Mastering English Conditionals, Gerunds, and Infinitives

Mastering Conditionals: As Long As, Even If, Unless

As Long As, Even If, Providing That, Unless:

• Unless: Substitutes the negative part of a sentence.
• Example: We'll be late IF we DON'T leave now // We'll be late UNLESS we leave now.
• Even if: Used to avoid negative verb forms.
• Example: The workers won't strike IF their wages are increased // The workers will strike EVEN IF their wages are increased.
• Providing that or as long as: Substitutes "but only if."

Understanding Conditionals

• First Conditional: (if + Present Simple) + (will + infinitive) /// (will + infinitive) + (if + Present Simple). Used to talk about possible or probable future events or to make promises.

Modal Verbs in First Conditional

Used for possibility: may/might

Used for permission: can

Used for obligation: must

Used for suggestion: should

• Second Conditional: Similar to the first conditional, but uses Past Simple instead of Present Simple, and 'would' instead of 'will'. Used to talk about imaginary situations in the present or impossible events in the future.

Modal Verbs in Second Conditional

Used for ability: could

Used for possibility: might

Used for permission: could

• Third Conditional: (if + Past Perfect) + (would have + Past Participle) /// and vice versa. Used to talk about hypothetical past events that did not happen.

Modal Verbs in Third Conditional

Used for ability: could have

Used for possibility: might have

Functions of Modal Verbs

• Prohibition: can't/mustn't
• Permission: can/be allowed to
• Ability: can/could and be able to/managed to
• Obligation: must/have to/need to
• No obligation: don't have to/needn't
• Advice: should/ought to/had better
• Possibility: may/might/could
• Deduction: can't/must

Form of Modal Verbs

Affirmative/Negative/Questions: I + modal verb + infinitive // Modal verb + subject + infinitive + ? // subject + modal verb (not) + infinitive.

Gerunds and Infinitives

Verb + gerund or infinitive.

• When two verbs are used in the same sentence, the second verb must be in the gerund or infinitive form.

Verbs Requiring Gerunds

admit, advise, avoid, can't help, can't imagine, can't stand, complete, consider, discuss, dislike, don't mind, enjoy, finish, give up, imagine.

Verbs Requiring Infinitives

afford, agree, appear, arrange, ask, attempt, beg, choose, dare, decide, demand, deserve, expect, fail, hesitate, hope, intend, learn, manage, mean, need, offer, prepare, pretend, promise, refuse, seem, wait, want, wish, 'd/would like.

Special Case: Remember

• remember + to infinitive + not forget (example)
• remember + gerund + have a memory of something.