Conditional Clauses : Improbable Situation and Imaginary Situations

a. Improbable Situations

1.

WRONG : If the meeting would be cancelled, they would ring.

CORRECT : If the meeting was cancelled, they would ring.

2.

WRONG : If I would do it , I would do it this way.

CORRECT : If I did it, I would do it this way.

When referring to something that is possible but unlikely to happen, we use past tense for the if clause, and would / could for the main clause.

b. Imaginary Situations

WRONG : If I am you, I will take the offer.

CORRECT : If I were you, I would take the offer.

CORRECT : If I was you, I would take the offer.(Less Formal)

When talking about imaginary situations, we use past tense in the if clause and would/could in the main clause.

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Conditional Clauses : Real Possibility

Common errors in conditional clauses mostly concern the wrong use of verb tense. Here are some typical examples.

Real Possibility

Sample 1.

WRONG : If you attend 80 % of the sessions, you would receive a certificate of attendance at the end of the course.

CORRECT : If you attend 80 % of the sessions, you will receive a certificate of attendance at the end of the course.

Sample 2.

WRONG : If you send us your applications this week, we would let you know of the results in two weeks’ time.

CORRECT : If you send us your applications this week, we will let you know of the results in two weeks’ time.

Sample 3.

WRONG : If you will attend the meeting tomorrow, you will meet representatives from the Research Centre.

CORRECT : If you attend the meeting tomorrow, you will meet representatives from the Research Centre.

When referring to something that is likely to happen, we use present tense in the if clause and future tense in the main clause.

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CONDITIONAL CLAUSES : Past Possibilities

Past Possibilities

Sample 1.

WRONG : If you were not late for the press conference, you would have heard the Director’s speech.

CORRECT : If you had not been late for the press conference, you would have heard the Director’s speech.

Sample 2.

WRONG : If the project was not delayed, we would have finished it by now.

CORRECT :If the project had not been delayed, we would have finished it by now.

When referring to something which could have happened but did not, we use past perfect in the if clause and would have + past participle in the main clause.

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CONDITIONAL CLAUSES : Imaginary Situations

Imaginary Situations

WRONG : If I am you, I will take the offer.

CORRECT : If I were you, I would take the offer.

CORRECT :If I was you, I would take the offer.(Less Formal)

When talking about imaginary situations, we use past tense in the if clause and would/could in the main clause.

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CONDITIONAL CLAUSES : Improbable Situations

Improbable Situations

1.

WRONG : If the meeting would be cancelled, they would ring.

CORRECT : If the meeting was cancelled, they would ring.

2.

WRONG : If I would do it , I would do it this way.

CORRECT : If I did it, I would do it this way.

When referring to something that is possible but unlikely to happen, we use past tense for the if clause, and would / could for the main clause.

Read more...

CONDITIONAL CLAUSES : Real Possibility

Real Possibility

1.

WRONG :If you attend 80 % of the sessions, you would receive a certificate of attendance at the end of the course.

CORRECT : If you attend 80 % of the sessions, you will receive a certificate of attendance at the end of the course.

2.

WRONG : If you send us your applications this week, we would let you know of the results in two weeks’ time.

CORRECT :If you send us your applications this week, we will let you know of the results in two weeks’ time.

3.

WRONG : If you will attend the meeting tomorrow, you will meet representatives from the Research Centre.

CORRECT : If you attend the meeting tomorrow, you will meet representatives from the Research Centre.

When referring to something that is likely to happen, we use present tense in the if clause and future tense in the main clause.

Read more...

CONDITIONAL CLAUSES : Past Possibilities

Past Possibilities

1.

WRONG : If you were not late for the press conference, you would have heard the Director’s speech.

RIGHT : If you had not been late for the press conference, you would have heard the Director’s speech.

2.

WRONG : If the project was not delayed, we would have finished it by now.

RIGHT : If the project had not been delayed, we would have finished it by now.

When referring to something which could have happened but did not, we use past perfect in the if clause and would have + past participle in the main clause.

Read more...

CONDITIONAL CLAUSES : Improbable Situations and Imaginary Situations

a. Improbable Situations

1.

WRONG : If the meeting would be cancelled, they would ring.

RIGHT : If the meeting was cancelled, they would ring.

2.

WRONG :If I would do it , I would do it this way.

RIGHT :If I did it, I would do it this way.

When referring to something that is possible but unlikely to happen, we use past tense for the if clause, and would / could for the main clause.

b. Imaginary Situations

WRONG : If I am you, I will take the offer.

RIGHT : If I were you, I would take the offer.

RIGHT : If I was you, I would take the offer.(Less Formal)

When talking about imaginary situations, we use past tense in the if clause and would/could in the main clause

Read more...

CONDITIONAL CLAUSES : Probable Situations

Real Possibility

1.

Wrong : If you attend 80 % of the sessions, you would receive a certificate of attendance at the end of the course.

Right: If you attend 80 % of the sessions, you will receive a certificate of attendance at the end of the course.

2.

Wrong : If you send us your applications this week, we would let you know of the results in two weeks’ time.

Right: If you send us your applications this week, we will let you know of the results in two weeks’ time.

3.

Wrong :If you will attend the meeting tomorrow, you will meet representatives from the Research Centre.

Right: If you attend the meeting tomorrow, you will meet representatives from the Research Centre.

When referring to something that is likely to happen, we use present tense in the if clause and future tense in the main clause.

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CONDITIONAL CLAUSES - 1

CONDITIONAL CLAUSES

There are basically three types of conditional clauses:

TYPE 1

Probable Situations

If clause + Main clause

simple present will / shall

eg. If we purchase a new computer, we will be able to process 500 more applications per month.

TYPE 2

Improbable or Imaginary Situations

If clause + Main clause

simple past would/ should / could

eg. I think the committee would approve our proposal if we could shorten the time for the phase 1 redevelopment plan.

TYPE 3

Past Possibilities

If clause + Main clause

past perfect would/should/could + have +

past participle

eg. We would have completed the project by now if there had

not been a delay.

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