Verbs in time clauses and 'if' clauses

Level: beginner

Verbs in time clauses and conditionals usually follow the same patterns as in other clauses but there are some differences when we:

  • talk about the future
  • make hypotheses.

Talking about the future

In time clauses with words like when, after and until, we often use present tense forms to talk about the future:

I'll come home when I finish work.
You must wait here until your father comes.
They are coming after they have had dinner.

In conditional clauses with words like if, unless, even if, we often use present tense forms to talk about the future:

We won't be able to go out if it is raining.
I will come tomorrow unless I have to look after the children.
Even if Barcelona lose tomorrow, they will still be champions.

We do not normally use will in time clauses and conditional clauses:

I'll come home when I finish work. (NOT will finish work)
We won't be able to go out if it rains. (NOT will rain)
It will be nice to see Peter when he gets home. (NOT will get home)
You must wait here until your father comes. (NOT will come)

but we can use will if it means want to or be willing to:

I will be very happy if you will come to my party.
We should finish the job early if George will help us.

Future time and conditional clauses 1

MultipleChoice_MTY0Njc=

Future time and conditional clauses 2

GapFillTyping_MTY0Njg=

Level: intermediate

Making hypotheses

Some conditional clauses are like hypotheses, so we use past tense forms.

We use past tense forms to talk about something that does not happen or is not happening in the present:

He could get a new job if he really tried.
        (= He cannot get a job because he has not tried.)
If Jack was playing, they would probably win.
        (= Jack is not playing so they will probably not win.)
If I had his address, I could write to him.
        (= I do not have his address so I cannot write to him.)

We use past tense forms to talk about something that we believe or know will not happen in the future:

We would go by train if it wasn't so expensive.
       (= We will not go by train because it is too expensive.)
I would look after the children for you at the weekend if I was at home.
       (= I cannot look after the children because I will not be at home.)

We use past tense forms to make suggestions about what might happen in the future:

If he came tomorrow, we could borrow his car.
If we invited John, Mary would bring Angela.

After I/he/she/it, we can use were instead of was:

If Jack was/were playing, they would probably win.
We would go by train if it wasn't/weren’t so expensive.
I would look after the children for you at the weekend if I was/were at home.

We use the past perfect to talk about something which did not happen in the past:

If you had seen him, you could have spoken to him.
        (= You did not see him so you could not speak to him.)
You could have stayed with us if you had come to London.
        (= You could not stay with us because you did not come to London.)
If we hadn't spent all our money, we could take a holiday.
        (= We have spent all our money so we cannot take a holiday.)
If I had got the job, we would be living in Paris.
        (= I did not get the job, so we are not living in Paris.)

If the main clause of a hypothetical conditional is about the present or future, we use a modal:

If I had got the job, we might be living in Paris now.
        (= I did not get the job so we are not living in Paris now.)
If you had done your homework, you would know the answer.
        (= You did not do your homework so you do not know the answer.)

If the main clause is about the past, we use a modal with have

If I had seen him, I would have spoken to him.
       (= I did not see him so I did not speak to him.)
You could have stayed with us if you had come to London.
       (= You could not stay with us because you did not come to London.)
If you had invited me, I might have come.
       (= You did not invite me so I did not come.)

Hypothetical conditionals: present/future 1

Matching_MTY0Njk=

Hypothetical conditionals: present/future 2

GapFillTyping_MTY0NzA=

Hypothetical conditionals: past 1

Matching_MTY0NzE=

Hypothetical conditionals: past 2

GapFillTyping_MTY0NzI=

Average
Average: 3.9 (42 votes)
Profile picture for user Peter M.

Submitted by Peter M. on Thu, 14/05/2020 - 06:42

In reply to by Dean

Permalink

Hello Dean,

In conditional sentences, the likely/unlikely aspect relates to the condition, not the result. The result may be certain if the conditon is fulfilled, but the condition itself may be extremely unlikely. For example:

If the sun exploded, we would all die.

Everyone dying in this situation is certain; the sun exploding is, happily, extremely unlikely.

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Yerlan on Mon, 24/02/2020 - 08:57

Permalink
Hello, dear teacher I have a question, in the sentence below what time frame reference is used to? I mean is it a hypothetical future time or present. If it is a hypothetical conditional sentence then speaker doesn't expect the situation to happen. Please, could you explain the rule clearly for me this use of would? "This English topic lesson was requested a few times last week as many people who are learning English are curious to know the things they would need to be able to say when visiting a hospital and talking to a doctor or nurse."

Hello Yerlan,

Would is used in the sentence as the situation described is hypothetical, as you say. Nobody is actually going to a hospital, but they may do so in the future.

If a person were definitely going to visit a hospital then you could use will:

...the things they will need to be able to say when visiting...

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Yerlan on Tue, 18/02/2020 - 18:31

Permalink
Good day, dear teacher Are these sentences the same, i mean are the time frame of reference of the main clauses of these sentences the same? Are the main clauses of the sentences refer to the present time? Sentences: I would have been sitting on that seat if I hadn't been late for the party. and I would be sitting on that seat if I hadn't been late for the party Do i understand the meaning of these sentences correctly?! A man is sitting in the party and says if he had came to the party earlier he would be sitting on that seat right now. Or the first sentences refer to past, i mean a man thins that for example yesterday if he had came to the party earlier then he would have been sittin on that seat. Thak you and sorry for long writing, i did what i could.

Hello Yerlan

In the first sentence (with 'would have been'), it sounds as if he is thinking about the past, for example, yesterday. I suppose that in some very specific situation, it could be that he is at the party at the time of speaking, but in general if he is at the party now, the second sentence is the one he would use to speak about the present time.

Your question was very clear -- good job explaining it!

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Yerlan on Mon, 17/02/2020 - 18:25

Permalink
Hello, Our Gold and dear teacher Please, could you expalain this sentence I understand every word in this sentence but can't connect them together to reach the meaning The sentence is: At this moment I will tolerate no dissent. (strong volition)

Hello Yerlan,

The sentence can be paraphrased as follows:

Right now I won't accept any disagreement.

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Yerlan on Tue, 04/02/2020 - 15:13

Permalink
Hello Dear Teacher, Please, tell me the tense of these sentences they refer to. Is it past counterfactual or present one? When do we use this forma with "would" in If-sentences like these and about differences between two of them. I have read about the usage of it in wikipedia, but not clearly understood it. "If you would listen to me once in a while, you might learn something." "If it would make Bill happy, I would give him the money."

Hello Yerlan,

The modal verbs will and would can be used in if-clauses when we are talking about a person's willingness to do something. For example:

If you give John the money, he will be happy.

if you give John describes an event which may or may not happen

If you will give John the money, he will be happy.

if you will give John describes an event which you may or may not agree to; it means something like if you agree to give John or if you are willing to give John.

 

The use of would is similar. It can be a more polite form or it may imply a little more scepticism on the part of the speaker.

 

You can read more about this topic here:

https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/61299/if-i-go-vs-if-i-will-go-referring-to-the-future/61308#61308

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Laraliini on Mon, 04/11/2019 - 12:51

Permalink
In reference to my earlier comment. So, I meant by those sentences that if I hadn't left to study abroad, I wouldn't have known how I will get along there. Does it make sense?

Hello again Laraliini,

Thanks for the clarification. Your knowledge is a present fact, so we would use a form like this:

If I hadn't left to study abroad, I wouldn't know how I would have got along there.

an unreal past condition > an unreal present result with reference to an unreal past event

 

You could use a different verb which denotes a past event rather than a present state. For example, your knowledge is current, but the act of getting the knowledge is in the past:

If I hadn't left to study abroad, I wouldn't have found out how I would have got along there.

an unreal past condition > an unreal past result with reference to an unreal past event

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Laraliini on Sun, 03/11/2019 - 20:28

Permalink
Hi, Which one of the following sentences is correct: 1. If I hadn't gone on exchange, I wouldn't have known what it's going to be. 2. If I hadn't gone on exchange, I wouldn't know what it would have been. Or can you say number 1. also like: If I hadn't gone on exchange, I wouldn't have known what it would have been? Or are there some other options? Thank you!
Profile picture for user Peter M.

Submitted by Peter M. on Mon, 04/11/2019 - 07:06

In reply to by Laraliini

Permalink

Hello Laraliini,

None of those look correct to me, but I don't know what you are trying to say and what the context is so it's difficult to say very much at all. Even if a form is grammatically possible, it may not express what you want it to express.

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Patricia31 on Sat, 02/11/2019 - 08:23

Permalink
Hello Peter , thank you very much for your explaination.

Submitted by Patricia31 on Wed, 30/10/2019 - 09:26

Permalink
Good morning, Can we use future simple with will (instead of would) in the main clause with the if clause at the third conditional ? Ex if you have enjoyed your holidays I will be happy ? Are mixed contionals available by mixing the first , second and third Thank you !

Hello Patricia31,

Your sentence is not a third conditional, but a first conditional with a present perfect form in the if-clause:

If you have enjoyed your holidays I will be happy?

if + present perfect (then) will + verb

 

Using a present perfect in the if-clause (rather than a present simple form) makes the if-clause refer to an event which has already taken place and has a present result rather than one which is yet to take place.

 

The terms first, second and third conditionals do not really represent grammatical rules, but rather common patterns. Provided the two halves of a conditional sentence are coherent in terms of time (the cause must be before the result) and reality (you cannot mix a hypothetical cause with a real result, for example), you can use any pattern.

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by rosario70 on Fri, 11/10/2019 - 18:48

Permalink
Hello teachers you are always a great help for me. I often come across this use of the second conditional: If i were to drink too much i might feel sick and throw up. I think it is less formal than the following: if i drank too much i might feel sick and throw up. i wonder if my suggestion is correct and i got it! Thanks

Hello rosario70,

The if... were to... version is a little more formal than the form with the past simple.

The most important difference between the two forms, however, is that the past simple form can be used with impossible/fantastical conditions, while the if... were to... form can only be used with unlikely but possible conditions:

If I asked you to marry me, what would you say? - OK

If I were to ask you to marry me, what would you say? - OK

but

If I had three heads, what kind of hat would I wear? - OK

If I were to have three heads, what kind of hat would I wear? - NOT OK

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Hi Peter, can you provide links/resources with regard to the difference in using "if + were to" and the past form? Even in forum, different opinions were raised on the subtle difference, or any, for the following sentences: If Tom were to do my homework, I would watch a film. If Tom did my homework, I would watch a film. Thanks!

Submitted by Kamil on Wed, 25/09/2019 - 03:17

Permalink
If you didn't drink cola in the evening anymore, you would be sleepy. ......is that correct sentence...can we use did in conditional ?

Hello Kamil,

The sentence is perfectly fine, grammatically speaking. You can use negative forms in either or both parts of conditional structures.

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Profile picture for user lalohr

Submitted by lalohr on Thu, 03/01/2019 - 19:20

Permalink
I think, this sentences that you use in the examples, "If Barcelona win tomorrow they will be champions." must be rewritten to "If Barcelona wins tomorrow they will be champions.", is it correct?

Hello lalohr,

Both win and wins are possible here.

The names of organisations (sports teams, the police, the army, the CIA, the UN, the EU etc) can be thought of as a single item (an institution) or as a collection of individuals, so both singular and plural are possible.

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

When to use past of modal and when to use present form of modal in main clause : Is it like that if we are certain about future if condition is satisfied then we use present of modal , and if we are not sure of the outcome after condition is satisfied then we use past of modal - is it like that sir ?

Hello dipakrgandhi,

I don't think this is a question we can answer in the abstract like this. You're trying to draw out a very general rule and it's not clear which example you are working from. Please give us an example of what you have in mind (an example sentence) then we'll be happy to comment and explain.

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Profile picture for user Mel.acid

Submitted by Mel.acid on Fri, 28/09/2018 - 23:08

Permalink
I have a question. With conditionals how do I know when to use "going to" or "will"? Example: "if it stops raining I will go shopping" or "if it stops raining I'm going to go shopping". Thank you.

Hello Mel.acid,

The meanings of 'going to' and 'will' are the same in a conditional clause as in any other sentence. Generally, we use 'will' for a spontaneous decision, a prediction, a promise or somethng which we are certain about. We use 'going to' when we are expressing an intention or a plan, or when we are describing the logical result of something we can see.

You can read more about future forms on this page and this page.

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by uchiha itache on Mon, 20/08/2018 - 10:42

Permalink
How do I use these structures : It was only when / it wasn't until I searched a lot and i couldn't find anything about them . I just want to know how to use them and where I can read about them

Hello uchiha itache,

These structures are usually completed with a that-clause:

It was only when I arrived that I realised it was so late.

It wasn't until I arrived that I realised it was so late.

 

They can be used with other time reference than the past:

It is only when I arrive that I realise it is so late.

It isn't until I arrive that I realise it is so late.

 

They can also be used with inversion for emphasis:

Only when I arrived did I realise it was so late.

Not until I arrived did I realise it was so late.

 

The structures with 'only' sounds rather formal and literary.

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Thank you a lot, Sir I got it . But could you mention any reference which has these parts of grammar? I really need it for my study and exams. I have a lot of grammar books and I couldn't find anything about this structure. So I just need a book or website..just anything

Hi uchiha itache,

I'm afraid we don't make suggestion as to books. We try to remain neutral as far as that goes.

If you do a search for only when not until then you'll see a lot of pages with relevant information, and you can compare multiple explanations and comments.

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Wanlidadi on Mon, 06/08/2018 - 18:13

Permalink
hello every teacher i have question. i see someones use one form while talking "if subject would v object,main sentence" for example, if she would marry me,I would be happy. would comes in both if clause and main sentence. is it grammatically correct? could you explain the usage of "modal in if clause"? for example,if i should,if i could,etc thanks very much

Hello Wanlidadi,

It is possible to use a modal verb after 'if'. When you use 'will' or 'would' after 'if' you add a sense of agreement. For example:

If you will go there, I will be grateful = If you agree to go there...

It can be used as a particularly polite form, or to emphasise that a person's agreement is required.

 

'If... can/could...' has a similar use. It means something like 'If it is/were possible...' and is a polite form.

 

'If you should choose...' is a very polite alternative to 'If you choose...' and makes the event (choosing) seem less likely. It has a similar meaning to 'If you happen to choose....'

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

thanks very much.I have been confused with this problem for long time.Now I learn a lot.

Submitted by Miss Salinas on Tue, 15/05/2018 - 04:11

Permalink
Hello, I have a question regarding the use of were with all pronouns. I'm studying with the Longman complete course for TOEFEL preparation and in skill 18 invert the subject and verb with conditionals I have two examples that uses "were" as helping verb with I and he, when I know that "was" is for "I and he". Does this rules don't apply in this case? If so, why? I'm having troubles to understand the why. Thank you

Hello Miss Salinas,

The use of were instead of was in conditional forms is slowly changing. In the past were was the only correct form, so we would say:

If I were you, ...

Were I you, ...

 

In modern English the use of was is more accepted, especially in spoken English, though some consider it poor style. However, we still do not use was in inverted sentences of this type:

If I were you, ... [correct]

If I was you, ... [correct, but still seen as non-standard or poor style by many]

Were I you, ... [correct]

Was I you, ... [incorrect]

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team  

Thank you so much, Peter! This clarifies my doubt because I was looking for a different set of rules to use were as a helping verb, but I always came back to was / were. Have a great day!

Submitted by Hamdy Ali on Mon, 09/04/2018 - 20:37

Permalink
Which is correct: If I was very ill,I would go to the doctor. or If I were very ill,I would go to the doctor.

Hello Hamdy Ali,

The second form ('were') used to be the only correct form but this has changed over time and you can now hear both used quite often and both are acceptable. Some people still consider the first to be poor style, however.

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Marua on Mon, 02/04/2018 - 19:21

Permalink
Hello. Is this conditional correct? When I am going to the seaside, I'll take you with me. It sounds a little bit akward. (I understood that we could use both aspects simple or continuous in 'if clause', type 1). Thanks.
Profile picture for user Peter M.

Submitted by Peter M. on Tue, 03/04/2018 - 06:38

In reply to by Marua

Permalink

Hello Marua,

The sentence is correct. We use 'when' in cases where the condition is certain to happen. The awkwardness comes from the use of the continuous form (I'm going) rather than the simple form (I go):

When I go to the seaside, I'll take you with me.

When I'm going to the seaside, I'll take you with me.

 

The simple form is much more likely but we can use the continuous form to indicate a plan. It gives the sense of 'The next time I'm planning to go to...'

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by saberlux on Sun, 21/01/2018 - 12:53

Permalink
Hello! When you say "In clauses with time words like when, after, until we often use the present tense forms to talk about the future"... What about "to be going to" forms? Could it be used in such sentences? Thank you. for example, shall I say: A. Ask the doctor when you are going to be able to travel. B. Ask the doctor when you are able to travel. Thanks
Profile picture for user Peter M.

Submitted by Peter M. on Mon, 22/01/2018 - 07:48

In reply to by saberlux

Permalink

Hello saberlux,

The correct form here is 'when you are'. 'Going to', like 'will' is very rarely used after time words like 'when'.

 

Best wishes,

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by gorzki pies on Mon, 08/01/2018 - 15:07

Permalink
hello! i have a question: is sentence like this correct?: "what if we talking to him are just making it worse?" can we use "-ing" aftef "what if"? i'm not sure if it is the right place to ask this, but please i need to know!
Profile picture for user Kirk Moore

Submitted by Kirk Moore on Thu, 11/01/2018 - 19:56

In reply to by gorzki pies

Permalink

Hello gorzki pies,

Yes, you can use an -ing form in this way -- it turns a verb into a noun. Normally we use pronouns in the object form, however, so you should say 'What if us talking to him'. This clause acts as the singular subject of the sentence, so the verb 'are' should be 'is': 'What if us talking to him is just making it worse'.

All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by kiranpn on Sat, 05/09/2015 - 02:17

Permalink
Hi there, Sorry! I have two confusion which are as follows: 1. I'm just wondering about uses of "would" and "might" for future probability, for example-I'd be dead by 2050 and I might be dead by 2050. Are these interchangeable?. If yes, what are the differences? 2.If someone says " An expansion of hospital due to be completed in 2020 would provide 170 more beds". (Actually this was current news on Sydney morning herald http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/acute-patient-spends-24-hours-in-blacktown-hospital-emergency-waiting-room-20150903-gjeus2.html). What does it mean? Does it mean there is no guarantee of 170 bed ? If they had used "will" instead of "Would", would it make any differences on the meaning ?. In my understanding "will" is for definite future and "would" is for probability. Please, help me on above regard, help would be appreciated. Regards, Kiran
Profile picture for user Peter M.

Submitted by Peter M. on Sat, 05/09/2015 - 10:20

In reply to by kiranpn

Permalink

Hi Kiran,

'Would' in your first example does not describe probability, but a hypothetical possibility and requires a condition of some kind: 'I'd be dead by 2050... if something happened'. For example:

I'd be dead by 2050 if I didn't change my diet.

I'd be dead by 2050 if I didn't have a good doctor.

'Might' describes probability.

In your second example there is a hidden or unstated condition. The 'full' sentence might be:

An expansion of hospital due to be completed in 2020 would provide 170 more beds if it were ready now.

'Will' makes it more certain and the sentence would then describe a real situation rather than an imaginary one. For example:

An expansion of hospital due to be completed in 2020 will provide 170 more beds when it is ready.

 

Best wishes,

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team