University of Abbess Laghrour Course: Fundamental Unit

Khenchela/Faculty of letters and foreign Grammar Credits: 8 Coefficient: 4 TD:

languages/ Department of English Semestre: 3 50% exam 50%
Language
Academic Year: 2025-2026 Dr. Soror Email:
Oumeddour [Link]@univ-
[Link]

Conditional Clauses

A conditional clause expresses a relationship between a condition and a result.

The condition may be:

 real
 possible
 unlikely
 imaginary
 impossible

The conditional sentence has two parts:

1. If-clause (condition clause) → introduces the “if” condition

2. Main clause (result clause) → shows what happens (or would happen)

The two clauses are flexible:

 If it rains, I will stay home.

 I will stay home if it rains.

The meaning changes depending on:

 the tense used

 the type of conditional
 the formality
 the degree of probability or imagination

1. ZERO CONDITIONAL

Used for:

 Facts
 Scientific truths
 Universal rules
 Cause–effect relationships
 Routine behaviours
The condition always leads to the same result.

Structure

If + Present Simple → Present Simple

Other conjunctions can also be used instead of "if":

when, whenever, as soon as, every time

Examples (Simple)

 If you heat water, it boils.

 If you freeze water, it becomes ice.
 If people are tired, they yawn.

Examples (Daily Life)

 If I drink coffee at night, I can’t sleep.

 If students don’t pay attention, they miss important points.
 If you press this button, the machine stops.

Examples (General Truths)

 If plants don’t get sunlight, they die.

 If you exercise regularly, you stay healthy.

Examples with “When / Whenever”

 When it rains, the streets get wet.

 Whenever I visit her, she gives me tea.

2. FIRST CONDITIONAL (Real Possibility in the Future)

Meaning

Used for:

 Possible or likely future events

 Promises
 Threats
 Warnings
 Real future predictions
Structure

If + Present Simple → will + base verb

Examples (Basic)

 If it rains tomorrow, we will stay home.

 If you study, you will pass.
 If she calls me, I will answer.

Examples (Real-life)

 If you don’t hurry, you will miss the bus.

 If they invite us, we will go.
 If you eat too much, you will feel sick.

Using different modal verbs

Instead of will, you can use:

 might (50% probability)

 may (permission or possibility)
 can (ability)
 should (advice)
 must (obligation)

Examples:

 If you drive fast, you might have an accident.

 If you finish early, you may leave.
 If you study hard, you can get good grades.
 If you want to succeed, you must work hard.

Imperatives in the main clause

 If you see Ahmed, tell him to call me.

 If the phone rings, answer it.
 If a stranger knocks, don’t open the door.
3. SECOND CONDITIONAL (Unreal / Hypothetical Present or Future)

Meaning

Used for:

 Imaginary or impossible situations

 Unreal present
 Unreal future
 Dreams and wishes
 Polite advice

Structure

If + Past Simple → would + base verb

Examples (Basic)

 If I had money, I would buy a new car.

 If she were here, she would help us.
 If we lived in France, we would speak French every day.

Examples (Unreal Future)

 If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.

 If he became president, he would change the laws.
 If you got the job, you would move to the city.

Examples (Advice)

 If I were you, I would apologize.

 If she were your friend, she wouldn’t ignore you.

Examples (Impossible situations)

 If I were taller, I would play basketball.

 If he knew the answer, he would tell us (but he doesn’t).
 If we had a bigger house, we would host guests.

Notes on “were”

Formal English uses were for all subjects:

 If I were
 If he were
 If she were
 If it were
4. THIRD CONDITIONAL (Unreal Past / Regret / Criticism)

Meaning

Used when:

 Referring to a past situation that didn’t happen

 Expressing regrets
 Criticizing past behaviour
 Imagining a different past outcome

Structure

If + Past Perfect → would have + past participle

Examples (Simple)

 If I had studied, I would have passed the test.

 If they had left earlier, they would have arrived on time.
 If she had listened, she would have avoided the problem.

Examples (Regret)

 If I had known you were sick, I would have visited you.

 If he had saved money, he could have bought a car.

Examples (Criticism)

 If you had told the truth, we wouldn’t have been angry.

 If she had been careful, she wouldn’t have broken the vase.

Examples (Impossible past)

 If I had been born in Japan, I would have spoken Japanese.

5. MIXED CONDITIONALS (VERY IMPORTANT)

Mixed conditionals combine two different time periods:

 Past condition → Present result

 Present condition → Past result
  Mixed Conditional Type 1: Past Condition → Present Result

Meaning

A past action affects the present.

Structure

If + Past Perfect → would + base verb

Examples

 If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now.

 If she had taken the job, she would be living in Paris today.
 If they had saved money, they would be comfortable now.
 If he had married her, he would be happy today.
 If I had eaten breakfast, I wouldn’t be hungry now.

 Mixed Conditional Type 2: Present Condition → Past Result

Meaning

A present situation influenced a past outcome.

Structure

If + Past Simple → would have + past participle

Examples

 If I were smarter, I would have passed the exam.

 If she were more confident, she would have accepted the offer.
 If they lived closer, they would have attended the wedding.
 If he were responsible, he would have finished on time.
 If I were healthy, I would have joined the competition.
6. Additional Conditional Forms

1. Unless = If not

 Unless you study, you will fail.

 (= If you don’t study, you will fail.)

2. Even if (strong condition)

 Even if it rains, we will play.

 Even if he apologizes, she won’t forgive him.

3. Provided / Providing that (only if)

 You can borrow my book provided that you return it.

4. As long as / So long as (under the condition that)

 You can stay out as long as you come home by 10.

5. In case (precaution)

 Take an umbrella in case it rains.

6. Suppose / Supposing

 Suppose you won the lottery — what would you do?

7. If only (strong wish / regret)

 If only I had studied harder!

 If only he were more responsible!

8. Difference Between Types (Deep Comparison)

Type Time Condition Reality Example

Zero Always true Real If you heat ice, it melts.
First Future Possible If it rains, we will stay home.
Second Present/Future Unreal/Imaginary If I were rich, I would buy a plane.
Impossible (already
Third Past If I had studied, I would have passed.
finished)
Mixed Past →
Past unreal → present effect If I had trained, I would be fit now.
1 Present
Mixed Present → If I were honest, I’d have told the
Present unreal → past result
2 Past truth.
PRACTICE 1 — Zero Conditional (General truths & routines)

Complete with the correct form of the verbs.

1. If you __________ (heat) metal, it __________ (expand).

2. Plants __________ (die) if they __________ (not/get) enough water.
3. If it __________ (rain), the streets __________ (get) wet.
4. Ice __________ (melt) if the temperature __________ (rise) above zero.
5. If students __________ (not/pay) attention, they __________ (miss) important
information.
6. When my sister __________ (feel) sad, she __________ (listen) to music.
7. If you __________ (mix) red and yellow, you __________ (get) orange.
8. If children __________ (eat) too much sugar, they __________ (become) hyperactive.
9. If you __________ (press) this button, the machine __________ (stop).
10. The dog __________ (bark) if strangers __________ (come).
11. If people __________ (not/sleep) well, they __________ (feel) tired.
12. Whenever he __________ (exercise), he __________ (sleep) better.

PRACTICE 2 — First Conditional (Real future possibilities)

Complete using the correct future form (will / may / might / can).

1. If it __________ (rain) tomorrow, we __________ (cancel) the trip.

2. She __________ (pass) the exam if she __________ (study) hard.
3. If they __________ (invite) us, we __________ (go).
4. You __________ (miss) the train if you __________ (not/hurry).
5. If he __________ (not/wear) a jacket, he __________ (get) cold.
6. I __________ (call) you if I __________ (finish) early.
7. If you __________ (be) hungry, I __________ (make) you a sandwich.
8. They __________ (might / be) late if traffic __________ (be) heavy.
9. If she __________ (not/pay) attention, she __________ (make) mistakes.
10. You __________ (can / borrow) the car if you __________ (drive) carefully.
11. If I __________ (see) him today, I __________ (give) him your message.
12. If we __________ (not/leave) now, we __________ (be) late.
PRACTICE 3 — Second Conditional (Unreal present or future)

Complete using the correct form (past simple + would).

1. If I __________ (be) rich, I __________ (travel) the world.

2. She __________ (help) you if she __________ (know) the answer.
3. If we __________ (have) a bigger house, we __________ (invite) more guests.
4. I __________ (buy) a new laptop if it __________ (not/be) so expensive.
5. If he __________ (speak) English well, he __________ (get) a better job.
6. They __________ (move) abroad if they __________ (find) good opportunities.
7. If you __________ (be) me, what __________ (you/do)?
8. She __________ (feel) better if she __________ (rest) more.
9. If we __________ (live) near the beach, we __________ (swim) every day.
10. He __________ (lose) weight if he __________ (exercise) regularly.
11. If the teacher __________ (explain) clearly, students __________ (understand) better.
12. I __________ (not/buy) this phone if it __________ (break) easily.

PRACTICE 4 — Third Conditional (Unreal past / regret)

Complete using Past Perfect + would have + participle.

1. If I __________ (study), I __________ (pass) the exam.

2. She __________ (come) to the party if you __________ (invite) her.
3. If they __________ (leave) earlier, they __________ (arrive) on time.
4. He __________ (not/make) the mistake if he __________ (listen).
5. If we __________ (know) about the meeting, we __________ (attend).
6. I __________ (help) you if I __________ (be) free yesterday.
7. If she __________ (drive) carefully, she __________ (not/have) an accident.
8. You __________ (finish) the project if you __________ (start) earlier.
9. If the weather __________ (be) good, we __________ (go) hiking.
10. They __________ (find) the place if they __________ (use) a map.
11. If I __________ (see) her, I __________ (tell) her the truth.
12. He __________ (get) the job if he __________ (prepare) well.
PRACTICE 5 — Mixed Conditionals (Past–Present & Present–Past)

Complete using the correct mixed forms.

A. Past Condition → Present Result

(If + past perfect → would + base verb)

1. If I __________ (study) medicine, I __________ (be) a doctor now.

2. If she __________ (save) money, she __________ (be) comfortable today.
3. They __________ (live) in a big house now if they __________ (buy) it earlier.

B. Present Condition → Past Result

(If + past simple → would have + participle)

4. If he __________ (be) more responsible, he __________ (not/lose) his job last year.
5. If I __________ (know) English well now, I __________ (get) that job yesterday.
6. If they __________ (live) closer, they __________ (attend) the wedding.

Mixed (Complete Set)

7. If you __________ (not/be) afraid of dogs, you __________ (adopt) one last week.
8. If she __________ (be) taller, she __________ (become) a professional athlete.
9. If we __________ (take) the course earlier, we __________ (be) more confident
today.
10. If I __________ (exercise) regularly years ago, I __________ (be) healthier now.
11. If he __________ (not/be) lazy now, he __________ (graduate) successfully.
12. If they __________ (own) a car now, they __________ (visit) us last weekend.