Mastering Formal English: Inverted Conditionals and Causal Links

Formal Conditional Structures: Inversion

First Conditional Inversion (Should)

To create a formal or inverted first conditional, replace "if" with "should". The main verb following "should" must be in the infinitive form.

• If the patient shows any signs of abuse, please contact our emergency hotline immediately.
  • Should the patient show any signs of abuse, please contact our emergency hotline immediately.
• If a candidate is not chosen for the position, he/she will not be contacted by our Human Resources department.
  • Should a candidate not be chosen for the position, he/she will not be contacted by our Human Resources department.
• What will you do if you are not accepted to the Master’s program?
  • What will you do should you not be accepted to the M.A.?

Second Conditional Inversion (Were to)

For formal usage, replace the past tense verb structure with "were + to + infinitive".

• If all the students failed the exam, we would have to consider designing an easier one.
  • If all the students were to fail the exam, we would have to consider designing an easier one.
• If I had more money, I could be financially independent.
  • If I were to have more money, I could be financially independent.

Second Conditional Inversion (Alternative Structure)

Alternatively, omit "if" and place "were" at the beginning of the clause, before "to".

• If she found a job right after graduating, she’d be the happiest person in the world.
• First Option: If she were to find..., she would be...
• Second Option (Inverted): Were she to find..., she would be...

Third Conditional Inversion (Had)

Omit "if" and place "had" at the beginning of the clause.

• If I had known you were waiting for me, I wouldn’t have taken my time.
  • Had I known you were waiting for me, I wouldn’t have taken my time.
• If Jeremy had not been such a difficult person to work with, he would not have been fired.
  • Had Jeremy not been such a difficult person to work with, he would not have been fired.

Cause and Effect Connectors

1. Cause and Effect Vocabulary

Connectors Introducing the Cause

• Cause + Noun Phrase:
  • Because of
  • Due to
  • As a result of
  • Owing to
• Cause + Clause (Subject + Verb):
  • Because of the fact that
  • Due to the fact that
  • As
  • Since

Connectors Introducing the Effect

• Effect + Noun Phrase (Verbs):
  • To result in
  • To cause
  • To lead to
  • To contribute to
• Effect + Clause (Adverbial Connectors):
  • As a result
  • Consequently
  • Therefore
  • Thus

Examples of Cause and Effect Usage

• Cause: She had no other options.
• Effect: Consequently, she married at thirteen.
• Effect: She married at thirteen.
• Cause: Because she had no other options.

Introducing the Cause Examples

• (Noun Phrase): Because of / Due to / As a result of / Owing to all the pizza, I gained 2 kilos.
• (Gerund Phrase): Because of / Due to / As a result of / Owing to eating lots of pizza, I gained 2 kilos.
• (Clause): Because of the fact that / Due to the fact that / As / Since I ate lots of pizza, I gained 2 kilos.

Introducing the Effect Examples

• (Adverbial Connector): I ate lots of pizza. As a result / Consequently / Therefore / Thus, I gained 2 kilos.
• (Verb Connector): Eating lots of pizza Resulted in / Caused / Led to / Contributed to the extra kilos.