Conditional sentences without if

This English lesson is about using conditional sentences without IF, or alternatives to ‘if’. 

You have probably learnt that conditionals need to start with ‘if’. At least conditionals First, Second and Third. 

Here are examples of those conditionals:

First conditional: If + present simple, modal with future meaning

• If the plane doesn’t take off on time, I will miss my connecting flight. 

Second conditional:  If + past simple, modal (future in the past) + infinitive

• If I knew the answer, I would tell you. But I don’t know.
• If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house. 

Third conditional: If + past perfect, modal + have + past participle

• If I had gone to university, I wouldn’t have found a better job. 

Conditionals no ‘if’

Now, here are the examples of when we use conditional sentences without ‘if’. 

After ‘Unless’

• Unless you do your homework, you won’t be going to the party. 
• We won’t buy a new car unless we win the lottery. 

After ‘As long as’, ‘providing’, ‘provided that’

• You can go to the party as long as you do your homework.
• You can go to the ball providing there is no alcohol there. 

After ‘supposing’, ‘suppose’

• Supposing you had time. Would you travel more?
• Suppose they lost their jobs. Would they have money enough to survive?

After ‘on condition that’

I will let you watch television on condition that you finish your homework. 

After ‘without’, ‘but for’

• Without your help I would never have been able to solve my problems. 
• It would have been more difficult but for your support. 

So, there you have how we can use this type of sentence without having to use ‘if’ 

Click here to see a lesson on third conditional sentences. 

Check out another lesson on this topic here. 

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