https://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/replacing_if.

htm

Tipo de oración Uso Tiempo verbal Tiempo ver

condicional de la proposició
proposición "if" principal

Tipo 0 Hechos generales Simple present Simple pres

Tipo 1 Una condición posible y Simple present Simple futur

su resultado probable

Tipo 2 Una condición hipotética Simple past Present con

y su resultado probable Present con
conditional

Tipo 3 Una condición no real del Past perfect Perfect cond

pasado y su resultado
probable en el pasado

Mixto Una condición no real del Past perfect Present con

pasado y su resultado
probable en el presente

Añadido por Simple past Perfect cond

misiguiendo los
 Tipo de oración Uso Tiempo verbal Tiempo ver
condicional de la proposició
proposición "if" principal

apuntes de la
teacher

1.- CONDITIONAL TYPE I

4.- How conditional sentences are mixed

1.- CONDITIONAL TYPE I

1. Use
It is possible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.

2. Form

if clause main clause

Simple Present will-future

infinitive
 if clause main clause

Modal + infinitive

3. Examples

if clause main clause

If I study, I will pass the exams.

If you see John tonight, tell him to e-mail me.

If Ben gets up early, he can catch the bus.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of a

sentence. Mind the comma.

if clause main clause

If I study, I will pass the exams.

main clause if clause

I will pass the exams if I study.

CONDITIONAL TYPE II

1. Use
It is theoretically possible to fulfil a condition which is given in the
if-clause.

2. Form

if clause main clause

would + infinitive

Simple Past could + infinitive

might + infinitive

3. Examples

if clause main clause

If I studied, I would pass the exams.

If I studied, I could pass the exams.

If I studied, I might pass the exams.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of a

sentence. Mind the comma.

if clause main clause

If I studied, I would pass the exams.

 if clause main clause

main clause if clause

I would pass the exams if I studied.

CONDITIONALS TYPE III

1. Use
It is impossible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.

2. Form

if clause main clause

would + have + past participle

Past Perfect could + have + past participle

might + have + past participle

3. Examples

if clause main clause

If I had studied, I would have passed the exams.

 if clause main clause

If I had studied, I could have passed the exams.

If I had studied, I might have passed the exams.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of a

sentence. Mind the comma.

if clause main clause

If I had studied, I would have passed the exams.

main clause if clause

I would have passed the exams if I had studied.

CONDITIONAL TYPE MIXED

How conditional sentences are mixed

Unreal conditionals (type II + III) sometimes can be mixed, that is, the
time of the if clause is different from the one of the main clause.

1. Past → Present
 If I had taken an aspirin, I wouldn't have a headache now.

Añado yo: Past Perfect ………………. Presente Conditional

2. Past → Future
 If I had known that you are going to come by tomorrow, I would
be in then.

3. Present → Past
 If she had enough money, she could have done this trip to
Hawaii.

4. Present → Future
 If I were you, I would be spending my vacation in Seattle.

5. Future → Past
 If I weren't flying to Detroit, I would have planned a trip to
Vancouver.

6. Future → Present
 If I were taking this exam next week, I would be high-strung.

Mixed Conditionals
Unlike the other
unreal conditional
sentences which refer
to the same time: the
present, the future, or
the past, MIXED
CONDITIONALS are
those unreal
conditional sentences
whose time in the “if-
clause” is different
than the time in
the “main clause”.

T
h
e
r
e
a
r
e

t
w
o

t
y
p
e
s

o
f

m
i
x
e
d

c
o
n
d
i
t
i
o
n
a
l
s
:

P
r
e
s
e
n
t
e

…
…
…
.
.
F
u
t
u
r
o
,

e
n

e
l

t
i
p
o

n
o

h
a
y

m
i
x
c
o
n
d
i
c
i
o
n
a
l
s

P
a
s
a
d
o

S
i
m
p
l
e

…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
.
C
o
n
d
i
c
i
o
n
a
l

p
e
r
f
e
c
t
o
,

a
q
u
í

h
a
y

u
n

M
i
x
c
o
n
d
i
c
i
o
n
a
l

P
l
u
s
c
u
a
m
p
e
r
f
e
c
t
o
…
…
…
…
…
…
.
C
o
n
d
i
c
i
o
n
a
l

S
i
m
p
l
e
,

a
q
u
í

h
a
y

u
n

M
i
x
c
o
n
d
i
c
i
o
n
a
l
1. Present result of past condition
This type
of mixed
conditiona
l refers to
an unreal
past
condition
and its
probable
result in
the
present. It
expresses
a situation
which is
contrary
to reality
both in
the past
and
present.

IF CLAUSE (If + Past perfect), MAIN CLAUSE (Present

conditional)

P
l
u
s
c
u
a
m
p
e
r
f
e
c
t
o

…
…
…
…
…
…
.
C
o
n
d
i
c
i
o
n
a
l

S
i
m
p
l
e

s
i

h
u
b
i
e
r
a

v
i
s
t
o

e
l

m
a
p
a
…
…
.
N
o

e
s
t
a
r
í
a

p
e
r
d
i
d
o

• If we had looked at the map, we wouldn’t be lost

[In reality: We didn’t look at the map (past reality). As the result,
we are lost (present reality).]

• If I had studied harder at school, I would have a better job now.

[In reality: I didn’t study harder at school. As the result, I haven’t

got a good job.]

2. Past result of present or continuing

condition
T
h
i
s

t
y
p
e
o
f

m
i
x
e
d

c
o
n
d
i
t
i
o
n
a
l

r
e
f
e
r
s

t
o

a
n

u
n
r
e
a
l

p
r
e
s
e
n
t

s
i
t
u
a
t
i
o
n

a
n
d

i
t
s

p
r
o
b
a
b
l
e

(
b
u
t

u
n
r
e
a
l
)

p
a
s
t

r
e
s
u
l
t
.

T
h
e

t
i
m
e

i
n

I
f
-
c
l
a
u
s
e

i
s

n
o
w

o
r

a
l
w
a
y
s

a
n
d

t
h
e

t
i
m
e

i
n

m
a
i
n

c
l
a
u
s
e

i
s

b
e
f
o
r
e

n
o
w
.

IF CLAUSE (If + Simple past), MAIN CLAUSE (Perfect

conditional)

E
n

e
s
p
a
ñ
o
l
a
l

P
a
s
a
d
o

S
i
m
p
l
e

l
e

c
o
r
r
e
s
p
o
n
d
e

…
…
…

e
l

C
o
n
d
i
c
i
o
n
a
l

m
p
u
e
s
t
o

• If she weren’t afraid of flying, she wouldn’t have travelled by boat.

[In reality: She is afraid of flying (present reality) and that’s why
she travelled by boat (past reality).]

• If I were a good cook, I’d have invited them to dinner.

[In reality: I’m not a good cook. That’s why I didn’t invite them to
dinner.]

1. Structure of if-clauses
If-clauses can be clause-initial (1.), clause-medial (2.) as well as
clause-final (3.).

1. If you like, we can watch a film.

2. We, if you like, can watch a film.

3. We can watch a film if you like.

2. Types
Aside from the typical type I, II, III structure, conditionals can be
divided into two categories:
real and unreal conditionals.

2.1. Real condition

Conditional sentence type

If I have money, I spend it. Present Real Conditional – type I

If I had money, I spent it. Past Real Conditional – type I

If I have money, I will/am going to

Future Real Conditional – type I
spend it.

2.2. Unreal condition

Conditional sentence Explanation type

If I had had money, Past unreal Conditional –

I would have spent it. type III

If I had money, I would I think about spending Present unreal

spend it. the money TODAY. Conditional – type II

I think about spending

If I had money, I would Future unreal Conditional
the money NEXT
spend it. – type II
WEEK.

3. Modal verbs
Main clauses with real conditional tenses can have modal verbs.
  If I have money, I can spend it.

You can use could and might instead of would in unreal conditional
clauses.

 If I had money, I could spend it. → (I would be able to spend it.)

 If I had money, I might spend it. → (I would possibly spend it.)

OMITING IF

Replacing if –
Omitting if – if vs. when – i
n case vs. if
1. Replacing if
If can be replaced by words or expressions with a similar meaning.

The most common are:

 as long as = siempre y cuando = if and only if = si y solo si=

provide that = solo si

 assuming (that)

 but for = de no ser = except in the case where = excepto en el

caso de que

 if any= si es que hay alguna = if there are some = si es que

hay alguna

 if ever=si es que alguna vez.

 If in doubt = en caso de duda= if you are not sure= si no

estaba segura

 If so= si es así, en el caso de = if true= si es cierto

 If no= si no.
  If this doesn´t happen = si esto no sucede = otherwise = si no
(de lo contrario).

 It seems as if = si a nadie le importase = apparently

 on condition (that)

 on the assumption (that)

 provided (that)= solo si = if and only if =siempre que

 rarely, if ever= rara vez=almost never= raro, si alguna vez

 supposing (that)

 unless = a menos que = if it happens that = si sucede que

 whether or not = =sin importar si, independientemente = if

something is true or false= sin importar si es verdadero o falso
= If you don´t care=si no te importa.

 with the condition (that)

 without = sin haber tenido =not having = No haber tenido (en

cuenta)

2. Omitting if
Had I known... (instead of If I had known...)

Were you my daughter,... (instead of: If you were my daughter,...)

Should you need my advice,... (instead of: If you should need my

advice,...)

3. if ↔ when
3.1. if and when are interchangeable when the statement of the
conditional clause is a fact or a general issue (also known as zero
conditional)

 If you heat ice, it melts.

 When you heat ice, it melts

3.2. if is used for something that, according to the speaker, might
happen.

We can spend the afternoon on the beach if the weather is fine.

3.3. when is used for something that, according to the speaker, will
happen.

I will clean up the kitchen right away when I'm back from work.

4. in case ↔ if
in case of can be used to shorten an if-clause as shown below:

 If there is a fire, leave the room.

 In case of fire, leave the room.

While if expresses a condition (1), in case is used to express a

possibility (2).

1. I need painkillers if I'm in severe pain.

2. I need painkillers in case I'm in severe pain.

The expression just in case is used pretty much the same way.

 I got you a pizza just in case you were hungry. (I don't know
whether you are hungry)

1. will in if-clauses
Using will to express disapproval of a habit: (e.g. to someone whose
bicycle has been stolen)

 If you will* leave your bicycle without locking it up, then you
must expect it to be stolen. (* stressed)

Using will to make a formal request:

 If you will sign the documents

where I have indicated, we
 can arrange payment.
(Using would instead
of will makes it even less
direct and therefore even
more formal.)

2. would in if-clauses
In polite requests would is possible in if-clauses.

 It would be nice if you would help me in the kitchen. (Are you

willing to help me in the kitchen?)

Conditional clauses are often called if-clauses,

but they don’t always include the word IF. We
use a technique called inversion to reverse the
subject verb object order of a normal sentence
and form inverted or reduced conditionals.
This is done in more formal situations for
emphasis, dramatic purpose or formality.

To make an inversion in conditional sentences

we first omit the IF and replace it with

C1-“SHOULD”, C2-“WERE” and C3- “HAD”

SHOULD makes a first conditional more polite

and more tentative.

FIRST CONDITIONAL Replace IF with

“SHOULD”

IF you do not wish to…… IF you choose…….

SHOULD you not wish to…… SHOULD you
choose…….

SECOND CONDITIONAL Replace IF with

“WERE” IF

we had……. IF I left……… WERE we to

have……. WERE I to leave………
THIRD CONDITIONAL Replace IF with “HAD”

IF it had not rained……… IF I had known…….

HAD it not rained……… HAD I known…….

C1

Should you have come here before you could

have met Will. (Pero la traducción es confusa
porque en inglés formalmente requiere
presente pero la traducción requiere
pluscuamplerfecto de subjuntivo) Si hubieras
venido antes, podrías haber conocido a Will.

Should I have known it before, I could have let

you know. Si lo hubiera sabido antes, podría
haberte avisado.

C2

Were Alice here she could have performed in

the program. Si Alice hubiera estado aquí,
podría haber actuado en el programa.

Were Alex here he could have shown you the

task. Si Alex hubiera estado aquí, podría
haberte mostrado la tarea

C3

Had I come here earlier, I could have helped

you. Si hubiera venido antes, podría haberte
ayudado.

Had I seen you before, I could have given it to

you. Si te hubiera visto antes, podría haberte
dado la tarea