8. OTHER PHRASES Expression Use Type of conditional Should you Formal business communication 1 Provided/as long as Specific conditions that need to be met 1 (Should) happen to Emphasise something that is unlikely to happen 1 If you will/would Polite form instead of present or past simple 1 or 2 If only/ I wish Wish or regret 2 or 3 Supposing Something imaginary; common speech 3 or mixed If it hadn’t been for Show the negative result that would have happened without something else happening 3 or mixed