Page 209 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

C o n d i t i o n a l s e n t e n c e s ( 2 )
sentences
(2)
Conditional
if...were
to-infinitive
we
use
+
unreal conditionals
about imaginary
situations:
future
to talk
, A In In unreal conditionals we use if...were + to-infinitive to talk about imaginary future situations:
Ifthe technology were to become available, we would be able to expand the business.
• ¢ If the technology were to become available, we would be able to expand the business.
If he were to have a chance of success, he would need to move to London.
@ • + Ifhe were to have a chance of success, he would need to move to London.
use this
describe
a
state,
including
pattern with many verbs that
notice that we can't
However, notice that we can't use this pattern with many verbs that describe a state, including
However,
remember, understand:
know, like, remember, understand:
know, like,
(not If I were to know...)
IfI knew they were honest, I'd gladly lend them the money.
• ¢ If I knew they were honest, I'd gladly lend them the money, (not If I were to know...)
sometimes use this pattern to make a suggestion sound more polite:
We
We sometimes use this pattern to make a suggestion sound more polite:
If you were to move over, we could all sit on the sofa.
• ¢ Ifyou were to move over, we could all sit on the sofa.
D If the first verb in in a conditional if-clause is should, were, or had (see Unit 99) we can leave out if
a conditional if-clause
we can
(see Unit 99)
or had
leave out if
is should, were,
If the first verb
at the start of the clause. We do this particularly in formal or literary English
and put the verb at the start of the clause. We do this particularly in formal or literary English
and put the verb
(see also Unit 119):
(see also Unit 119):
(= If any of this should cost...)
• ¢ Should any of this cost you anything, send me the bill. (= If any of this should cost...)
Should any of this cost you anything, send me the bill.
It would be embarrassing, were she to find out the truth. (= ...if she were to find out...)
• ¢ It would be embarrassing, were she to find out the truth. (= ...if she were to find out...)
(= If they hadn't rushed Dan...)
• ¢ Had they not rushed Dan to hospital, he would have died. (= If they hadn't rushed Dan...)
Had they not rushed Dan to hospital, he would have died.
use if it was/were not for + noun to say that one situation is dependent on another situation
We use if it was/were not for + noun to say that one situation is dependent on another situation
We
When we talk about the past we use If it had not been for + noun:
or on a person. When we talk about the past we use If it had not been for + noun:
or on a person.
Vivian, the conference wouldn't be going ahead.
If it wasn't/weren't for Vivian, the conference wouldn't be going ahead.
• ¢ Ifit wasn't/weren't for
If it hadn't been for my parents, I would never have gone to university.
• ¢ If it hadn't been for my parents, I would never have gone to university.
and literary language we can also use Were it not for... and Had it not been for...:
In formal and literary language we can also use Were it not for... and Had it not been for...:
In formal
Were it not for Vivian... Had it not been for my parents...
• ¢ Were it not for Vivian... • * Had it not been for my parents...
often use but for + noun with a similar meaning:
We often use but for + noun with a similar meaning:
We
(= If it hadn't been for Jim...)
• ¢ But for Jim's support, I wouldn't have got the job. (= If it hadn't been for Jim...)
But for Jim's support, I wouldn't have got the job.
use if...will in conditional sentences (see Unit 99). However, we can use if...will
We don't usually use if...will in conditional sentences (see Unit 99). However, we can use if...will
We don't usually
a result of something in the main clause. Compare:
when we talk about a resu/t of something in the main clause. Compare:
when we talk about
Open a window if it will help you to sleep. ...if it helps you to sleep.
• * Open a window if it will help you to sleep. or or .jif it helps you to sleep.
is the result of opening the window.)
('Helping you to sleep' is the result of opening the window.)
(‘Helping you to sleep'
I will be angry if it turns out that you are wrong. not '...if it will turn out...'
• ¢ Iwill be angry if it turns out that you are wrong. not ‘...if it will turn out...'
('Turning out that you are wrong' is not the result of being angry.)
(‘Turning out that you are wrong’ is not the result of being angry.)
use if...will in requests:
I We also use if...will in requests:
We also
If you will take your seats, ladies and gentlemen, we can begin the meeting.
• -
@®
Ifyou will take your seats, ladies and gentlemen, we can begin the meeting.
make a request more polite, you can use if...would:
If you want
If you want to to make a request more polite, you can use if...would:
If you would take your seats, ladies and gentlemen...
• ¢ a real conditional sentence, we use if...happen to, if...should, or if...should happen to to talk
Ifyou would take your seats, ladies and gentlemen...
Conditionals l(Noma NP oom in unreal conditionals which talk about impossible
In In a real conditional sentence, we use if...happen to, if...should, or if...should happen to to talk
is most common in
be possible, but is not very likely. If...happen to
about something which may be possible, but is not very likely. If...happen to is most common in
about something which may
English:
spoken English:
spoken
(or If you should (happen to)
be...)
If you happen to be in our area, drop in and see us.
• ¢ Ifyou happen to be in our area, drop in and see us. (or If you should (happen to) be...)
this pattern
use
usually
Notice that we don't
Notice that we don't usually use this pattern in unreal conditionals which talk about impossible
in the
or events
if-clause:
states
states or events in the if-clause:
froze in winter, you could walk from London to Oslo,
Sea
Sea
[not If the North
• ¢
Ifthe North
If the North Sea froze in winter, you could walk from London to Oslo. (not If the North Sa
(happen to)
freeze in winter...)
freeze / should
happened
happened to to freeze / should (happen to) freeze in winter...)
Condonas (1) = Inverson =
i
i
i
t