Zorg SpaceConditionals of politeness, insistence and remote chance
The rule
B2 taught the four conditional types and inversion for the third. C1 is about the choices inside them. were to + infinitive makes a condition remote or delicate (If the company were to close, 200 jobs would go), and should + infinitive makes it unlikely but possible, typical of instructions (If you should need anything, call me) — both can drop if and invert: Were it to close…, Should you need anything…. If it weren’t for / if it hadn’t been for / but for name the one thing that changes everything. will and would do appear after if — not for the future, but for willingness or polite requests: If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you the room; I’d be grateful if you would reply by Friday. And happen to adds chance: If you happen to see her, say hello.
If + were to + verb / Were … to (remote) · If + should + verb / Should you … (unlikely) · If it weren’t / hadn’t been for …, But for … (the decisive factor) · If you will / would … (willingness, polite request) · If you happen to …
Examples
If the factory were to close, the whole town would suffer.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call.
If it hadn’t been for my sister, I would never have finished the course.
If you would take a seat, the doctor will be with you shortly.
Common mistakes
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Wrong: If you will need help, call me.
Right: If you need help, call me.
Plain future after if takes the present, not will.
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Wrong: Were the company close, jobs would go.
Right: Were the company to close, jobs would go.
Inverted were needs to + infinitive when the verb is not be.
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Wrong: If it wasn’t for the rain yesterday, we would have won.
Right: If it hadn’t been for the rain yesterday, we would have won.
A past cause needs if it hadn’t been for.
Practice questions
Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.
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1Choose the correct sentence.
Which sentence is the most tentative?
Talking about a possible rise in rent.
- If the rent were to go up again, we would have to move.
- If the rent goes up, we move.
- When the rent goes up, we will move.
- The rent is going up, so we are moving.
Show answer
Answer: A If the rent were to go up again, we would have to move.
were to makes the possibility sound remote and careful.
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2Change the sentence.
Drop if and invert.
If you should need a receipt, ask at the desk.
- Should you need a receipt, ask at the desk.
- Need you should a receipt, ask at the desk.
- Should you to need a receipt, ask at the desk.
- You should need a receipt, ask at the desk.
Show answer
Answer: A Should you need a receipt, ask at the desk.
Inversion with should: Should + subject + base form.
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3Choose the correct sentence.
- But for your help, I would have given up.
- But your help, I would have given up.
- But for you helped, I would have given up.
- But for your help, I will give up.
Show answer
Answer: A But for your help, I would have given up.
but for + noun = if it had not been for.
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4Fill in the gap.
If it _____ for the bridge, the village would be completely cut off.
- isn’t
- hadn’t
- weren’t
- won’t be
Show answer
Answer: C If it weren’t for the bridge, the village would be completely cut off.
A present decisive factor: if it weren’t for.
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5Choose the correct sentence.
What does the speaker mean?
If you’ll just wait here, I’ll fetch the manager.
- I will fetch the manager in the future if you ever wait.
- I refuse to fetch the manager.
- Please wait here while I get the manager.
- You waited, so I fetched the manager.
Show answer
Answer: C Please wait here while I get the manager.
if you’ll = if you are willing to: a polite request, not a future.
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6This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.
I would be grateful if you will send the form back.
- I would be grateful if you sent back the form will.
- I would be grateful if you have send the form back.
- I will be grateful if you would sent the form back.
- I would be grateful if you would send the form back.
Show answer
Answer: D I would be grateful if you would send the form back.
The polite formula is I would be grateful if you would….
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7Choose the correct sentence.
- She were to accept the offer, she would move to Oslo.
- Were she accept the offer, she would move to Oslo.
- Was she to accepted the offer, she would move to Oslo.
- Were she to accept the offer, she would move to Oslo.
Show answer
Answer: D Were she to accept the offer, she would move to Oslo.
Inverted remote condition: Were + subject + to + infinitive.
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8Change the sentence.
Say what would be different without it.
The satnav saved us; otherwise we would have been lost.
- Without the satnav had, we would have been lost.
- If there hadn’t the satnav, we would have been lost.
- If it hadn’t been for the satnav, we would have been lost.
- If it wasn’t the satnav, we would be lost.
Show answer
Answer: C If it hadn’t been for the satnav, we would have been lost.
A past decisive factor: if it hadn’t been for.
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9Fill in the gap.
You are writing the last line of a formal email.
_____ you require any further information, please let me know.
- Were
- Had
- Should
- Would
Show answer
Answer: C Should you require any further information, please let me know.
The formal close: Should you require….
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10Put the words in the right order.
If you happen to see Mark tell him to call me
Show answer
Answer: If you happen to see Mark tell him to call me.
happen to adds that it would be by chance.
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