If Clauses – Part II

Type 3 conditional (Impossible condition)

Here we use a past perfect tense in the if clause and would have + past participle in the result clause.

He would have come if you had invited him.

The type 3 conditional sentences are used to talk about unreal and impossible situations.

You did not invite him and therefore he did not come. But one likes to imagine what would have happened if the condition had been fulfilled, i.e, if you had invited him.

More examples are given below:

He would have won if he had worked hard.
She would have helped if you had asked her.
I would have spoken to her if you had wanted.

Omission of if and inversion of subject and verb

If can be dropped in a formal or literary style. Note that in such cases we put the auxiliary verb had, should or were before the subject.

Read the sentences given below:

If he had asked me earlier, I would have arranged it.
Had he asked me earlier, I would have arranged it.
If it were possible, I would help you.
Were it possible, I would help you.
If he should continue to be unpunctual we will dismiss him.
Should he continue to be unpunctual we will dismiss him.

Notes

Should is sometimes used in if clauses to imply that something is possible, but not very likely.

If + subject + were to
If can be followed by subject + were to to suggest that we are talking about an imaginary situation.

If you took exercise regularly, you wouldn’t get so fat.
If you were to take exercise regularly, you wouldn’t get so fat.
Were you to take exercise regularly, you wouldn’t get so fat.
If you drank less you wouldn’t develop liver problems.
If you were to drink less you wouldn’t develop liver problems.
Were you to drink less you wouldn’t develop liver problems.

Exercise

Complete the following sentences:

1.    I shall buy a car if ………………….
2.    You shall have a present if ……………………..
3.    We could build a house if ………………………
4.    They would join us if ……………………..
5.    You could win the first prize if ……………………….

Answers

1.    I shall buy a car if I get my raise.
2.    You shall have a present if you stand first in the examination.
3.    We could build a house if we got a loan.
4.    They would join us if you asked them.
5.    You could win the first prize if you worked hard.