IF STRUCTURES (Book: Premium B2 Level Coursebook, Pages: 183, 184)
Linking Words in IF Structures
Some common conditional linking words are: if, when, as/so long as, until, unless, even if, no matter how/who/what/where/when, provided (that)
Punctuation in IF Structures
When the clause with the conditional linking word (if, unless, etc.) is at the beginning of the sentence, there is a comma. When the main clause begins the sentence, there is no comma.
If I see her, I’ll give her the money back. I’ll give her the money back when I see her.
I won’t lend her any money unless she promises to pay me back. As long as you pay me back by Friday, I’ll lend you some
money.
Different types of IF Structures
Name Basic Form Other Forms Use Examples
If clause Main Clause If Clause Main Clause
Zero Conditional
(Real Conditional) Present Simple Present Simple
To talk about something which
is always true or describe what
always happens like scientific
laws
If you stroke our cat, she purrs.
Ice melts if you heat it
First Conditional
(Real Conditional) Present Simple Future
Will + infinitive
-Present
continuous
-Present Perfect
-Present
Continuous
-Imperative
-Modals
To talk about something that is
a real possibility in the future.
If she passes her exam, she’ll be
really pleased with herself.
Unless you phone me, I won’t know
you’re coming.
Tell Penny to ring me if you see
her.
As long as you’ve eaten enough
breakfast, you won’t need to take
any food with you.
Second
Conditional
(Unreal
conditional)
Past Simple
It’s very common
to use were
instead of was
when give advice.
Would Past Continuous -Conditionals
-Modals
Talk about something:
-That is impossible and just
imagined.
–Which is very unlikely to
happen in the future.
–Often it’s also used to give
advice.
If she was a bit taller, she’d look
really good in that dress.
I wouldn’t go parachuting even if
you paid me.
If I were you, I’d have an early
night.
Third Conditional
(Unreal
conditional)
Past Perfect
Would have + PP
(to talk about a
past result)
-Might have + PP
-Would (if we want
to talk about a
present result)
To talk about something in the
past that could have happened,
but didn’t or something that
shouldn’t have happened but
did.
I wouldn’t have put any meat in if
I’d known he was vegetarian.
If you’d asked earlier, I would’ve
given you a lift.
Mixed Conditional Referring to the
Past
Referring to the
present or the
Future
To talk about if something had
been different in the past, the
present or future would be
different
If she’d had more practice, she’d
feel a lot more confident about
passing her test today.
I’d be a wealthy man if I’d got that
job I applied for.
Mixed Conditional
Referring to the
present or the
Future
Referring to the
Past
To talk about if something in the
present (or in general time)
were different, the past would
have been different
If I knew him better, I would have
invited him to the party.
She wouldn’t have ordered
spaghetti if she didn’t like pasta.
Modals in IF Structures
Modal verbs (may, might, could, etc.) can be used in all if structures except those expressing general truth (FIRST CONDITIONAL)
I might go to the cinema if I’m not too tired. If she studied harder, she could pass the exam. If they had told me what the course involved, I might never
have signed up for it.
Polite expressions using IF, WOULD and SHOULD
WOULD can be used after if in polite expressions. If you wouldn’t mind waiting for a moment, the manager will see you shortly.
