Hello, fellas. In this session we are going to discuss another form of conditional sentences. According to Betty Schrampfer Azar, a conditional sentence typically comprises of a conditional clause (an if-clause) as well as a result clause. However, the sentence can also be made without using if.
(More on conditional sentences: https://englishtips4u.com/2018/06/04/engclass-conditional-sentences-revisit/)
To omit if in a conditional sentence, make sure that the if-clause contains should, were, or had (past perfect). After if is omitted, the subject and verb of the if-clause are inverted.
Examples:
- If you should need my help, please tell me.
Should you need my help, please tell me. - If I were you, I would buy the book.
Were I you, I would buy the book. - If they had prepared themselves better, they would have passed the test.
Had they prepared themselves better, they would have passed the test.
Sources:
Betty Schrampfer Azar, Understanding and Using English Grammar: Third Edition
Deborah Phillips, Longman Complete Course for the TOEFL Test
Compiled and written by @fathrahman for @EnglishTips4U on Wednesday, November 7, 2018
