CONDITIONALS

21*51, 22*51, 23*52, 24*52, 25*52, 26*52, 1*52, 3*52, 6*53, 9*53, 10*53

BASIC ENGLISH CONDITIONALS

Here is a chart to help visualize the basic English conditionals. However, do not take the 50%
and 10% figures too literally. They are just to help you visualize the probability.

PROBABILITY CONDITIONAL EXAMPLE TIME

TYPE 0 CONDITIONAL
(Zero Conditional; Present Real If you heat ice, it turns to water.
100% Conditional; etc.)

TYPE 1 CONDITIONAL
(1st Conditional; Open Conditional;
50% Probable Conditional; Possible If it rains, I will stay at home.
Conditional; Likely-to-happen
Conditional; Possibly True
Conditional; etc.)

TYPE 2 CONDITIONAL
(2nd Conditional; Present Unreal
10% Conditional; Improbable If I won the lottery, I would buy a car.
Conditional; Unlikely-to-happen
Conditional; etc.)

TYPE 3 CONDITIONAL
(3rd Conditional; Past Unreal
0% Conditional; Impossible If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a car
Conditional; The Imaginary Past
Action; Impossible-to-happen
Conditional; etc.)

What is a Conditional?
A conditional, which derives from the word “condition”, is a sentence or part of a sentence that
expresses a condition. A condition is what must happen before something else can happen. A
conditional sentence usually (not always) begins with the words “when”, “if”, and “unless”.
There are four basic English conditionals (possibly elaborated into mixed and continuous ones),
or in other words; we have four ways to express that something is dependent on something else.

TYPE O CONDITIONAL
This is usually called the zero conditional. We use this type when the results of the conditions are
always true, or generally true. It is always used to talk about what we normally do in real-life
situations or a scientific fact.
Note that in this type both if and when can be used. In terms of real-life situation, using if means
to suggest that something happens less regularly whilst using when means to suggest that
something happens regularly. In terms of scientific facts, both are interchangeable.

CONDITION RESULT
(If-clause/Dependent clause) (Main Clause/Independent)
IF/WHEN + SIMPLE PRESENT, SIMPLE PRESENT

*Note that result may come before condition and don’t use a comma in between.

Examples in real-life situations:

Structure for the TOEFL – Faisal Umri

 When I have a day off from work, I often go to the beach. (I regularly have days off from work)
If I have a day off from work, I often go to the beach. (I rarely have days off from work)
If I go to a friend’s house for dinner, I usually take a bottle of wine or some flowers.
If the weather is nice, she walks to work.
Paijo helps me with my homework when he has time.
I read if there is nothing on TV.
A : What do you do when it rains?
B : I stay home (if it rains).
A : Where do you stay if you go to Bintan Island?
B : I stay with my friends near the harbor (if I go to Bintan Island).
Referring particularly to scientific facts, we should notice that we are thinking about a result that
is always true for this condition. The result of the condition is an absolute certainty. We are not
thinking about the future or the past, or even the present. We are thinking about a simple fact.
We use the present simple tense to talk about the condition. We also use the present simple tense
to talk about the result. The important thing about the zero conditional is that the condition
always has the same result. Both if and when are interchangeable here.
Examples of scientific facts:
If you heat ice, it turns to water (you would be surprised if it didn’t).
When you heat ice, it turns to water.
You get wet if it rains.
If you freeze water, it becomes solid.
Plants die if they don't get enough water.
If my husband has a cold, I usually catch it.
If you mix red and blue, you get purple.

TYPE 1 CONDITIONAL (Probable; Likely to Happen)

This type of conditional is also called Probable Conditional or Likely-to-happen Conditional. It is so
called due to the level of possibility it carries. Type 1 conditional describes what we think we will
do in a specific situation in the future. Though we do not know what will definitely happen in the
future, you are usually imagining or guessing that it is still possible that the action might occur
in the future. In other words, we still have a feeling that the result might probably happen in the
future. So, if the condition is fulfilled, the action in the result clause is likely to happen.
Note that both if and when can be used in this type. Using if means to suggest that something
might happen or not, however, it is probable. Using when means to suggest that something will
definitely happen at some point; we are simply waiting for it to occur in the future.

CONDITION RESULT
(If-clause/Dependent clause) (Main Clause/Independent)
IF/WHEN + SIMPLE PRESENT, SIMPLE FUTURE
will + V
V
modal + V

If I study, I will pass the exams.

If you see John tonight, tell him to e-mail me.
If Fajar gets up early, he can catch the bus.

*Note that result may come before condition and don’t use a comma in between.
If I go to my friend’s house for dinner tonight, I will take a bottle of wine or some flowers.
I am still not sure if I will go to his house or not. However, it is still possible for me to go there.
When I have a day off from work, I will go to the beach.
I have to wait until I have a day off.
If the weather is nice, he will go to the beach.
It depends on the weather. However, the weather is bright outside.
Prita will help me with my homework when she has time.

Structure for the TOEFL – Faisal Umri

 I have to wait until she has time. She hasn’t showed up yet.
I will go to read if there is nothing on TV.
It depends on the TV schedule.

TYPE 2 CONDITIONAL (Improbable; Unlikely to Happen)

This type of conditional is also called Improbable Conditional or Unlikely-to-happen Conditional. It
is so called due to the level of possibility it carries. Type 2 conditional is used to talk about
imaginary situation in the present or in the future. Thus, it is not as common as type 1
conditional because this type has lesser possibility to happen. Deciding which to use between
them depends on the speakers’ personal consideration. However, as a rule of thumb, English
speakers use type 1 conditional when they think that the possibility of something might probably
happen in the present or in the future. They prefer using type 2 when they think or need to
emphasize that something is improbable or unlikely to happen in the present or in the future.
Note that only if is used in type 2 conditional because this type carries imaginary situations. So,
when cannot be used.
I would buy that netbook tomorrow when it were cheaper. (incorrect)
I would buy that netbook tomorrow if it were cheaper. (correct)

CONDITION RESULT
(If-clause/Dependent clause) (Main Clause/Independent)
IF + SIMPLE PAST, PAST FUTURE
would + V
could + V
might + V

If I studied, I would pass the exams.

If I studied, I could pass the exams.
If I studied, I might pass the exams.

*Note that result may come before condition and don’t use a comma in between.
Please carefully note also that the word were in the phrase, for example, if I were you is special
form. It is grammatically known as the subjunctive mood. In the if-clause of type 2 conditional,
the special verb were takes all subjects, plural or singular.

If I was you I would phone him. (incorrect)

If I were you I would phone him. (correct)
If the Third World War broke out, it would mean the end of humankind.
Though no sign has indicated the war, we need to be aware of it.
If I had a day off next week, I would go to the beach.
I don’t have a day off from work.
I’m busy next week. If I had time, I would come to Herman’s party.
Very probably I can’t come.
Gunadi would help me with my homework tomorrow if he didn’t have to work.
He does have to work tomorrow.

Examine carefully the context of each sentence below and try to complete each with Conditional
Type 1 or Type 2.
1. Maybe I will have enough time tonight. If I (have) _______________ enough time, I (come)
_______________ to her house to help her write her application letter.
2. My old friend, Badu, just gave me a call. He is going to come tonight. But if I (have)
_______________ enough time, I (come) _______________ to her house to help her write her
application letter.

Structure for the TOEFL – Faisal Umri

3. I’m totally broke. But if I (have) _______________ enough money, I (buy) _______________ a
ticket to the rock concert.
4. I’m very happy because I’m going to have my extra salary. If I (have) _______________ enough
money, I (buy) _______________ a ticket to the rock concert.
5. If I (win) _______________ the grand lottery, I (buy) _______________ a car and I (drive)
_______________ to Bali with you.

TYPE 3 CONDITIONAL (Impossible; Impossible to happen)

This type of conditional is also called Impossible Conditional or Impossible-to-happen Conditional.
It is so called due to the level of possibility it carries. Type 3 conditional describes an unreal
situation with reference to the past. We hypothesize a past situation which didn’t happen in the
pat and cannot happen anymore. It is also called an impossible condition.
Note that only if is used in type 2 conditional because this type carries imaginary situations. So,
when cannot be used.
I would have bought that netbook last year when it had been cheaper. (incorrect)
I would have bought that netbook tomorrow if it had been cheaper. (correct)

CONDITION RESULT
(If-clause/Dependent clause) (Main Clause/Independent)
IF + PAST PERFECT, PAST FUTURE PERFECT
would + have + past participle
could + have + past participle
might + have + past participle
If I had studied, I would have passed the exams.
If I had studied, I could have passed the exams.
If I had studied, I might have passed the exams.

*Note that result may come before condition and don’t use a comma in between.
If he hadn’t taken the graft, he wouldn’t have been in jail.
He took the bribe.
If he had been more careful, he wouldn’t have been killed in the accident.
He was not careful. He died in the accident.
If I had owned a car, I would have driven to work.
But I didn’t own one, so I took the bus.
She would have traveled around the world if she had had more money.
She didn’t have much money, so she never travelled.

Examine carefully the context of each sentence below and try to complete each with Conditional
Type 1, Type 2 or Type 3.
1. I didn’t feel good yesterday. If I (feel) _______________ better, I (attend) _______________ the
meeting.
2. I am unwell today. If I (feel) _______________ better, I (go) _______________ fishing.
3. I have a cold today, but I will probably feel better tomorrow. If I (feel) _______________ better
tomorrow, I (go) _______________ to class.
4. I’m sorry you didn’t come to Mrs. Iin’s son’s wedding party, If you (come) _______________, you
(have) _______________ a good time with us.

Structure for the TOEFL – Faisal Umri

5. I didn’t know that Ms. Rini broke her hand in the accident. If I (know) _______________ that
she was sick, I (come) _______________ along with you to visit her at the hospital.
6. I’m tired. If I (be, not) _______________ tired, I (help) _______________ you.
7. Heavy rain is predicted tomorrow. If it (rain) _______________ tomorrow, I (stay)
_______________ home.
8. I may have Rp. 10.000. Let me look in my wallet. If I (have) _______________ it, I (give)
_______________ it to you to buy a pack of Dji Sam Soe.
9. I didn’t know it was Mr. Herman’s birthday party. I (get) _______________ him a present if I
(know) _______________ it was his birthday yesterday.
10. Why didn’t you tell me when your plane was supposed to arrive? If you ( tell) _______________
me, I (pick) _______________ you up at the airport.

UNLESS
The connector ‘unless’ means ‘if not’ and it brings negative meaning.

If ice is not heated, it does not turn to water.

TYPE O
Unless ice is heated, it does not turn to water.

If the weather is not nice, he will not go to the beach.

TYPE 1
Unless the weather is nice, he will not go to the beach.

If I did not win the lottery, I would not buy a car.

TYPE 2
Unless I won the lottery, I would not buy a car.

If she had not given him the answers, he would not have passed the exam.
TYPE 3 Unless she had given him the answers, he would not have passed the exam.

‘IF’ OMISSION
It is apparently possible to omit ‘if’ in conditional sentences. The omission of ‘if’ is always uses for
emphasizing purposes of the conditional. Certain rules are hence applied for this purpose.

TYP
FORMULA EXAMPLES
E
If ice is heated, it turns to water.
Should + S + be + Compl., SIMPLE PRESENT Should ice be heated, it turns to water.
0 Should + S + V, SIMPLE PRESENT If it rains, you get wet.
Should it rain, you get wet.

If the weather is nice, he will not go to the beach.

Should the weather be nice, he will not go to the
Should + S + + be + Compl., SIMPLE FUTURE
1 Should + S + V, SIMPLE FUTURE
beach.
If you let him do it, everything will be OK.
Should you let do him it, everything will be OK.

Structure for the TOEFL – Faisal Umri

 If I were his father, I would teach him how to behave.
Were I his father, I would teach him how to behave.
Were + S + Compl., PAST FUTURE
2 Were + S + to + V, PAST FUTURE If I won the lottery, I would buy the yellow car.
Were I to win the lottery, I would buy the yellow car.

If she had been home, I would have come.

Had + S + been + Compl., PAST FUTURE PERFECT Had she been home, I would have come.
Had + S + Past Participle, PAST FUTURE PERFECT Were she to have been home, I would have come.
3 or
If I had come, she would have been happier.
Were + S + to have been+ Compl., PAST FUTURE PERFECT
Were + S + to have + Past Participle, PAST FUTURE PERFECT Had I come, she would have been happier.
Were I to have come, she would have been happier.

Structure for the TOEFL – Faisal Umri