Inverted Conditionals

Inverted Conditionals

1. First conditionals-should

   • ex: If he remembers his own name, we’ll be able to help him.
     • conversion: Should he remember his own name, we’ll be able to help him.
   • explanation:
     • To invert this: Replace “if” with “should.” Replace the verb with the bare infinitive. (e.g. “goes” →” go,” “has” → “have,” am/is/are → “be”)

2. Second conditionals-were

   • ex: If he pushed the button, we’d all have problems
     • conversion: Were he to push the button, we’d all have problems.
   • explanation:
     • To invert this: Replace “if” with “were.” Change the verb to the infinitive form (with “to”).

3. Third conditionals-had

   • ex: If we’d arrived sooner, we wouldn’t have missed the beginning.
     • conversion: Had we arrived sooner, we wouldn’t have missed the beginning.
   • explanation
     • To invert this: Delete “if.” Invert the subject and the auxiliary. (“we had” → “had we”)

4. Mixed conditionals

   • example:I f the driver were faster, we would’ve arrived ages ago
     • conversion: Were the driver faster, we would’ve arrived ages ago.
   • explanation
     • Look at the first part of your mixed conditional: If the driver were faster, … Invert it: Were the driver faster, … And that’s it — the second part doesn’t change.

5. Negative

   • example: Should Batman come, we’ll escape!
     • conversion: Should Batman not come, we’re in big trouble. But don’t worry, he always comes.
   • explanation:
     • There’s one simple rule here: Add “not” after the subject.