit my friends!

        Exercise 7

Write a sentence using the correct structures. Use reference chart for help.

1. Present Real Conditional:

2. Present Unreal Conditional:

3. Past Real Conditional:

4. Past Unreal Conditional:

5. Future Real Conditional:

6. Future Unreal Conditional:

14.2.1 Whether or Not

Whether or not expresses the idea that neither this condition nor that condition matters; the result will be the same.

Example:

I'm going to go swimming tomorrow whether or not is cold. (Or whether is cold or not)

In this sentence, it is clear the condition that it doesn't matter if it is cold or not, I am going swimming anyway.

14.2.2 Even If

Sentences with even if, are close in meaning to those with whether or not. Even if gives the idea that a particular condition does not matter. The result w ill not change.

Example:

Even if the weather is cold, I'm going swimming tomorrow.

14.2.3 Compare

If clauses are followed by an expected result.

Example:

If Ann studies hard, she will pass the exam.

Condition: Ann Studies.
Expected result: She passes the exam.

Even if clauses are followed by unexpected results.

Example:

Even if Mary studies hard, she won't pass the exam.

Condition: Mary studies..
Expected result: She does not pass the exam.

        Exercise 8

Use the given information to complete the sentences.

1. Sam's uncle tells a lot of jokes. Sometimes they are funny, and sometimes they are not. It doesn't matter.
Sam laughs at the jokes whether or not.
Sam laughs at the jokes even if the .

2. Maybe you are finished with the exam, and maybe not. It doesn't matter. The time is up.
You have to hand in your test whether or not.
You have to hand in your test even if .

3. It might snow or it might not. We don't want to go camping in the snow, but it does not matter.
We're going camping in the mountains whether or not .
We're going camping in the mountains even .

14.2.4 In Case That – In the Event That

In the case that and in the event that express the idea that something p robably won't happen, but it might.

In case/ in the event that = if by chance this should happen.

Notes: In the event that is more formal than in case. The use of should in the c lause emphasizes the speaker's uncertainty that something will happen.

Example:

I'll be at my house in case you (should) need to reach me.
In the event that you (should) need to reach me, I'll be at my house.

        Exercise 9

Use In case/in the event (that) in these sentences.

Example:

You probably won't need to get in touch with me, but maybe you will. If so, I'll give you my phone number.

I'll give you my phone number in case/in the event that you (should) need to get in touch with me.

1. Probably you won't need to see me, but maybe you will. If so, I'll be in my office tomorrow morning around ten.

2. I don't think you need more information, but maybe you do. If so, ask Dr. Smith.

4. Jack probably will not call, but maybe he will. If so, please tell him that I'm at the library.

14.2.5 Unless

This conditional has the same meaning that implies If not.

Example:

I will go to the zoo if it isn't cold.
I will go to the zoo unless it is cold.

These two clauses have the same meaning.

        Exercise 10

Use unless in these sentences.

1. You can't travel abroad if you don't have a passport.

2. You can't get a driver's license if you are not at least 16.

3. If you don't get some film, I won't be able to take pictures when Ann and Rob get here.

4. You'll get hungry during class if you don't eat breakfast.

14.2.6 Only if / Providing/Provided that

Only if expresses the idea that there is only one condition that will cause a p articular result.

Example:

The picnic will be canceled only if it rains.
If it is windy, we'll have the picnic.
If it is cold, we'll have the picnic.
If it is damp and foggy, we'll have the picnic.
If it is hot, we'll have the picnic.

When only if begins a sentence, the subject and verb of the main clause are inverted.

Example:

Only if it rains will the picnic be canceled.

Providing / provided that are equal to if or only if.

Example:

Providing / provided (that) no one has any further questions, the meeting will be adjourned.

        Exercise 11

Use the given information to complete these sentences.

1. Jimmy's mother does not want him to chew gum, but sometimes he chews it anyway. Jimmy chews gum only if he is sure his mother won't find out.

2. If you want to go to the movies, we'll go. If you don't want to go, we won't go. We only if you want to go.

3. You have to have a ticket, and then you can get into the soccer stadium. Only if you have a ticket

4. My parents make me finish my homework before I can watch TV in the evening. Only if my homework is finished