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Advanced conditionals: were to, should, had it not been for, but for
C1 C1 grammar · lesson 3 of 16
You already know the first, second, third and mixed conditionals. Now learn the formal variations that make conditions sound more hypothetical, more polite or more elegant.
If … were to: very unlikely or hypothetical future
If + subject + were to + base verb makes a future event sound more hypothetical than the normal second conditional. It is also used to make suggestions sound softer.
If the company were to close, hundreds of people would lose their jobs.
If you were to move the table a little, we’d have more space.
If … should: a less likely possibility
If + subject + should + base verb suggests that something is possible but not very likely. It is common in formal instructions and notices, often with an imperative in the main clause.
If you should need any help, please call reception.
Inversion instead of if
In formal English we can drop if and put should, were or had before the subject. The meaning does not change.
| With if | Inverted (formal) |
|---|---|
| If you should have questions, … | Should you have questions, … |
| If I were in your position, … | Were I in your position, … |
| If she were to accept the offer, … | Were she to accept the offer, … |
| If we had known earlier, … | Had we known earlier, … |
Should the flight be delayed, passengers will receive a meal voucher.
Had Ken checked the map, he wouldn’t have got lost.
Were it not so expensive, I would buy it.
Had it not been for / But for: “without this thing”
If it hadn’t been for + noun (past) and If it weren’t for + noun (present) mean “without this person or thing”. The inverted forms are Had it not been for and Were it not for. But for + noun is a shorter, very formal alternative for both.
Had it not been for your support, I would never have finished the course.
Were it not for the river, this town would not exist.
But for the rain, the match would have been perfect.
If it hadn’t been for Anna, we would have missed the bus.
Common mistakes
✗ Hadn’t we left early, we would have missed the train.
✓ Had we not left early, we would have missed the train.
✗ Should you will need anything, just ask.
✓ Should you need anything, just ask.
✗ But for she helped me, I would have failed.
✓ But for her help, I would have failed.
✗ If it wasn’t been for the map, we’d have got lost.
✓ If it hadn’t been for the map, we’d have got lost.