UNIT 4. CONDITIONALS, WISHES AND REGRETS
AS LO NG AS, EV EN IF, PR OVI DED TH AT, UN LES S
-Conditional clauses usually start with if. In some situations, we can replace if with unless, provided that or
as long as.
-We can use unless to mean if… not in negative conditional sentences. Compare:
We’ll be late if we don’t leave now
We’ll be late unless we leave now.
-We can use even if instead of if to show that the result will not be affected by the condition. Compare:
The workers won’t strike if their wages are increased. (The workers will strike. But if their wages are increased,
they won’t strike).
The workers will strike even if their wages are increased. (The workers will strike if their wages are increased
and if their wages are not increased).
-We can use provided that or as long as (usually in first conditional sentences) to mean but only if. Compare:
Crime levels will continue to fall but only if we keep the same number of police officers.
Crime levels will continue to fall as long as we keep the same number of police officers.
Crime levels will continue to fall provided that we keep the same number of police officers.
CO NDI TIO NAL S A ND MOD ALS
-Conditional sentences contain two clauses: a conditional clause (which starts with if) and a result clause.
-We can change the order of the two clauses, but when the conditional clause comes first, we follow it with a
comma.
If the train times change, I’ll text you (conditional clause, result clause)
I’ll text you if the train times change (result clause + conditional clause)
-There are several types of conditionals, which vary according to the degree of probability they express.
ZE RO CON DIT ION AL
If + present simple, Present simple
Present simple if + present simple
If it rains, the ground gets wet / The ground gets wet if it rains.
-We use the zero conditional when a result always happens. A fact
If people eat unhealthy food, they become overweight.
