Conditional Sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If Clauses.
They are used to
express that the action in the main clause (without if) can only take place if a certain condition
(in the clause with if) is fulfilled.
A Conditional sentences has two parts
1) A condition (a situation or circumstance)
2) A result or consequence
As ‘If it rains, I will take an umbrella ’
If the condition is true the result will happen.
Basic structure
There are two possible basic structures:
1st structure
If + condition + Result
If the shop is open, I will buy a shirt.
(We write a coma after the condition)
2nd structure
Result + if + condition
E.g. ’ I will buy a shirt if the shop is open’
(We don’t write a comma)
Conditional types
There are three types of Conditional Sentences
Conditional Sentence Type 1
It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled.
It describes real possibility in future
Describes a specific future event
Form: if + Simple Present, will-Future
Example: If I find her address, I’ll send her an invitation.
If I am late, I will call you
2nd Result + If + Condition
I will call you if I am late (we don’t use the comma)
Verb tense
If l misses the bus, I will take the train
If I am late, I will call you
Condition takes the present simple and result takes the future simple
The condition does not take the future simple form
(Although the form of the condition is the present simple, the meaning
is the future)
Present simple + going to
For the result, we can also use ‘going to’ + base form of the verb
If I see her, I am going to invite her to the party
If you don’t study, you are going to fail the exam
Going to is slightly stronger then the future simple
Going to’ describes a strong intention or plan for the future
Present simple + Modal (Advance)
If you do your homework, you may watch television
We use May in first conditional to give permission in the future. May is quite formal
If you eat your vegetables, you can play in the garden
We also use Can in first conditional to give permission in the future. May is quite informal
Can is more informal and more common in Standard English
If you feel ill, you should rest
We use should in first conditional to give advice in the future.
We use should to say what is correct thing to do.
Zero conditionals
Zero conditionals always describes facts
Condition always gives same result
If you heat ice, it melts.
Condition result
Form
If condition + Result (comma )
Result + if + condition (comma)
Verb Tenses
If you heat ice cream, it melts.
Tense= present simple. We use because present simple describes facts
For regular events from the past we use the past simple
If I was naughty, my parents punished me.
‘When’ can replace’ if’
When you heat ice cream, it melts.
If I have time, I'll finish that letter.
What will you do if you miss the plane?
Nobody will notice if you make a mistake.
If you drop that glass, it will break.
If you don't drop the gun, I'll shoot!
If you don't leave, I'll call the police.
Second conditionals
The second conditionals describes an imaginary, impossible or unlikely situation in the present or future.
If I had lot of money, I would buy an expensive car.
Note: (in reality I do not have lot of money. The situation is hypothetical/imaginary. It is not real)
Form: (If + condition + Result) and result + if + condition
Verb tens of the conditions :
If + past simple, subject + would + base form of the verb
If I knew her telephone number, I would call her.
The past tense is indicating a distance from reality. It is not indicating past time
If I were you, I would go to London.
If he were rich, he would buy an expensive car.
Note : (If I was you, I would go to London) wrong because of subjective mod. The verb “to be “as a
main verb in the condition.
Second vs first conditional
Second conditional First conditional
If I became president, I would reduce taxes. If I become president, I will reduce taxes.
Imaginary/ hypothetical/ impossible The situation is more real. It is more realistic
The speaker is perhaps a young student The speaker is perhaps a real candidate of the
dreaming about the future election (Imran khan)
Note : the difference in meaning is not the time. If become and if I became both refers to present or
future. The difference is situation.
Modals in second conditionals
If you played tennis together, he would win.
(It is unlikely you will play tennis together but I am certain that he would win.
If you played tennis together, he might win.
(It is unlikely you will play tennis together. I am not certain that he would win.
If you played tennis together, he could win.
(It is unlikely you will play tennis together. he would be able to win. He would have the ability
to win)