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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How to do business ?

How to do business !!

Conversation between a business man & his son.

BM : "I want you to marry a girl of my choice"
Son : "No - I will choose my own bride!"
BM : "But the girl is Bill Gates' daughter."
Son : "Well, in that case...ok"
Next, BM approaches Bill Gates.
BM : "I have a husband for your daughter."

Bill Gates: "But my daughter is too young to marry!"
BM : "But this young man is a Vice-President of the World Bank."
Bill Gates: "Ah, in that case...ok"
Finally, BM goes to see the President of the World Bank.
BM : "I have a young man to be recommended as a Vice-President."
President: "But I already have more Vice-Presidents than I need!"
BM : "But this young man is Bill Gates' son-in-law."
President: "Ah, in that case...ok"

This is how business is done.
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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.

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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.

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