ORACIONES CONDICIONALES

Hay tres tipos de oraciones condicionales:

-1º: POSIBLE: If + present............. future / present / imperative -

-2º: IMPROBABLE: If + past................... conditional / could , might + infinitive
-3º: IMPOSIBLE: If + past perfect...... conditional perfect / could, might + perfect infinitive

Ejemplos: - If you come at ten, we ́ll be ready.

- if you press this button, the machine switches off.
- If you hear the alarm, get out as fast as you can.

- If I lived by the sea, I would do a lot of swimming.

- If they asked me to work for them, I might accept.

- If I had worked harder, I would have passed the exam.

- If you had asked me for tickets, I could have got you some.

Ciertas palabras nos permiten expresar condiciones: unless, if, provided, providing that, in case: You
won't pass the exam unless you study harder. Aquí tienes algunos ejemplos traducidos.

Unless - a menos que (If not)

• Unless we book now, we won't find a place to stay.

A menos que reservemos ya, no vamos a encontrar lugar donde alojarnos.
• John's wife will leave him, unless he pays more attention to her.
La mujer de John lo va a dejar, a menos que él le preste más atención.

Provided/ing (that) - siempre y cuando

• You can go to Spain, provided that you get good grades at school.
Puedes ir a España, siempre y cuando saques buenas notas en la escuela.
• Provided/ing he doesn't misbehave, Paul won't be expelled from our school.
Siempre y cuando no se porte mal, Paul no será expulsado de nuestra escuela.

As long as - siempre y cuando

• I'll help you with Biology, as long as you help me with French.
Yo te ayudo con biología, siempre y cuando tú me ayudes con francés.
• Dan will come as long as he finishes early at the office.
Dan va a venir siempre y cuando termine temprano en la oficina.

Inversión en oraciones condicionales en inglés

En las oraciones condicionales con were, should o had es posible la inversión omitiendo if:
If I were in his shoes, I wouldn't do that.
Were I in his shoes, I wouldn't do that. .
(De estar en su lugar, no haría eso.)
If you should see her, give her this envelope.
Should you see her, give her this envelope.
(De verla, dale este sobre.)

If they had come earlier, they would have seen him.

Had they come earlir, they would have seen him.
(De haber venido antes, lo habrían visto.)

Si alguno de los 3 auxiliares anteriores está de forma negativa, el “not” se ubica después del sujeto al hacer
la inversión:Were I not so tired, I would go to the party
EXERCISES
A) Rephrase the sentences using UNLESS
Example: If we don´t leave now, we´ll miss the start of the film.

Unless we leave now, we´ll miss the start of the film.

1. If you don´t wear your coat, you´ll be cold.

2. We´ll play tennis tomorrow if it doesn´t rain.

3. He won´t receive the letter tomorrow if you don´t post it before 1 o´clock today.

4. If I don´t get a pay rise at work, I´ll start looking for another job.

5. I won´t lend you the car if you don´t promise to drive carefully.

6. Your cough won´t get better if you don´t stop smoking.

B) Choose the correct word or expression

1. Unless/Provided you tell the truth, everything will be all right.

2. In Britain you can marry at the age of sixteen unless/providing you have your parents´permission.

3. He won´t forgive you unless/as long as you say you are sorry.

4. Unless/Providing you lend me the money, I won´t be able to go on holiday.

5. I´ll buy the car unless/as long as it´s not too expensive.

F) INVERSION EXERCISE

1. (the books/be) ___________________ cheaper, I would have bought them all.

2. (the Prime Minister/fail) ___________________ to get the necessary support, he would be forced to
call a snap election.
3. (the evidence/not be destroyed) ___________________, the accused would have been found guilty.
4. (you/need) ___________________ any further assistance, do not hesitate to contact us.
5. (the ship/ not capsize) ___________________, there would have been more survivors.
6. (I/win) ___________________ the prize, I wouldn’t spend it on things I don’t need.
7. (the storm/be) ___________________ at night, the rescue team wouldn’t have found the lost boy
scouts.
8. (he/decide) ___________________to come, please let me know as soon as possible.
9. (I/ be offered) ___________________ the job, I would have to think about it.
10. (you/have) ___________________ any further questions, please ask to see the manager.

G) Say the same as the written sentences beginning with the words given.
1. Jim fell down the stairs, that's why he didn’t play football last Sunday.
If ................................................................................................................
2. If you don't come with me I won't go to the theatre.
Unless .......................................................................
3. I don't like Tim because he is always saying nasty things.
I would ..............................................................................
4. We were late because the plane was delayed by the bad weather.
If the .............................................................................................
5. If you want my advice, don't sell your car.
If I ...............................................................
6. I don't live near my office, so I have to drive.
If ..................................................................................
7.He has eaten so many sweets that he isn’t hungry now.
If ...............................................................................
8. Anne doesn't look nice because her clothes are always untidy.
If ...............................................................................................
9. She won't babysit for us if we don't pay her.
Unless ............................................................
10. We can't go for a picnic because it is raining.
If .....................................................................
11. Clare doesn't go to the cinema because she has a lot of work to do.
If Clare ...............................................................................................
12. I didn't tape the concert because I didn't have a video.
If .....................................................................................
13. In my opinion, you ought to rest for a few days.
If ............................................................................
14. You have to have a visa to enter China.
Unless .....................................................
15. I don't finish the book because I found it booring.
If .......................................................................................
16. She doesn’t get enough sleep, that’s why she is always tired.
If she ...............................................................................
17. They missed the bus, so they were late.
If they .......................................................
18. Unless she helps me I won’t be able to finish all this work before lunch.
If she .......................................................................................................
19. She has done so much exercise that she feels exhausted.
If ………………………………………………………….
20. I regret not doing my best when my friends got divorced.
I wish ….
21. It’s a pity that we don’t live near the sea.
I wish …
22. I would like to be able to speak Chinese.
I wish …
23. I would love my little niece to live nearer. She always makes me laugh.
If only …
24. I shouldn’t have gone on that trip without my parents’ permission.
I wish …
25. It was a pity that it rained on your wedding day.
If only …
26.My neighbours spend the whole day shouting at each other.
I wish …
27. I would like to have won that lottery prize. I really needed the money.
I wish …
28. She is always making excuses for everything. I hate that.
I wish …
29. I can’t stand this office. I would like to work in a quieter place.
I wish …
30. I regret not being able to spend more time with my children.
I wish …
31. It’s a pity that you fell down and broke your leg the day before our holiday.
I wish …

ANSWER KEY

Exercise A

1. Unless you wear you coat, you´ll be cold.

2. We´ll play tennis tomorrow unless it rains.

3. He won´t receive the letter tomorrow unless you post it before 1 o´clock today.

4. Unless I get a pay rise at work, I´ll start looking for another job.

5. I won´t lend you the car unless you promise to drive carefully.

6. Your cough won´t get better unless you stop smoking.

Exercise B Exercise C Exercise D

1. Provided 1. Stop making that noise or I´ll hit you. 1. should I be

2. providing 2. Take this umbrella and you won´t get wet. 2. should I need

3. unless 3. Drive more carefully or else you´ll have an 3. should he fail

accident.
4. Unless 4. should I change
4. Help me and I´ll help you.
5. as long as 5. should she miss

Exercise E

1. Suppose/Supposing I moved to Scotland would you come and visit me?

2. Suppose/Supposing someone finds my wallet, do you think they will take it to the police?

3. Suppose/Supposing they had stayed at our house, where would they have slept?

4. Suppose/Supposing they had offered you the job, would you have taken it?

5. Suppose/Supposing you had won the competition, what would the prize have been?

EXERCISE F

1. (the books/be) Had the books been cheaper, I would have bought them all.
2. (the Prime Minister/fail) Were the Prime Minister to fail to get the necessary support, he would be
forced to call a snap election.
3. (the evidence/not be destroyed) Had the evidence not been destroyed, the accused would have been
found guilty.
4. (you/need) Should you need any further assistance, do not hesitate to contact us.
5. (the ship/ not capsize) Had the ship not capsized, there would have been more survivors.
6. (I/win)Were I to win the prize, I wouldn’t spend it on things I don’t need.
7. (the storm/be) Had the storm been at night, the rescue team wouldn’t have found the lost boy scouts.
8. (he/decide) Should he decide to come, please let me know as soon as possible.
9. (I/ be offered) Were I to be offered the job, I would have to think about it.
10. (you/have) Should you have any further questions, please ask to see the manager.