English Lessons

If senteces : frasi ipotetiche

Ecco a voi le temibili "If Sentences ". Tenterò di spiegarle in modo semplice.
Le "If Sentences" sono di 4 tipi :

• Conditional 0
• Conditional 1
• Conditional 2
• Conditional 3
• Conditional 4

Conditional 0 si forma con IF+PRESENT SIMPLE...PRESENT SIMPLE or IMPERATIVE
si usa per:

1. Conditions that are always true;
2. Scientific facts;
3. To give instruction

Conditional 1 si forma con IF+PRESENT SIMPLE...SIMPLE FUTURE
si usa per:

1. Predict likely or probable results in the future (es.: if we don't leave now, we'll miss the train);
2. to express persuasion,promises,warnings and threats (es.: if you pass your exam, i'll give you a job. / If you don't turn the music down, you'll go deaf);

Conditional 2 si forma con IF+PAST SIMPLE...WOULD/COULD*/MIGHT*
si usa per:

1. imaginary or improbable situations ( es.:you'd fell healther if you did more exercise);
2. unreal situations (es.: if i were taller, i'd play bascketball);
3. advice (es.: if i were you, i wouldn't drive so fast)

*Could e Might posso essere usati al posto di would per esprimere incertezza.

Conditional 3 si forma con IF+PAST PERFECT...WOULD/COULD/MIGHT+HAVE+P.PARTICIP
si usa per:

1. Look back at the past and speculate about possibilities which didn't happen (es.:  if i'd had your address,i'd have sent you a postcard).

Conditional4 (Mixed conditional senteces)  è un mix della 3+2
si forma con IF+PAST PERFECT...WOULD/COULD/MIGHT
si usa per:

1. link a complete past event with a present result (es.: if i hadn't broken my leg, i would go on holiday with you).

You can use :
unless = if not
as long as = emphasise a condition (es.: i'll lend you the money you need as long as you promise not to waste it);
provided(that) = on condition that. It's more formal than if.