CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
Conditional sentences are known as imaginary sentences.
How to identify conditional sentences:
If Suppose
In case Provided that
Unless As if
As though Would that
I wish Inversion
Note: Conditional sentences are divided into two parts
1. Conditional/ if clause
2. Result clause
Note: Four structures are possible with conditional sentences
1. Present condition 2. Past condition
3. Future condition 4. Unreal condition
PRESENT CONDITION
IF CLAUSE RESULT CLAUSE
Present
OR
Present Modals (can/ may)
OR
Imperative sentences.
E.g. If you are going to market, do me a favour.
If they have telecast a new series on you tube, they are going to promote a new business.
PAST CONDITION
IF CLAUSE RESULT CLAUSE
Had + V III (rd) would
should Have + V III(rd)
could
might
E.g. If they had not watched news, they would not have been aware of the attack.
If he had come to me I would have helped him.
FUTURE CONDITION
IF CLAUSE RESULT CLAUSE
PRESENT INDEFINITE FUTURE INDEFINITE
E.g. If you will come here to meet us, we will provide you with new ideas (W)
If you come here to meet us, we will provide you with new ideas (R)
ONLINE BENCHERS 1
UNREAL CONDITION
IF CLAUSE RESULT
HAD + Noun
Were Would + V Ist
Past Indefinite
E.g. If I had money, would buy a new car.
If he were the minister of our state, he would not allow them to enter.
Use of as if/ as though
E.g. He talks as if/ as though he is a leader (W)
He talks as if / as though he were a leader (R)
He talked as if/ as though he was a leader (W)
He talked as if / as though he were a leader (R)
Note: Always use “were or Had + V IIIrd” after as if or as though.
Rule: We never use “that” after (I wish, I think, I suppose, I hope and I fear etc.)
E.g. I wish that my home were on the moon (W)
I wish my home were on the moon (R)
Use of inversion
E.g. If you had stolen money you would have been punished (R)
Had you stolen money, you would have been punished (R) [inversion]
If I were a leader, I would take action against terrorism (R)
Were I a leader, I would take action against terrorism (R) [inversion]
Some important rules to remember.
Never use two conditional word in a sentence.
E.g. Suppose if you are working with us, you will get a desired salary and facilities. (W)
If you are working with us, you will get a desired salary and facilities. (R)
Suppose you are working with us, you will get a desired salary and facilities. (R)
Directions: In the following question, some part of the sentence may have errors. Find out
which part of the sentence has an error and select the appropriate option. If a sentence is
free from error, select No Error.
1. Unless these differences will be resolved soon (A)/ there will be an adverse (B)/ effect
on foreign investment (C)/ No Error (D)
A. Unless these differences will be resolved soon B. there will be an adverse
C. effect on foreign investment D. no error
Answer: A
Solution: Option “A” is the correct answer. Use “differences are resolved” in place of
“difference will be resolved. We never use “will/ shall” after the following conjunctions
E.g., [if/provided that/suppose/in case/as if/as though/would that/before/when/as soon
as etc.]
ONLINE BENCHERS 2
Future condition:
[if + present indefinite , future indefinite]
2. If it snowed (A)/ tomorrow (B)/ we’ll go skating (C)/ No Error (D)/
A. If it snowed tomorrow B. we’ll go
C. skating D. no error
Answer: A
Solution: Option “A” is the correct answer. Use “if it snows” in place of “if it snowed”. This
sentence is beautifully designed to make you confuse. Here in part “B” ‘tomorrow’ shows
that this sentence should be in future but we don’t use “will/ shall” after the following
conjunction, [if/ provided that/ suppose/ in case/ as if/ as though/ would that/ before/
when/ as soon as etc ]. Here the right answer will be in present indefinite “if it snows”
Future condition:
[if + Present Indefinite, Future Indefinite]
3. If I would have (A)/ worked regularly (B)/ I would have passed the examination (C)/ No
Error (D)
A. If I would have B. worked regularly
C. I would have passed the examination D. No error
Answer: A
Solution: Option “A” is the correct answer. Use “had” in place of “would have”. This is the
past condition and the structure is (if +had + V IIIrd, sub + would/ should/could/might +
have + V IIIrd)
4. If you had not come in time (A)/ the child would have taken away (B)/ by the dacoits
(C)/ No Error (D)
A. If you had not come in time B. the child would have taken away
C. by the dacoits D. no error
Answer: B
Solution: Option “B” is the correct answer. Use “would have been taken” in place of
“would have taken”. This sentence should be in passive voice because child is taken away
by the dacoits. See examples below.
E.g. Kidnappers would have kidnapped a child.
A child would have been kidnapped by kidnappers.
5. Had Preeti worked hard (A)/ she will have (B)/ got the job she desired (C) /No Error (D)
A. Had Preeti worked hard B. she will have
C. got the job she desired D. no error
Answer: B
Solution: Option “B” is the correct answer. Use ‘would” in place of ‘will”. It is past
condition and the rule is below.
ONLINE BENCHERS 3
Past condition:
[if + sub + had + V IIIrd, sub + would/should/could + have + V IIIrd]
6. If he had informed me (A)/ of his difficulties, I would have send (B)/ the money (C)/No
Error (D)
A. If he had informed me B. of his difficulties, I would have send
C. the money D. no error
Answer: B
Solution: Use “would have sent” in place of “would have send”. We always use third form
of the verb after “sub + would have/ should have/ could have etc”
7. If you do not work hard (A)/ you will not succeed (B)/ in the examination (C)/No Error
(D)
A. If you do not work hard B. you will not succeed
C. in the examination D. no error
Answer: D
Solution: The given sentence is correct.
8. Farmers would not fight against (A)/ government, if they had been (B)/ provided
negotiable amount of their crops (C)/ no error (D)
A. Farmers would not fight against
B. government, if they had been
C. provided negotiable amount of their crops
D. no error
Answer: A
Solution: Option “A” is the correct answer. Use “would not have fought” in place of
“would not fight”. It is the past condition and in past condition if clause is (had + V IIIrd)
and result clause (sub + would/ should/ could/ might + have +V IIIrd)
E.g., If you had come to me, I would have given you money.
9. If we had learnt (A)/ English already we would have not (B)/ faced this situation (C)/ no
error (D)
A. If we had learnt B. English already we would have not
C. faced this situation D. no error
Answer: B
Solution: Option “B” is the correct answer. Use “would not have” in place of “would have
not”. This error is related to the position of adverb in a sentience. The position of “not” in
a sentence will be after the root helping verb. For explanation see the examples below.
E.g. I will not have done it perfectly. (R)
I will have not done it perfectly. (W)
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10. Would have Yuvraj Singh done wonders (A)/ if he had been selected (B)/ for the last
innings? (C)/ no error (D)
A. Would have Yuvraj Singh done wonders
B. if he had been selected
C. for the last innings?
D. No error
Answer: A
Solution: Option “A” is the correct answer. Use “would Yuvraj Singh have” in place of
“would have Yuvraj Singh”. In compound helping verbs we only use root word before
subject to make interrogative sentences. See the examples below.
E.g., Will you have cleaned the rooms or not? (R)
Will have you cleaned the rooms or not? (W)
11. Pulwama mishap could be averted if (A)/ army and intelligence department (B)/ had
taken timely actions (C)/ no error (D)
A. Pulwama mishap could be averted if B. army and intelligence department
C. had taken timely actions D. no error
Answer: A
Solution: Option “A” is the correct answer. Use “could have been averted” in place of
“could be averted”. The structure of past condition (if + had + V IIIrd , sub + would/
should/could/might + have + V IIIrd) but the given structure is in passive voice so use
“been”.
E.g., He would have written all the letters.
All the letters would have been written by him.
12. He has (A)/ saved his son if he had been (B)/ provided with money on time (C)/ no error
(D)
A. He has B. saved his son if he had been
C. provided with money on time D. no error
Answer: A
Solution: Option “A” is the correct answer. Use “would have” in place of “has”. This is the
past condition and the structure is (if + had + V IIIrd, sub + would/ should/could/might +
have + V IIIrd)
E.g. If he had painted the wall, he might have gone home.
13. If you freeze (A)/ water below 00 Celsius, (B)/ it will convert into ice (C)/ no error (D)
A. If you freeze B. water below 00 Celsius
C. it will convert into ice D. no error
Answer: C
Solution: Option “C” is the correct answer. Use “converts” in place of “will convert”. This
is the structure of universal truth so use present indefinite in both clauses. This is present
condition.
ONLINE BENCHERS 5
Present condition:
[if + Present Indefinite, Present Indefinite]
14. Unless students are not able to understand (A)/ the basics of language, they will not be
able (B)/ to solve the logical questions (C)/ no error (D)
A. Unless students are not able to understand
B. the basics of language, they will not be able
C. to solve the logical questions
D. no error
Answer: A
Solution: Option “A” is the correct answer. Use “are able to” in place of “are not able to”.
We never use “not” after the following words (hardly, scarcely, rarely, barely, unless, until,
seldom, lest), So the right sentence will be “unless students are able to………”
15. Suppose if (A)/ one of the best players got (B)/ injuries would we stop playing? (C)/ no
error (D)
A. Suppose if B. one of the best players got
C. injuries would we stop playing? D. No error
Answer: A
Solution: Option “A” is the correct answer. We are using two conditional words together
in part “A”, So remove any of them. Either use “if” or “suppose” to make this construction
error free.
16. Had the hunter realized that the (A)/ forest is such dense, he would (B)/ not have come
here for hunting. (C)/ no error (D)
A. Had the hunter realized that the B. forest is such dense, he would
C. not come here for hunting. D. No error
Answer: D
Solution: The given sentience is correct.
17. If one of you (A)/ will help the needy, (B)/ you will be blessed by God (C)/ no error (D)
A. If one of you B. will help the needy,
C. you will be blessed by God D. no error
Answer: B
Solution: Option “B” is the correct answer. Don’t us “will” in the section “B”. It is
superfluous. We never use (will or shall) after the following conjunctions (when/ before/
unless/ until/ if/ suppose/ provided that etc.)
18. The Prime Minister has said that India would not have spent so much on defence (A)/ if
some of the neighbouring countries (B)/ adopted the policy of restricting defence
expenditure (C)/ No Error (D)
A. The Prime Minister has said that India would not have spent so much on defence
B. if some of the neighbouring countries
C. adopted the policy of restricting defence expenditure
D. no error
Answer: C
ONLINE BENCHERS 6
Solution: Option “C” is the correct answer. Use “had adopted” in place of “adopted”. It is
past condition. For explanation check the structure below.
Past condition:
[if + had + V IIIrd, sub + should/ would/could/might + have + V IIIrd]
E.g., If any political party had supported the farmer, they would have made a secure
position.
19. If I would have realized (A)/ what a bad driver you were (B)/ I would not have come with
you (C)/No Error (D)
A. If I would have realized B. what a bad driver you were
C. I would not have come with you D. no error
Answer: A
Solution: Option “A” is the correct answer. Use “had realized” in place of “would have
realized”. This is the past condition and see the structure below.
Past Condition:
[if + had + V IIIrd , Sub + would/ should/ could/ might + have + V IIIrd]
E.g., If they had played well, they would have won the world cup.
20. If I was you (A)/I would have first introduced him (B)/ to the guests (C)/No Error (D)
A. If I was you B. I would have first introduced him
C. to the guests D. no error
Answer: A
Solution: Option “A” is the correct answer. Use “had been” in place of “was”. It is past
condition. See the structure below.
Past Condition:
[if + had + V IIIrd , Sub + would/ should/ could/ might + have + V IIIrd]
E.g., If my friend had been a politician, he would have helped the poor.
ONLINE BENCHERS 7