English Lessons and Exercises
Conditionals - if Clauses -  Inversion

Omitting if - The First Conditionals

In If Clauses Type 1, we can make inversion by omitting if.
We only use "should" instead of "if".  We don't change anything in the form of first conditionals at all. Nothing changes in meaning.

Example Sentences:

• If we go by train, it will be cheaper.        

• If he doesn’t hurry, he will be late.   (NEGATIVE)

• If  the weather is rainy, we will stay at home.

• If she goes to The USA, she can improve her English.

Omitting if - The Second Conditionals

    In this type of inversion, we omit if and  use were + subject for to be verb and were + subject + to for other verbs.

Example Sentences: 

• If I were a carpenter, I would build my own house.   

• If I had a map I would lend it to you.   

• If he didn’t study more, he wouldn’t pass the exam.             (NEGATIVE)

      

•  if I were the President, I would lower taxes.              

Were I the president, I would lower taxes.

Omitting if - The Third Conditionals

We don't use if and make the structure as  “Had + Subject + verb3” 

• If you had told me, I could have helped you.

    Had you told me, I could have helped you.

• If the teacher had helped me, I wouldn’t have had to go the library.

    Had the teacher helped me, I wouldn’t have had to go the library.

• If they had informed me before, they wouldn’t have still been waiting there.

    Had they informed me before, they wouldn’t have still been waiting there.

• If I hadn’t  got up early this morning, I would have slept more.   (NEGATIVE)

    Had I not got up early this morning, I would have slept more.
    Hadn't I got up early...