Conditional Sentence

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. There are three types of Conditional Sentences.

Conditional Sentence Type 1

Future conditional that expresses a desire, expectation, or a plan that still CAN HAPPEN / when we are thinking about possibilities.

Subject + can/will/may/must + V1 + if + Subject + Simple Present Tense

IF + S + V1, S + will +V1

Example: 

•            If  I find her address, I will send her an invitation.

•           I will send her an invitation if I find her address.

•           If I don’t see him this afternoon, I will phone him in the evening.

•           If I find her address, I will send her an invitation.

•           If John has the money, he will buy a Ferrari.

•           If Caroline and Sue prepare the salad, Phil will decorate  the house.

•           If Sue cuts the onions for the salad, Caroline will peel the mushrooms.

•           Jane will hover the sitting room if Aaron and Tim move the furniture.

•           If Bob tidies up the kitchen, Anita will clean the toilet.

•           Elaine will buy the drinks if somebody helps her carry the bottles.

•           If Alan and Rebecca organise the food, Mary and Conor will make the sandwiches.

•           If Bob looks after the barbecue, Sue will let the guests in.

•           Alan will mix the drinks if Jane gives him some of her cocktail recipes.

•           If they all do their best, the party will be great.

•           If you send this letter now, she will receive it tomorrow.

•           If I do this test, I will improve my English.

•           If I find your ring, I will give it back to you.

•           Peggy will go shopping if she has time in the afternoon.

•           Simon will go to London next week if he gets a cheap flight.

•           If her boyfriend does not phone today, she will leave him.

•           If they do not study harder, they will not pass the exam.

•           If it rains tomorrow, I will not have to water the plants.

•           You will not be able to sleep if you watch this scary film.

•           You will get great examination if you study hard.

•           If Rina invites me, i will come to her party.

Conditional Sentence Type 2

Present conditional, stating a desire, hope or dreams (unreal) or when we imagine a situation.

Subject + could/would/might + V1 + if + Subject + Simple Past Tense

IF + S + V2, S + would + V1

Example:

•           I would phone her, if i knew her phone number.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Fact : I don't phone her because i don't know her phone number.

•           If i were Superman, i would fly to meet her.

Fa                Fact : I am not a Superman, so i dont fly to meet her.

•          If you studied hard, you would pass the exam.

                Fact : You don’t study hard.

•          If  I had a lot of money, I would lend you some.

                Fact : I don’t have much money.

•          If I passed the exam, I would continue to university.

                Fact : I do not pass the exam now.

•          If I taught this class, I wouldn’t give test.

                Fact : I don’t teach this class.

•          If I were here right now, he would help us.

                Fact : He is not here right now.

•          If I were you, I would accept their invitation.

                Fact : I am not you.

Conditional Sentence Type 3

Past conditionals that express a wish, hope or plan that does not materialize (imposible) or when we imagine a situation based on the facts in the past.

Subject + could/would/might + have + V3 + if + Subject + Past Perfect Tense

IF + S + had + V3, S + would have + V3

Example:

•          My Uncle would have come to my house, if he had not been very busy.

Fa                  Fact : My Uncle was very busy, so he did'nt come to my house.

•          If had not been very busy, i could have come to your house.

Fa                  Fact : I was very busy, so i couldn't come to your house.

•          If I had studied hard, I would have passed the exam.

               Fact : I didn’t study hard, so I didn’t pass the exam.

               or, I didn’t pass the exam because I didn’t study hard.

•             I would have come to your house if the weather had been fine.

          Fact : The weather wasn’t fine, so I didn’t come to your house.

          or, I didn’t come to your house because the weather wasn’t fine.

•          If you had told me about the problem, I would have helped you.

                Fact : You did not tell me about it.

•          If they had studied, they would have passed the exam.

               Fact : They did not study. They failed the exam.

•          If I hadn’t slipped on the ice, I wouldn’t have broken my arm.

               Fact : I slipped on the ice. I broke my arm.