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Inversion in conditional sentences

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Maria José Parreira Pereira
Maria José Parreira Pereira

The document discusses inverting conditional sentences by moving the auxiliary verb in front of the subject for emphasis or formality. It provides examples of three types of conditional sentences: 1) Type 1 "real conditionals" use "should" instead of "if", such as "Should you need more information, please read our pamphlet". 2) Type 2 "improbable future" sentences can be inverted but it is less common, such as "Were you to marry her, your friends wouldn’t come to the wedding". 3) Type 3 "unreal situations" use "had" instead of "if", like "Had I read your report, I would have acted sooner."

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W H E N W A N T I N G T O A D D E M P H A S I S O R F O R M A L I T Y T O A C O N D I T I O N A L S E N T E N C E , Y O U C A N I N V E R T T H E O R D E R O F T H E S U B J E C T A N D O M I T “ I F ” . W E R E , H A D A N D S H O U L D C A N B E U S E D W I T H O U T I F B Y M O V I N G T H E A U X I L I A R Y V E R B I N F R O N T O F T H E S U B J E C T L E T U S S E E H O W ! Inversion in conditional sentences
Type 1 if-clauses, or real conditionals In real conditions, modal verb should is to be used:  If you need more information, please read our pamphlet. = Should you need more information, please read our pamphlet.  If you change your mind about going to the ball, I’d be happy to escort you. = Should you change your mind about going to the ball, I’d be happy to escort yoi.
Type 2 if clauses, or improbable future Although possible, in this case inversion is less common:  If you were to marry her, your friends wouldn’t come to the wedding = Were you to marry her, your friends wouldn’t come to the wedding.  If I won the lottery, I would quit my job. =Were I to win the lottery, I would quit my job.
Type 3 if-clauses, or unreal situations  If I had read your report, I would have acted sooner. = Had I read your report, I would have acted sooner.  If she had known about your accident, she would have visited you in the hospital. = Had she known about your accident, she would have visited you in the hospital.

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Inversion in conditional sentences

  • 1. W H E N W A N T I N G T O A D D E M P H A S I S O R F O R M A L I T Y T O A C O N D I T I O N A L S E N T E N C E , Y O U C A N I N V E R T T H E O R D E R O F T H E S U B J E C T A N D O M I T “ I F ” . W E R E , H A D A N D S H O U L D C A N B E U S E D W I T H O U T I F B Y M O V I N G T H E A U X I L I A R Y V E R B I N F R O N T O F T H E S U B J E C T L E T U S S E E H O W ! Inversion in conditional sentences
  • 2. Type 1 if-clauses, or real conditionals In real conditions, modal verb should is to be used:  If you need more information, please read our pamphlet. = Should you need more information, please read our pamphlet.  If you change your mind about going to the ball, I’d be happy to escort you. = Should you change your mind about going to the ball, I’d be happy to escort yoi.
  • 3. Type 2 if clauses, or improbable future Although possible, in this case inversion is less common:  If you were to marry her, your friends wouldn’t come to the wedding = Were you to marry her, your friends wouldn’t come to the wedding.  If I won the lottery, I would quit my job. =Were I to win the lottery, I would quit my job.
  • 4. Type 3 if-clauses, or unreal situations  If I had read your report, I would have acted sooner. = Had I read your report, I would have acted sooner.  If she had known about your accident, she would have visited you in the hospital. = Had she known about your accident, she would have visited you in the hospital.