General information

• What is always true: present + present

If the water is boiling/has boiled, it means the food is nearly ready.

• What was always true: past + past

We went home early if it was foggy.

• Real situations: present + future. Here we think that the outcome is really possible. If can also be followed by modals, present perfect (to emphasize completion), going to, present continuous with future meaning. The second clause can contain modals, going to, imperative, had better, etc.

If you keep driving like that, you're going to have an accident.

If you're going to buy a car, make sure you get it checked by a garage.

If you're going to the shops, you'd better take same money!

• Hypothetical situations: past + would. These are unreal or imaginary situations.

If I was having a party, I wouldn't invite Marcia.

• The verb be usually takes the form were for all persons in these sentences, though was is used in everyday speech.

• Note that in the first person it is possible to use should instead of would.

If I left home, I think I should be lonely.

• Hypothetical past situations: past perfect + would have. These refer to past events.

If I had known you were coming, I would have met you at the station.

• Past events with results in the present: past perfect + would + Simple/Continuous infinitive.

If Jim hadn't missed the plane, he would be here by now.

• The difference between real and unreal may be a matter of speaker choice and context.

If you buy a bike, you’ll get a lot fitter. (You are really thinking of buying one - perhaps we are in the bike shop.)

If you bought a bike, you'd get a lot fitter. (We are only discussing possibilities.)

• Present subjunctive ((should) + bare infinitive) is used

a) after whether

Whether she (should) agree or not, we’re going to have to go ahead. (or … she agrees …)

b) after whatever

Whatever his reasons (should) be, they are insufficient to excuse him. (or … reasons are …)

Modality

• Possible situations in the present

If you come early, we can discuss the problem together.

• Hypothetical situations

If I had the money, I could help you.

• Hypothetical past situations

If you hadn't reminded me, I might have forgotten.

• Should/by any chance(after if) makes the possibility of an event seem unlikely.

If you should see Ann, could you ask her to call me? or If by any chance you see … (= I do not expect you to see Ann.)

• Should is also used to talk about one’s reaction to something one is reporting, particularly after be + adjective (amazed, amused, anxious, astounded, concerned, disappointed, shocked, surprised, upset).

I’m concerned that she should think I stole the money. (… that she thinks …)

• Were to also makes an event seem more hypothetical.

If I were to ask you to marry me, what would you say?

• However, notice that we can't use this pattern with many verbs that describe a state, including

know, like, remember, understand:

If I knew they were honest, I'd gladly lend them the money. (not If I were to know...)

• We sometimes use this pattern to make a suggestion sound more polite:

If you were to move over, we could all sit on the sofa.

• Happen to emphasises chance possibilities. It is often used with should.

If you happen to see Helen, could you ask her to call me?

If you should happen to be passing, drop in for a cup of tea.

• Notice that we don't usually use this pattern in unreal conditionals which talk about impossible

states or events in the if-clause.

If the North Sea froze in winter, you could walk from London to Oslo. (not If the North Sea happened to freeze / should (happen to) freeze in winter...)

• Will and would can be used as polite forms.

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

• Willcan also be used for emphasis, meaning 'insist on doing'.

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

• Will is used in some if-sentences that describe the possible results of an offer.

I’ll talk to your teacher, if that will stop you worrying so much.

• Mightandcan /could are used in an if-clause which stands alone as a very polite request.

If I could just have another look. (=Could I have another look?)

If I might help you with your coat.

Constructions

• If only adds emphasis to hypothetical situations. With past events it adds a sense of regret. The second part of the sentence is often left out.

If only I had enough time!

If only I hadn't drunk too much, this wouldn't have happened!

• If it were not for/if it hadn't been for describes how one event depends on another.

If it weren't for Jim, this company would be in a mess.

If it hadn't been for their goalkeeper, United would have lost.

• But for can replace if not. It is used in formal language, and must be followed by a noun form.

If you hadn't helped us, we would have been in trouble.

But for your help, we would have been in trouble.

• If so/if not can refer to a sentence understood but not stated.

There is a possibility that Jack will be late. If so, I will take his place.

• Colloquial omission of if: an imperative can be used instead of an if clause in everyday speech.

Sit down, and I'll make us a cup of tea. (If you sit down ...)

• Formal omission of ifcauses inversion.

Were we to know what’s going to happen, we’d be omnipotent. (=If we were to know…)

Should you have any questions, feel free to ask. (=If you should have …)

Had it not been for your help, we’d missed the deadline. (=If it hadn’t been fro your help …)

• With if and adjectives/participles it is possible to omit the verb be.

If interested, apply within.

If necessary, take a taxi.

• In the formal structure if + adjective there can be a meaning of concession, i.e. if=although.

The room was well-furnished, if a little badly decorated.

• It's time, it's high time are followed by past simple or continuous, though the time referred to is unreal.

It's time we left. It's high time I was going.

• If I were you is used for giving advice. Note that I and you are stressed more heavily than were. The if-clause can come at the beginning or at the end.

I wouldn't touch that wire, if I were you.

If I were you, I'd go to the police.

• I wish

a) Present/future time: these are wishes where you want to change a present/future state. Notice the past verb forms after wish.

I wish I had a motorbike. (I don't have one now.)

I wish you weren't leaving. (You are leaving.)

• Would is used when the speaker wants somebody or something else to change.

I wish he would change his mind and marry Jane.

I wish it would stop raining.

The use with would is often used to describe an annoying habit.

I wish you wouldn't make such a mess.

b) Past time: these are wishes referring to a past event, which cannot be changed. The verb form after wish is one stage further back in the past. This use of wish is common after if only to express regrets.

I wish I hadn't eaten so much.

• Hope is used to express wishes about simple future events are expressed with hope.

I hope it doesn't (won't) rain tomorrow.

I hope you('ll) have a lovely time in Portugal (on your holiday next week).

• I'd rather/sooner + subject is followed by past verb forms. It expresses preference about somebody else’s actions.

I'd rather you didn't smoke in here.

Compare: I’d rather/sooner + infinitiveexpresses choice.

I’d rather not smoke here.

Compare: I'd rather/sooner is used with infinitives when comparing nouns or phrases.

I'd rather be a sailor than a soldier. (present)

I'd rather have lived in Ancient Greece than Ancient Rome. (past)

• I'd prefer + it + if + subject + past verb forms or I'd prefer + that + subject + past verb forms

I'd prefer it if you didn't go.

Compare: I(‘d) prefer sth/gerund (to sth)

I'd prefer tea to coffee.

I prefer playing in defence.

Compare: I prefer + infinitive

I prefer not to think about it.

Compare: I’d prefer + sb + infinitive

I'd prefer you to go swimming (rather than go jogging).

• Formal requirements, instructions: after verbs such as advise, ask, beg, command demand, direct, insist, instruct, intend, order, prefer, propose, recommend, recommend, request, require, stipulate, suggest, urge and their corresponding nouns (warning, ect); adjectives such as advisable, appaling, (in)appropriate, (in)conceivable, crucial, important, obligatory, (un)necessary, urgent, vital, imperative, essential, etc. which involve an implied obligation, the subjunctive may have only one form, that of the infinitive, and there is no third person -s, or past form. The verb be has be for all forms.

They demanded that he leave at once.

The school Principal suggested that he be awarded a scholarship.

Less formally, should can be used, and colloquially no verb form change is made, or an infinitive construction is used.

They demanded that he should leave.

They demanded that he left. (informal)

• Idioms, fixed expressions using present subjunctive:

God save the Queen!

Long live the King!

Be that as it may

Come what may

Far be it from me + infinitive

God/Heaven forbid (that)

Suffice it to say

So be it.

Be it … or …

Conjunctions

• Unless means only if not.

I'll go ahead and get the tickets unless you call me this afternoon. (= If you call me this afternoon, I won't get the tickets.)

• We use if...not but not unless

a) in most unreal conditional sentences:

He would be happier if he didn't take things so seriously. (not ...unless he took...)

If she hadn't gone to university, she would have gone into the police force. (not Unless she

had gone...)

b) when we talk about emotions:

I'll be amazed if Christie doesn't win. (not ...unless Christie wins.)

c) in most questions:

If you don't pass the test, what will you do? (not Unless you pass...)

• We use unless but not if...not when we introduce an afterthought. In written English, the afterthought is often separated from the rest of the sentence by a dash.

Without Philip to run it, the course can't continue - unless you want the job, of course. (not ... - if you don't want...)

• as/so long as, provided/providing, on condition (that) or only ifare more emphatic way to say only if.

I'll do what you say provided the police are not informed.

• Even if describes how something will happen whatever the condition.

Even if it rains, we'll still go for a picnic.

• Supposing/suppose/assuming/imagine can replace if, mainly in everyday speech.

Supposing you won the football pools, what would you do?

As with conditional sentences, if the event referred to is a real possibility, rather than imaginary, a present verb form is possible:

Suppose it starts raining, what'll we do?

• Otherwise means 'or if not'. It can go at the beginning or end of the sentence.

If you hadn't given us directions, we wouldn't have found the house.

Thanks for your directions to the house. We wouldn't have found it otherwise.

• With as if/though and likethe verb form depends on whether the situation is true or unreal.

You look as if you're having second thoughts. (True. He is having second thoughts.)

He acts as if he were in charge. (Unreal. He isn't in charge.)

I feel as if an express train had hit me. (It didn't hit me.)

Note however, that the more colloquial like does not require this verb form change.

You look like you've just seen a ghost

You look as if you'd just seen a ghost.

• As it were is used to show that we realize that something we have said may not precisely express what we mean. We often do this to be humorous or to sound less definite.

Becky runs the office and Sue is her apprentice, as it were.

Practice

Date: 2015-12-17; view: 1304