Conditionals, Wishes, Regrets, Subjunctives

 

1. When we talk about unreal or imaginary situations in the present or future, we use the second conditional – a past tense in the if -clause and ‘ would + infinitive’ in the main clause. Continuous forms are also used here.

E.g. She would be perfectly happy if she had a car.

If they weren’t so busy they would be having a holiday now.

In the if- clause ‘were’ is often used instead of ‘was’. This is common both in formal and informal styles.

E.g. If I were rich, I would spend a lot of time traveling.

To talk about unreal past situations we use the third conditional – a past perfect tense in the if -clause, and ‘would + perfect infinitive’ in the main clause.

E.g. If you had worked harder, you would have passed your exam.

If one part of the sentence refers to the past and the other to the present or future, mixed conditionals are used.

E.g. If you had told me the truth earlier, I would know what to do now.

If he were more intelligent, he wouldn’t have made such a mistake.

2. In unreal conditional sentences we can use ‘could’ to mean ‘would be able to’ or ‘might’ to mean ‘would perhaps …’

E.g. If I had another $1,500 I could buy a good car.

If you asked me nicely, I might get you an ice-cream.

3. We can suggest that something is unlikely by using ‘should’ in the if -clause. The structure ‘ if … happen to …’ has a similar meaning. The Russian equivalents for these cases are: ‘если вдруг, случайно, все же, если окажется.’

E.g. If you should meet Peter, tell him he owes me a letter. – Если вдруг (случайно) встретишь Питера, скажи ему …

‘Would’ is not normally used in the main clause in these structures.

E.g. If you should be late, we will have to start without you.

4. The verb ‘were’ can also be used to express imaginary future events which are not very probable.

E.g. If the boss were to come in now, we would be in real trouble. – Если бы начальник вдруг вошел …

It can also be used to make a suggestion sound less direct, and so more polite.

E.g. If you were to move your chair a bit, we could all sit down.

This structure is not used with state verbs.

E.g. If I knew her name, I would tell you. (NOT: ‘If I were to know …’)

5. The verb ‘was/were’ is used in the structure ‘ If it wasn’t/weren’t for …’ which is similar in meaning to ‘but for …’

E.g. If it wasn’t/weren’t for his wife’s money he’d never be a director.

= But for his wife’s money he’d never be …- Если бы не деньги его жены …

To talk about the past we use ‘If it hadn’t been for …’

E.g. If it hadn’t been for your help I don’t know what I’d have done.

= But for your help I don’t know what I’d have done.

6. In formal and literary styles ‘if’ can be dropped and an auxiliary verb put before the subject. This happens mostly with ‘were, had, should’.

E.g. Were she my daughter, I would lock her up.

Had I realized what you intended to do, I would have got out of the deal.

Should you change your mind, let me know.

Negatives are not contracted in these structures.

E.g. Had we not changed our reservation, we’d all have been killed in the crash.

7. Conjunctions introducing conditional clauses are: ‘if, suppose (supposing), on condition that, provided (providing) that’.

E.g. Suppose (supposing) he found out the truth, what would he do then?

You can be present at the meeting on condition (provided) that you don’t interfere in the discussion.

For a negative condition we can use ‘unless’ which has the meaning of ‘if … not’, though it is more emphatic.

E.g. He wouldn’t have come unless you had invited him.

= He wouldn’t have come if you hadn’t invited him.

‘Unless’ is especially useful for introducing clauses which contain other negative elements.

E.g. Don’t ask me to explain unless you really don’t understand it.

 

8. Wishes and regrets are expressed by structures with ‘I wish’ and ‘if only’. Here past tenses are used to talk about the present and past perfect to refer to the past.

E.g. If only I knew more people! I wish I knew more people.

If only she had told me the truth! I wish she had told me the truth.

‘ Would’ is very common in that-clauses after ‘wish’. It usually expresses regret, dissatisfaction, impatience or irritation that somebody will keep doing something, or won’t do something.

E.g. I wish she would be quiet.

I wish you wouldn’t make that stupid noise.

‘ Wish … would’ can be used like an order or a critical request. Compare:

I wish you wouldn’t drive so fast. (= Please don’t drive so fast.)

I wish you didn’t drive so fast. (= I’m sorry you drive so fast.)

I wish you wouldn’t work on Sundays. (= I’d like you to stop.)

I wish you didn’t work on Sundays. (= It’s a pity you work on Sundays.)

9. ‘Would rather’ is close in meaning with ‘I wish’. After ‘would rather’ past tenses are used to talk about the present and future, and past perfect to refer to the past.

E.g. I’d rather you went home right now.

I’d rather you came next week.

I’d rather you hadn’t done that last week.