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Condition and Concession

Note: if you are looking for a straightforward guide to the conditional in English, you will find it elsewhere.

Why treat condition and concession in the same guide?

Because:

1. the concepts of condition and concession overlap
2. the nature of conjunction in such clauses also overlaps
3. the structures are parallel in many cases

The area confuses learners (and many teachers, alas).
If you have a shaky knowledge of either the nature of conditionals or the nature of subordination, you would be wise to follow one or both of these guides: essentials of conditionals and conjunctions.  Both guides will open in a new tab.  Nothing here repeats in detail what is covered in those guides and this guide assumes some knowledge of both.

What's the difference between condition and concession?

Conditional refers to an event or state being dependent on another event or state.
Concession refers to an event or state being contrasted with another state or event.

Here are some examples, some of condition, some of concession.  In all cases, the clauses are acting as adverbial adjuncts, modifying how the verb in the main clause should be understood.  The clause is highlighted.

Task: Your tasks are to: decide which is conditional and which concessive think about the meanings consider how the grammar is working There is one rogue example which is not a subordinate clause.  Spot it if you can.  Click on the to reveal some comments when you have done the three tasks.

Examples	What kind?  What's meant?  What's the grammar doing?
Should you ask her, she’ll probably agree.	Kind: This is an adverbial adjunct clause of condition. Meaning: The implication is that her agreement depends on the condition that you ask her being fulfilled. Grammar: It is slightly unusual in that the conjunction has been omitted and the word order adjusted.
Even though it was raining, we went out.	Kind: This is an adverbial clause of concession. Meaning: The speaker/writer wishes to make it clear that there is something surprising about the fact that they went out.  In other words, he/she is conceding a fact. Grammar: The conjunction is even though and the clause order could be reversed with the conjunction remaining with the subordinate clause of concession.
Unless it rains, we’ll go for a picnic.	Kind: This is an adverbial clause of condition. Meaning: In this case, the conjunction reveals that it is a negative condition akin to only if not.  See the note below on unless. Grammar: the order of clauses can be reversed but there is a consequent change of emphasis.  We could also re-express it as     If it doesn't rain, we'll go for a picnic.
Although he can’t really afford it, he bought me a present.	Kind: This is an adverbial clause of concession. Meaning: The speaker/writer is implying that there is a surprising contrast between the two facts. Grammar: The subordinating conjunction, although, frequently occurs with such clauses.
Even if I had the money, I wouldn’t lend it to you.	Kind: Here we have a difficult case and an example of the overlap between condition and concession.  This clause is probably best described as conditional-concessive. Meaning: Clearly, condition is implied because having the money would be a prerequisite for considering a loan.  However, concession is also implied because the speaker/writer wants to suggest that granting the request would, in any case, be surprising. Grammar: The clauses can be reversed but, again, with a change of emphasis. (Reversing the clauses end-weights the concessive-conditional clause and adds emphasis.  It is, in other words, a marked form.)
He doesn’t eat well but usually looks fine.	This is the rogue! Kind: We have two clauses of equal standing here joined by a coordinating conjunction.  It is a compound, not a complex, sentence. Meaning: A (surprising) contrast between the two facts is clear so the sense is concession, not condition. Grammar: but is not a subordinating conjunction although the meaning can be expressed using subordination:     Although he doesn't eat well, he usually looks fine.
Providing the landlord agrees, you can sublet the bedroom.	Kind: Here we have an adverbial clause of condition. Meaning: The conjunction, providing, implies if and only if, rather than plain if. Grammar: The structure is that of a conditional with if.  Other subordinating conjunctions of this nature are provided (that), on condition (that) etc.

The essential differences between conditional, concessive and the odd conditional-concessive clauses should now be clear.

How do we analyse clauses of condition and concession?

Like this.  Conditionals first:

	Condition
Unless it stops snowing ...

Conditional sentences come, as you are aware, in two or more clauses:

1. The clause which expresses the condition and usually contains a conjunction such as if, providing, supposing, unless etc. or is marked by an alteration in words order such as Had I known ...
   Technically, this clause is called the protasis.
   For example:
       If you have time ...
2. The clause which expresses the consequence of the condition being fulfilled.
   Technically, this clause is known as the apodosis.
   For example:
       ... will you help me with this?

You should look at the essentials of conditionals (new tab) for comments on the meaning and form of if-sentences.  Here we'll only consider issues not discussed fully there.

Task: Look at the following examples.  What do you notice?  Click on the to reveal come comments.

Examples	What do you notice?
Unless the landlord forbids it, you can sublet the room. Providing / provided (that) the landlord doesn't forbid it, you can sublet the room. You can come to the meeting as / so long as you promise to be well behaved. If the landlord doesn't forbid it, you can sublet the room.	This is somewhat subtle but unless is better described as the negative of a term like providing rather than if because the sense is only if ... not rather than plain if ... not. The conjunction providing (and others, listed here) performs a similar but positive function because it means if and only if rather than plain if. All the following examples are approximately synonymous with providing but stylistically slightly different in terms of formality and subtly different in terms of meaning: provided (that), as long as, so long as, on condition that The so long ... as and as long ... as expressions are less formal.  on condition that is the most formal. The conjunctions so long ... as and as long ... as strongly imply reciprocity and a quid pro quo in the sense of This will happen if and only if a specified event occurs. There is a bit more on the conjunction unless, below.
If you have any questions ask me. If you have some questions, ask me.	This type of conditional is common, with an imperative taking the place of a will clause.  That's not the point. The point is that because conditionals refer to uncertainty, as questions clearly do, they also take the non-assertive any rather than some, anything rather than something and so on. In fact, it can be argued that in the second example, the meaning is not really conditional because there's no doubt in the speaker's mind that the hearer does have questions, hence the use of the assertive some. For more on assertive and non-assertive forms, please see the guide to them linked at the end.
Don't bother to write unless you need some money. If you don't need any money, don't bother to write. If she hadn't asked me, I would never have told her. Unless she had asked me I would never have told her.	These examples show the true nature of unless: unless usually comes with the assertive some, someone, something etc. rather than the any- parallels.  This is because the stress is on what's excluded. unless clauses don't occur with wholly hypothetical meanings.  You can have, e.g.:     If you weren't a doctor, what would you like to be? but you can't have     *Unless you were a doctor what would you like to be?
If I was asked, I'd probably decline. If I were asked, I'd probably decline. I didn't want to ask, lest he became angry.	This is the most obvious case of the subjunctive form of the verb be being used in conditional clauses.  Usually, either of the forms here is acceptable but the commonly expected form in the expression if I were you is the subjunctive. The subjunctive form also occurs in many of the following examples. The conjunction lest is rare but as can be seen from this example, almost obliges the use of the subjunctive form. For more on the subjunctive in English, see the guide, linked below.
If a problem should arise, please contact us. If you should need anything, please ask.	This use of should is common to all persons (not just the first).  It is known as the putative should. This is also, arguably, a use of the subjunctive.  Compare, for example,     I suggest you go and     I suggest you should go.
Should I be asked, I'd probably decline. Were I to be asked, I'd probably decline. Had I been asked, I would probably have declined. If he be found out, there'll be serious trouble.	A common, if formal, way of omitting the conjunction is to invert the subject and auxiliary verb as in these examples. It works OK for the hypothetical, unreal or unlikely conditions but is less clear in the case of something like     Were you to ask I'll go (?) as an alternative to     If you ask I'll go. Many would not accept that, but the final example on the left is of a rare (obsolete?) use of the present subjunctive. There's a bit more on this below.
Look to see if the cake has risen sufficiently.  If so, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool.  If not, allow it a further ten minutes. Unless part of a visiting team, you are not allowed beyond this point. If the weather is fine, we'll meet in the garden: if wet, in the hall.	Both if and unless are common: when introducing pro-clauses (if so, if not, unless so, unless not) in abbreviated clauses in which part of the clause is ellipted and can be inferred from context

A note on the meaning and use of unless

As we saw above, unless is not simply a negative form of if.  It is actually, the opposite of providing that or provided that because it does not just mean if not; it means only ... if not.
There are two other quirks to note:

1. When a sentence begins with if, we are emphasising the uncertainty of the supposition (that's what conditional means) so we use non-assertive forms, such as the any- series of determiners and pronouns, for the most part as in:
       If you need any help, just ask your teacher
       If anyone calls, tell them I'll be back soon
   and so on.
   However, when we use unless we are emphasising what is excluded so we prefer assertive forms, such as the some-series of determiners and pronouns.  So we get, e.g.:
       Unless you need some help, you can finish this alone
       Unless someone needs me, I'm taking the rest of the day off
2. Clauses with unless are very rarely used in unreal conditional sentences (for similar reasons of emphasising the exclusion).  So, for example, while we can happily accept:
       If John hadn't helped, we wouldn't have been able to finish in time
       If I were you, I'd ask more politely
   we do not allow:
       *Unless John had helped, we wouldn't have been able to finish on time
       *Unless I weren't you, I'd ask more politely

A note on If only and Only if

The complex conjunction if only is generally described as an emphatic use of if standing alone and it is, but:

1. It is only used in unreal conditionals referring to the past rather than any putative future as in, e.g.:
       If only you hadn't been so rude to her, she might have helped
   so we cannot allow:
       *If only you come to my party you will see my sister
   or
       *If only you came to my party would you see my sister
   and in these cases, we can, however, reverse the phrase and allow:
       Only if you come to my party will you see my sister
   or
       Only if you came to my party you would see my sister
   but with only if a reversal of subject and auxiliary verb is required.
2. It is not used with non-assertive forms in the way that if is used because it is not a reference to a possibility but rather to a certainty, so we can compare, e.g.:
       If anyone had told us the bus was cancelled, we wouldn't have come so early
   with
       If only someone had told us the bus was cancelled, we wouldn't have come so early.

The phrase if only is also used in what is called an optative expression, wishing the universe were other than it is as in:
    If only it would get a bit warmer
and as a hortative as in:
    If only you would be quiet
but in these cases, there is little sign of conditionality.
There is a guide to suasion which includes consideration of hortative and optative expressions linked below.

A note on the meaning of will and would

It is sometimes asserted that the auxiliary verb will cannot be used in both parts of a conditional sentences so, for example:
    *They will not come if it will rain
is not allowed.
That is true when the verb is used to express a view of futurity.
However, if the verb is used both to express willingness and futurity, then the double use is allowed in for example:
    If you will promise to give up drinking, I will marry you
where the first use of will refers to willingness and the second to futurity.  Compare, for example:
    If you promise to give up drinking, I will marry you
which is a conditional sentence per se.

The auxiliary verb would is also polysemous and exhibits the same phenomenon so, while
    *If it would stop raining we would go for a walk
is not allowed (in British English), the verb can also refer politely or with a lack of confidence to willingness, as in, e.g.:
    If they would stop talking so loudly, I would be able to hear the music
in which the first use of would refers to distant or unlikely willingness and the second use of would refers to an unlikely future.

Because the auxiliary verb would is often used to provide a little distance and signal politeness in English, it is often used in what appears to be a mixed conditional such as:
    If I promise to help you later, would you give me a hand with this?
but the form is actually just a first conditional referring to an imagined future (which is perceived as quite likely to eventuate).  The use of would in this case is simply one of its normal roles in signalling some tentativeness.

Alternative ways to express condition

There are a number of ways that English can express conditionality without (partially at least) the complications of conditional structures.  They are:

1. Common, surprisingly so and especially in spoken language
2. Often without parallels in other languages and a source of misunderstanding because learners simply miss the conditional nature of what has been said.

Using the coordinator and

Instead of, for example:
    If you give me a lift to work, I'll buy you a drink
we can express the same idea with
    Give me a lift to work and I'll buy you a drink
In the if-sentence, the clauses can be reversed but the use of and forbids that (because it is a true coordinator) so we can have:
    I'll buy you a drink if you give me a lift to work
but
    *I'll buy you a drink and you give me a lift to work
is nonsense and so is:
    *And you give me a lift to work, I'll buy you a drink
because coordinators must appear between the clauses they coordinate.
Unusually, this use of and to imply condition does not allow the clauses to be reversed as can occur with the additive use of the conjunction.

Using else

The pseudo-conjunction else is normally an adverb meaning additional or different and it is the second, exclusive sense that is signalled here.  It can, in very informal language, be used to replace a traditional conditional conjunction as in, for example:
    We must go now else we’ll miss the train
The use of else is very informal and actually means or otherwise or or if not.
It does not do service for unless or if not, exactly.
It combines to form a complex conjunction with or as in, e.g.:
    We must go now or else we’ll miss the train
The word is sometimes also used in combination with the conditional conjunction if … negator as well as or as in:
    You need to put fuel in or if else it won’t go
but that is seen as almost slang and very informal at least.  Many would reject it out of hand as malformed.

Using the coordinator or and the adverb otherwise

This works similarly and is often used for threats so, instead of, for example:
    Unless you repay the money we'll take you to court
we can have
    Repay the money or we'll take you to court
It can also be used in non-threats expressing logical consequences so, for example, instead of the complicated:
    If they had been enjoying the party, they wouldn't have left early
we can partially simplify it to:
    They hadn't been enjoying the party or they wouldn't have left early
Again, the use of or in these sentences forbids the reversal of the clauses because it, too, is a coordinator not a subordinator.  We can allow :
    They wouldn't have left early if they had been enjoying the party
but
    *They wouldn't have left early or they had been enjoying the party
is nonsense.
Equally, because it coordinates rather than subordinates, the word or cannot be placed before the first clause
    *Or they hadn't been enjoying the party they wouldn't have left early
is also nonsense.
With this coordinating conjunction, the insertion of the adverb otherwise is quite common, as in, for example, instead of
    If you don't lend him the money he won't be able to go to the concert
we can have:
    Lend him the money or, otherwise, he won't be able to go to the concert
The adverb can also function as a conjunct, with or without or, in which case it requires a new sentence as in, for example:
    Lend him the money.  Otherwise, he won't be able to go to the concert

Using non-finite clauses

This is often achieved with the use of an -ing form in the non-finite clause.  For example, instead of:
    If you tell her the truth, you'll make her furious
or
    If you told her the truth you'd make her furious
or
    If you had told her the truth you'd have made her furious
we can simply have:
    Telling her the truth will make her furious
    Telling her the truth would make her furious
    Telling her the truth would have made her furious
respectively.
Many languages do not use non-finite clauses in this way at all and learners will often miss the conditional sense of, e.g.:
    Leaving now will mean we'll catch our train.
We can also use a non-finite to-infinitive to arrive at the same sense, as in, e.g.:
    She would be unwise to forget to call her boss
meaning, roughly:
    If she forgot to call her boss, she'd be unwise
There is a guide to finite and non-finite clauses on this site, linked below.

Adjusting the word order

There are two ways in which the word order may signal conditionality:

1. Using the subjunctive or putative should as in:
       Should it rain later, I won't take the dogs out
2. Reversing the ordering and omitting the conjunction altogether as in, e.g.:
       Had I known she was coming, I'd have bought more wine
       Were I to ask, do you think she'd marry me?
   This trick is generally confined to unreal conditions.

Many other languages cannot do some or all of these things and that leads to error in terms of interpreting what is heard or seen and reduces the variability available to learners who are unaware of the possibilities.

if with no conditional meaning

It is the case that a sentence which contains the word if is not always a conditional sentence.  For example:

•     I'll have the car with me if you want a lift home
  and
      If you want a lift home, I'll have the car with me
  look like conditional sentences because structurally we have the right grammar for a first conditional sentence.  A little thought about the meaning, however, reveals that it is not conditional at all because whether or not you want a lift home, I will have the car with me.  My having the car with me is not conditional on anything you want or do not want.  I will have the car in any case.
• When we see events as occurring as a matter of course, the sense of if is often not conditional.  For example:
      If you come at 6, I'll be at home
  looks like a conventional first conditional structure but the meaning is not conditional.  My being at home and your coming are not events which are linked conditionally.  This sentence simply means:
      I will be at home at 6 so you will find me there.
• This also occurs with look-alike so-called 2nd conditional forms so we may encounter, e.g.:
      If I needed anything he would always be there for me
  and
      He would always be there for me if I needed anything
  which are not conditional at all in the accepted sense because his being there was not conditional on my needing help.  He was there anyway.  The fact that this can be rephrased without would as:
      If I needed anything, he was always there for me
  reveals its non-conditional nature.
  However, there is the sense of some doubt being cast as the use of the non-assertive any- forms shows.
• if clauses are sometimes used as style disjuncts (or sentence adverbials) to signal how the speaker wishes to be understood so we may encounter, e.g.:
      If I may speak frankly, I don't think that's good enouhg
      If I can put it bluntly, there's no need for you
  and in these cases, there is no sense of conditionality.
• Cleft sentences may be formed using if as the introductory term.  For example:
      If it looks like he's not helping, it's because he's done his share of the work
  This slightly unusual and marked structure is usually referred to as an if ... because cleft because the two conjunctions normally occur together.
  There is, again, no sense of condition implied in the use of if here.
  The clauses, by the nature of cleft sentences, cannot be reversed and the tense structures do not follow those usually seen with conditional sentences proper.  The function of if in this case signals concession and it can be replaced by a concessive subordinator so we can also allow:
      Although it looks like he's not helping, it's because he's done his share of the work
  There is a guide to cleft sentences on this site, linked in the list of related guides at the end.
• Another example is the conjunction acting concessively rather than conditionally as in, e.g.:
      If he's not very happy, at least he's rich
  and in that, too, we can reverse the clauses.
  In terms of tense structures, we have two present forms rather than a future and a present which is a clue to the fact that his being unhappy and his being rich are not dependent on each other at all.
  Often, the preferred form is even if and that can function as a conditional or concessive conjunction (see below).
• However, the conditionality is marginally present in parallel constructions using two present forms as in, e.g.:
      I'm happy if you are
  where the conditionality may be understood but which will normally be taken to mean that the speaker is assuming the hearer is already happy.
  And also with the present perfect, which is, of course, a present tense:
      She'll have a good chance of passing the exam if you have taught her
  where there is little sense of conditionality because the speaker already knows that the hearer's teaching has been effective.  The sense of if in this example is actually because.

Mixed forms

In the simpler guide to the forms of conditionals, linked below, the two most frequently encountered and important forms of mixed conditionals are identified.  We'll be a bit more ambitious here and focus on six forms.  The first three only are covered in the simpler guide because they are common and frequently need to be taught.

Past action or event → Present consequence

For example:
    If my car hadn't broken down, I would give you a lift
Here, the beginning
    If my car hadn't ...
usually implies an end of:
    would have given
but in this case the fact that the car broke down results in the consequence of not being able to give you a lift which lies either now or in the future so the tenses shift to allow this.
Another example is:
    If she had told me where it was I wouldn't be wasting time looking
in which a past non-event has a present consequence.

Past action or event → Future consequence

This is a closely allied sense, often taught with the last because the form is identical.
For example:
    If I had studied harder at school, I would be able to go to university next year

Present action or event → Past consequence

For example:
    If I weren't so busy this week, I would have taken the time to visit you
in which the present state of being busy has an implication for an unrealised past act.
Another example is:
    I would have finished by now if the boss didn't continually interrupt
in which the present event affects the past.
While this is less common than the first three in this list, it is still quite frequently used.

Future action or event → Present consequence

In this, the if-clause refers to the future time and the main clause (result clause) to the present.
For example:
    If I were going on holiday tomorrow, I would be packing my bags by now
which is possibly a piece of advice to get some packing done, dressed up as a conditional sentence.  This is especially the case if the pronoun, I, is heavily stressed.
Functionally, reference is to a putative future which has present consequences.
This is comparatively, a rare form so the level of learners is an important consideration.

Future action or event → Past result

For example:
    If I weren't in the office tomorrow, Mary would have telephoned you
which signals the fact that I will be in the office so Mary did not need to telephone.
Again, this is comparatively, a rare form so the level of learners is an important consideration.

Present action or event → Future consequence

For example:
    If the work wasn't done already I'd have to do it when I come in tomorrow
which signals the fact that the work has been done so I will not need to do it tomorrow.

	Concession
OK, you win

Just as conditional clauses contain a variety of conjunctions (see above) concessional clauses can also come in a variety of guises.

Task: Here are some examples for you to consider.  What do you notice?  Click on the to reveal come comments.

Examples	What do you notice?
Although the game ended in a draw, it was fascinating to watch. The result was never in doubt although the election was closely fought.	although is probably the most common conjunction in subordinating concessional clauses.  Inserting it, instead of the other possibilities, is often the way to see if we are dealing with concession at all.
While the game may be dull to the uninitiated, I enjoy it immensely. Whereas he has plenty of money, his poorer brother is more generous.	Both while and whereas sometimes operate as subordinating conjunctions in concessive clauses but they also have other functions.  The conjunction whilst is sometimes encountered in the same sense (and sometimes disparaged as being a failed attempt to sound sophisticated). The use of the epistemic modal auxiliary verbs may and might in this form of concession is quite common but not obligatory.
Even if you don't like cricket, a visit to a test match is something quite special. She sent him the money, even though she could ill afford it.	Both even if and even though act as subordinating conjunctions in concessive clauses. Only even if can also occur in conditional clauses, so:     Even if it's raining I'll go for a walk is a conditional sentence referring to future weather conditions, but:     Even though it's raining, I'll go for a walk is a concessive referring to the present weather conditions and even though is not available for a conditional structure so:     *Even though it's raining tomorrow I'll go for a walk is not allowed.
If he's not very rich, at least he's generous. Treat the answer with respect, if you can't agree with it.	In both these cases, if is acting as a concessive subordinating conjunction.  There's no sense of conditional meaning here. Above, we had another example of if occurring in a non-conditional sentence.
Although quite young she's wise. I managed to win, though narrowly. He explained them, though I didn't understand the instructions	As we saw with conditional clauses, abbreviated clauses of concession are common. In the first of these examples, the subject needs to be recovered cataphorically (by waiting for it to appear). In the third example, it is the object that the hearer needs to recover cataphorically.

Conditional-concessive

There are two sorts of these:

alternative clauses with whether

in these clauses, one of the alternatives will be concessive (i.e., a surprise or contrast) and the other will simply be conditional.  For example,
    Whether she was with him or not, she felt miserable.
This implies:

1. she felt miserable if she was with him (conditional)
2. she felt miserable although she was with him (concessional)

wh- + ever words

These are not alternative (as with whether) but universal meanings.  For example,
    Whatever you say, he will not listen to reason.
    However badly he treated her, she remained loyal.
These imply:
    If you say something he won't listen to reason (conditional)
    Although you say something, he won't listen (concessive)
    If he treated her badly, she remained loyal (conditional)
    Although he treated her badly, she remained loyal (concessive)
Note that wh- + -ever words can often be introduced with It doesn't matter ... or No matter ... and in this case, the -ever ending is usually omitted:
    It doesn't matter where you put it, it will be in the way
    No matter how nicely you ask, she won't lend you the money
and these imply, respectively:
    If you put it somewhere, it will be in the way (conditional)
and
    It will be in the way although you may try to put it somewhere more convenient (concessive)
    If you ask nicely she won't lend you the money (conditional)
and
    She won't lend you the money although you may ask nicely (concessive)

Pronunciation issues

Features of connected speech affect how conditional clauses and sentences are pronounced in the normal way of things so rhythm and stressing are features which need to be taught (not just practised in a parroting way).
However, there are a number of issues which affect both natural pronunciation and, often, comprehension of conditional and concessional clauses and these are mostly to do with the fact that in many there are multiple function words (conjunctions, auxiliary verbs and the negator).

conjunctions

Most obviously, the conjunction if whether in a conditional or concessional function is often reduced to an almost inaudible /f/ sound.  So, instead of:
    If she isn't delighted I'll be surprised
pronounced as:
/ɪf.ʃi.ˈɪznt.dɪ.ˈlaɪ.tɪd.aɪl.bi.sə.ˈpraɪzd/
we hear:
/f.ʃi.ˈɪznt.dɪ.ˈlaɪ.tɪd.aɪl.bi.sə.ˈpraɪzd/
And
    If he's not here soon, we'll start without him
will not usually be pronounced carefully as:
    /ɪf.hiz.nɒt.hɪə.suːn/ /wil.stɑːt.wɪð.ˈaʊt.ɪm/
but as:
    /fiːz.nɒt.hɪə.suːn/ /wil.stɑːt.wɪð.ˈaʊt.ɪm/
Consequently, learners may not identify the conjunction and may miss the conditional nature of the sentence altogether (unless, of course, they have been alerted to this little fact and given some practice in identifying the conjunction).
The same kind of weakening occurs with other conjunctions so, for example:
unless may be reduced to /les/ so:
    We'll wait for him unless you need to go
may appear in rapid speech as:
    /wil.weɪt.fər.ɪm.ˈles.ju.niːd.tə.ɡəʊ/
and may be reduced to the syllabic /n̩/ or /ən/ so:
    Help me with this and I'll buy you a drink
may be heard as:
    /help.miː.wɪð.ðɪs.n̩.aɪl.baɪ.ju.ə.drɪŋk/
or as
    /help.miː.wɪð.ðɪs.ən.aɪl.baɪ.ju.ə.drɪŋk/

auxiliary verbs

By their nature auxiliary verbs are often produced in their weakened forms so we get, for example:
would and had as /d/
have as /həv/ or, more frequently, /əv/ with the /h/ elided
will as the dark [ɫ] rather than /l/
can as /kn/
In combination, these weakened forms, along with the weak form of the negator can present serious comprehension problems with, for example, the following realisations of the structures:
    wouldn't've as /ˈwʊdnt.əv/
    couldn't've as /ˈkʊdnt.əv/
    mightn't've as /ˈmaɪ.t.nt.əv/ or with an elided /t/ as /ˈmaɪ.nt.əv/
etc.

other phenomena

The /t/ is often assimilated to /ʔ/ so we get, e.g.:
might have as /ˈmaɪ.ʔəv/ rather than /ˈmaɪ.təv/ and similarly with couldn't and wouldn't.
There is occasional devoicing of /v/ to /f/ so, for example:
    We might have to go indoors if it rains
may be realised either as:
    /wi.maɪt.həv.tə.ɡəʊ.ˌɪn.ˈdɔːz.ɪf.ɪt.reɪnz/
or as
    /wi.maɪ.əftə.ɡəʊ.ˌɪn.ˈdɔːz.f.ɪt.reɪnz/
in which there are multiple issues of elision and devoicing.

This is not, as was implied above, simply a question of learner production sounding unnatural but also a critical one of comprehension because the tense markers and the conditional marker itself may not be heard.

Teaching implications

The conditional shibboleth

For most teaching purposes, it may be adequate to focus on 'the conditional' as if it were a unique grammatical structure.  It isn't, because subordinating conjunctions and the adverbial clauses they accompany perform a variety of functions, only two of which have been considered above.
If you have followed the guide to conjunctions, you know that subordinating conjunctions come in many guises and each can be successfully taught.
Here's a short list of the most common types of subordination with examples of each.  All of these can form the basis of a series of lessons which build up to a fuller understanding of subordination into which learners can assimilate the particular characteristics of The Conditional.
Doing it that way, makes the structure far less intimidating and, arguably, more comprehensible.  In fact, one could get away from teaching The Conditional altogether.  It's a bit of a shibboleth.

As you can see, conditional and concessive clauses are only part of the whole area of subordination.  There are six other areas to consider, all of which are important, and many of which are simpler to understand.
For example, the so-called first conditional is introduced with trumpets and fanfares at an early stage in the learning process but is actually little different from a number of subordinating constructions learners may already have encountered.  Making it a unique challenge is unhelpful.  The modal auxiliary verb will has, as we saw above two functions: futurity and commissive / willingness signals.
Here's what's meant:

The use of would in other conditional clauses (as in the dread second and third conditionals) has a similar function, hence the possibility of changing the modal meaning by using, e.g., could or might.  We can get more parallels here, too:

Whether you decide to build on knowledge of the conditional structures to help learners with other types of subordinating clauses or vice versa is a matter of choice.  However, the key point is that conditionals are not about if and its meanings, they are primarily about subordination.
Once learners have been led to notice the structure of subordination, much else falls into place for them and the conditional structures per se lose their menace.

Main references:
Quirk, R, Greenbaum, S, Leech, G & Svartvik, J, 1972, A Grammar of Contemporary English, Harlow: Longman
Yule, G, 1998, Exploring English Grammar, Oxford: Oxford University Press

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