Dangerous IF

Conditional 1 

When referring to a realistic situation in the future or describing some conditioned plans or events, we frequently use IF. If we book this hotel now, we will get a discount. These conditional sentences typically consist of 2 parts. The if-part (or clause) expresses the condition, while the other part (main clause or result clause) displays the consequence.

Here is the formula of the structure:

We need to be especially mindful of the if-part, as we have agreed to associate IF with a deadly mine. Thus, to grammatically survive, the foremost duty of ours is NOT to use WILL after IF. Otherwise, 

Do bear in mind that the order of the parts in the sentence may change without altering the meaning. However, for us, students of English, noticing this alteration and spotting the position of the mine (conjunction IF) is a matter of life and death, grammatically speaking. 

NOTES:

• When we start a conditional sentence with the IF-part, we normally put a comma (,) at the end of it. If we book this hotel now, we will get a discount. Yet it does not happen when we begin with the result clause. We will get a discount if we book this hotel now.  
• The contracted form of will not is won’t.
• In spoken language we commonly contract the form of will with personal pronouns, thus saying I’ll, you’ll, we’ll, they’ll, he’ll, she’ll, it’ll.
• To make the condition sound stronger, we may say even if instead of if. 

More examples 

(+) If you speak to him, he will feel better. 

(+) It will be great if they help us. 

(-) If she doesn’t stop coming late, she won’t be promoted. 

(-) He won’t pass his exam if he misses all his lectures and seminars. 

(?) If I help you with the housework, will you let me go to that party? 

(?) What will you do if he offers you a promotion?

Exercises (Elementary - Pre-Intermediate) 

A. Put the verbs in the correct form: Present Simple, will or won’t. In the textfields just write two verbs. For example: like, will go  

More exercises (Intermediate +) 

A. Put the verbs in the correct form: Present Simple, will or won’t. In the textfields just write two verbs. For example: like, will go  

 Unless

Instead of if not we may use UNLESS. Mind you, unless is as deadly a mine as IF, though not as widespread as the latter. Therefore, don’t even try to use WILL after unless. Otherwise,. Also, UNLESS has a negative meaning in itself, so there is no need to use NOT after unless. Although there will not be a , NOT after unless is equally ungrammatical. 

NOTE: The positions of unless (condition) and the result clause are interchangeable, exactly as it is with IF.

More examples

We won’t go on a picnic unless the weather is nice. = We won’t go on a picnic if the weather is nice. 

Unless you buy some food, we’ll have nothing to eat. = If you don’t buy some food, we’ll have nothing to eat. 

Unless you like the party, we will go home at once. = If you don’t like the party, we will go home at once. 

I’ll call them now unless you want to talk to them in person. = I’ll call them now if you don’t want to talk to them in person.

Exercises 

A. Rewrite the sentences, using unless instead of if not. 

Other explosives: when, before, after, as soon as, until/till 

Also, when talking about the future, we do not use will after these words: WHEN, BEFORE, AFTER, AS SOON AS, WHILE, UNTIL/TILL. Similarly to IF, these are followed by the Present Simple.

Examples 

1. When you get your driving licence, we will celebrate! (NOT: When you will get you driving licence ) 

2. I won’t speak to you until you apologise. (NOT: until you will apologise ) 

3. We will decorate the room before she gets home. (NOT: before she will get home ) 

4. Tell him the news as soon as you see him. (NOT: as soon as you will see him ) 

5. We will start a new project after he returns from his holiday. (NOT: after he will return ) 

Exercises 

A. Use the verbs in the brackets in the correct form. In the textfields just write two verbs. For example: like, will go 

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