Conditional Sentences
Conditional Sentences
Structure :
A conditional sentence is composed of 2 parts :
If-clause + Main Clause
Example :
If it rains tomorrow, we will not come.
If-clause Main Clause
Conditional Sentences
Types :
The order of the two clauses is flexible, it’s not
important.
But if the if-clause comes first, it must be followed by
a comma.
If it rains, I’ll stay at home
There are 4 types of conditional sentences.
They are classified according to the degree of
probability that they express.
Each type of conditional sentences uses different
tenses to show the difference in the degree
of probability.
Conditional Sentences
Zero Conditional: If /when + present tense ….. / modal
Water boils if it reaches 100º
First Conditional: If/unless + present,….. Future
If I study, I’ll pass
Second Conditional: If + past, ……would +inf.
If I studied, I would pass
Third Conditional: If + past perfect ….. would have +
pp
If I had studied, I would have passed
Zero Conditionals
Tense : Present tense in both clauses
Example
:
Present Tense Present Tense
If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.
If you pour oil into water, it floats.
Zero Conditionals
Use :
Talk about universal truth.
If you heat ice, it turns to water
To talk about habits
If I see a spider, I get very scared!
First Conditionals
Tense :
If-clause ~ Present Tense
Main Clause ~ Future Tense
Present Tense Future
Tense
If I feel sick tomorrow, I will not go to school.
If it rains, the match will be cancelled.
First Conditionals
Use :
To speak about possible or probable future
events.
If the weather is as sunny tomorrow as it was
today, we will go surfing.
To make promises or warnings
If you forget my birthday, I’ll never speak to you
again.
To give commands
If you are tired, go to bed!
In this case the verb in the main clause is an
Exercise One. First Conditionals
do not come
1. If you ________________ (not come),
_
You will miss
______________ (miss ) the show.
will buy
2. John ________________ _ (buy)a car if he
_
gets
__________ (get) a job.
3. Mary will get
_________ (get) a toothache if
_
eats
she _________ (eat) too many sweets.
_
Second Conditionals
Tense : If-clause ~ Past Tense
Main Clause ~ would + an infinitive
Example :
Past Tense Would + infinitive
If he were a bird, he would fly across the harbour.
If I had $200,000 now, I would buy a car.
Second Conditionals
Use :
To speak about present and future
situations which are unlikely to happen.
If I had any money I would lend it to
you. If I were you I wouldn't do this.
MIND
Were is often
used instead of
was in the 1st
and 3rd person
singular
Third Conditionals
Tense : If-clause ~ Past Perfect Tense
Main Clause ~ Would Have + Past
Participle
Past Perfect Tense Would have+ Past Participle
If I had had enough money, I would have bought
the camera yesterday.
If I had come home earlier, I would not have missed
the programme.
Third Conditionals
Use :
To speak about impossible past events
If they’d gone by bus, they would have
arrived much later.
(They didn’t go by bus)
He would have travelled around the world if he
had had more money.
(Impossible to change, because
he didn’t have the money)
Exercise Two
1. If were
___________ (be) four years old, I
I _
would learn
_____________ (learn) to play the piano.
had not failed
2. If _____________ (not fail) in the
I _ would have bought (buy)
examination, my r_______________
mothe me a new
3. We would have finished
___________________
computer. (finish) if we
_ _
had had
_____________ (have) better preparation.
Conditional Sentences
Other connectors:
Type 1 : UNLESS
If you don’t phone John, he’ll get very angry.
Unless you phone John, he’ll get very angry.
Unless can replace If
in negative conditionals
Conditional Sentences
Variations:
Type 1, 2 and 3 :
If we are not careful, many species may become extinct.
If I were an aeroplane, I could fly in the sky.
If she hadn’t worn her helmet, she might have been
seriously injured.
Modal verbs in conditional
sentences
Exercises
Identifying conditionals
I. Choose the correct answer.
1 - If I drink tea in the morning, it makes me feel sick.
Zero Conditional
First Conditional
Second Conditional
Third Conditional
Exercises
2 - I'll tell her if she comes.
Zero Conditional
First Conditional
Second Conditional
Third Conditional
3 - If I were you, I'd buy it as soon as possible.
Zero Conditional
First Conditional
Second Conditional
Third Conditional
Exercises
4 - If I had the time, I’d help you
Zero Conditional
First Conditional
Second Conditional
Third Conditional
5 – I would have done things differently if I had been the
manager.
Zero Conditional
First Conditional
Second Conditional
Third Conditional
