Inversion in conditional sentences

Conditions may be expressed without using if by inverting the first auxiliary verb. This is a fairly formal structure.

Had I seen him, I would have told you. (= If I had …)

Were you to go there, you would find it disappointing (= If you were to …)

If the first auxiliary verb in the conditional is a form of be, the form Should … be must be used instead of simple inversion.

Should this be true, there will be serious consequences.

Be this true, there will be …

(= If this is true …/If this should be true …)

Other structures expressing condition (without if)

1 imperative + and (a fairly emphatic structure, often used in advertising)

Buy our new washing powder, and you’ll be amazed at the results! (= If you buy …)

2 negative imperative + or (emphatic)

Don’t touch it or it will explode! (=If you touch it …)

3 past participle or preposition + noun

Deprived of light and water, the plant will soon die. (= If (it is) deprived of …)

Without your help, he won’t be able to manage. (= If he doesn’t have …)

Other words expressing condition

• unless

Don’t come unless I ask you to.

• provided/providing that

I’ll do the work provided that I can finish by lunchtime.

• as long as

I’ll do the work as long as I can finish by lunchtime.

• suppose/supposing

Suppose it were to break! What would we do?

• imagine

Imagine we lived on Mars. What sort of life would it be?

• assuming (that)

We’re planning to fly, assuming it’s not too expensive.

• but for (the fact that)

But for your help, we’d never have managed.

We’d have got there on time, but for the fact that we got a flat tyre.

• otherwise

We need to set out soon, otherwise we’ll miss the train.

In case

In case is used to talk about things we do to prepare for a possible later situation. Notice that will is not used in the clause with in case.

I’ve brought a towel in case we decide to go swimming.

It often refers to things we do to prevent or prepare for something bad.

Make a note of your passport number in case it gets stolen.

Sentences with in case cannot be rewritten with if without changing the meaning.

Take an umbrella if it rains. (= if it is raining when you leave)

Take an umbrella in case it rains. (= to be prepared for the possibility of rain)

However, the structure in case of + noun can be rewritten with an if-clause.

In case of any problems, phone 0014-829020.

If you have any problems …

even though/even if

Even though refers to something that is actually the case.

I went alone, even though I knew it was dangerous.

Even if refers to a possible condition.

I want to go, even if it might be dangerous.

UNIT 8

So and such (p. 115)

The intensifier so is used with adjectives, and such with nouns. They may be used in the following ways.

1 For emphasis

It’s so hot! I can’t stand it!

It’s such a big effort to get up in the morning!

Be careful. This is fairly colloquial and emphatic use. In most situations it is more appropriate to use

very instead.

It is very difficult to give a clear answer to this question.