Implied conditionals

Conditions are not always expressed in the form of conditional clauses, particularly in spoken English. They can be expressed in another way or they may be evident from the context: E.g.: Please come out with us tonight. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. (The action “will enjoy” depends on the implied condition “if you come out with us”) I'm sure we'd really enjoy going on holiday with you but we just can't afford it. (The action “would enjoy” depends on the implied condition “if we went” or “if we could afford to go”)

Implied conditionals are simple or compound sentences with the condition evident from the context or stated in a different way (without an if-clause). If the action depends on a real condition, the Indicative or the Imperative mood is used.

E.g.: Don’t tell Matthew about it. He will be furious. (If you tell …)

↓ ↓ ↓

context result real implied condition

If the action depends on an unreal or imaginary condition, the Conditional mood is used.

I don’t have the qualifications. I would apply for the job. (If I had)

↓ ↓ ↓

context result unreal implied condition

Ways to imply a real condition:

• If so/ if not

Is the book available, and, if so, where? (If it’s available)

Did Luke sell them? And, if so, where is the money? (If he sold …)

I think I can fix it tomorrow. If not, you'll have to wait till Friday.

I hope to see you tomorrow, but, if not, leave me a message.

• With smth/ without smth

With a bit of luck, you will get a flight tomorrow. (If you are lucky)

No one can succeed in business without taking certain risks. (If they don’t take certain risks …)

• Failing that

My mother wanted me to be a teacher or, failing that, a nurse.

• Or/ or else/ otherwise/ and

Don’t do that again, or else I’ll punish you. (If you do that again)

Do that again and I’ll punish you. (If you do that again …)

We’d better leave now. Otherwise we’ll miss our flight.

Ways to imply an unreal condition :

• In your place (It’s used to give advice.)

In you place, I wouldn’t travel on my own. (= If I were you, …)

• But for smth

But for my friends, I’d feel lonely. (= If it were not for my friends/ if I didn’t have my friends …)

• With smth/ without smth

With a bit more help, I would finish it by tomorrow. (If anybody helped a bit …) He would not be able to live on his own without the help of his neighbours. (If his neighbours didn’t help, …)

• Or/ or else / otherwise

We're lucky it's sunny today. It would be horrible sitting out here otherwise. (= If it were not sunny .....

The ‘if-clause’ of a conditional sentence can be also used as a simple sentence when introduced by ‘Supposing’ or ‘What if’. The Present Simple Indicative is used to express a real condition and Subjunctive II – an unreal one.

Supposing it really were a fire! (А якби це була справжня пожежа!)

What if your plan doesn’t work? (А якщо твій план не спрацює?)

Ex. 1 a) Read, translate and act out the dialogue:

Sailor: My dad, my granddad, my great granddad, all died at sea.

Farmer: In your place I would never go to sea not to share their fate.

Sailor: Where did your dad, granddad and great granddad die?

Farmer: In bed, of course. Why?

Sailor: In your place I would never go to bed not to share their fate.

b) Say that you would have done the same in their place.

E.g.: They were not sure the mushrooms weren’t poisoning. They didn’t eat them. – In their place I wouldn’t have eaten them either.

1. Tanya quarreled with her mother. She apologized.

2. Nick won a lot of money in the lottery. He bought a car.

3. Pete had a terrible toothache. He didn’t go to University.

4. They had a holiday in summer. They went to the seaside.

5. The sea was stormy on the first day. They didn’t swim.

6. A man was in a hurry for his train. He took a taxi.

7. He had had a drink earlier that day. So he didn’t drive his car.

c) Here are the stories when people just didn't know what to do next! What would you have done in in their place?