Grammar

Inverted Conditionals

In formal English the conjunction 'if' can be dropped and the clause inverted. This works with 'were', 'had', and 'should' to create a more literary or formal conditional.

Post

Level C1 Conditionals

Summary

In formal English the conjunction 'if' can be dropped and the clause inverted. This works with 'were', 'had', and 'should' to create a more literary or formal conditional.

Structure

Were + subject ... ; Had + subject + past participle ... ; Should + subject + base verb ...

Examples

Were I in your position, I would accept the offer.
Had we known about the delay, we'd have left earlier.
Should you need any help, please contact reception.
Had it not been for your advice, we would have failed.

Common mistakes

• Keeping 'if' as well: 'If had I known' should be 'Had I known'.
• Inverting with verbs other than were/had/should, which is not standard.

Related

Inversion After Negative Adverbials

More conditionals

First Conditional B1

Use the first conditional for real or likely situations in the future and their probable results.

Zero Conditional B1

Use the zero conditional for facts and things that are always true — when one thing happens, the result always follows.

Second Conditional B2

Use the second conditional for unreal, hypothetical, or unlikely situations in the present or future, and their imagined results.

Third Conditional B2

Use the third conditional to talk about imagined past situations that did not happen, and to express regret or criticism about the past.

Mixed Conditional C1

Use a mixed conditional when the time of the condition and the time of the result are different — for example, a past condition with a present result, or a present condition with a past result.

Wish / If Only (Present) B2

'Wish' and 'if only' with a past tense express a desire for a present situation to be different. The past form is unreal — it signals dissatisfaction with how things are now.

External links

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