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.
