Conditional sentences

Conditional sentences are sometimes confusing for learners of English as a second

language.

if

1. If + S + Present, S + will + V1

if I lose my job, I will go abroad.

For example:

 I will answer if he calls me.

 If I study really hard, I'll ace this test.
 If the weather is good, our crops will flourish.
 You will succeed in college if you're diligent in your studies.
 My sister will cry if she watches this movie.

2. if + S +Past, S++would+V1

If I lost my job, I would go abroad.

For example:

 I would answer if he called.

 If the weather improved, our crops would flourish.
 If you resolved to be diligent in your studies, you would succeed in college.
 I would faint if I ever met Brad Pitt.
 You’d understand the joke if you were there.
  If I were rich, I’d never work again.

If it rained, I would bathe.

3. If + S+ had+Past participle, S+ would have+past participle,

If I had lost my job, I would have gone abroad.

If it had rained, I would have bathed.

 I would have helped if I’d known you were in trouble.

 If Bonnie had studied, she would have passed the test.
 My family wouldn’t have bought the house if they had seen the broken pipes.
 Your dog would have bitten my dog if he hadn’t been on a leash.

Watch out:

Which type of conditional sentences is it?

Where is the if-clause (e.g. at the beginning or at the end of the conditional sentence)?

There are three types of conditional sentences.

type condition

I condition possible to fulfill

II condition in theory possible to fulfill

III condition not possible to fulfill (too late)

1. Form

type if-clause main clause

I Simple Present will-future or (Modal + infinitive)

II Simple Past would + infinitive *

III Past Perfect would + have + past participle *

2. Examples (if-clause at the beginning)

type if clause main clause

I If I study, I will pass the exam.

II If I studied, I would pass the exam.

III If I had studied, I would have passed the exam.

Mind the comma after the if clause.

3. Examples (if-clause at the end)

type main clause if-clause

I I will pass the exam if I study.

II I would pass the exam if I studied.

III I would have passed the exam if I had studied.

4. Examples (affirmative and negative sentences)

type Examples

long forms short/contracted forms

I + If I study, I will pass the exam. If I study, I'll pass the exam.

- If I study, I will not fail the exam.

If I do not study, I will fail the exam.

If I study, I won't fail the exam.

If I don't study, I'll fail the exam.

II + If I studied, I would pass the exam. If I studied, I'd pass the exam.

- If I studied, I would not fail the exam.

If I did not study, I would fail the exam. If I studied, I wouldn't fail the
exam.

If I didn't study, I'd fail the exam.

III + If I had studied, I would have passed the exam. If I'd studied, I'd have
passed the exam.

- If I had studied, I would not have failed the exam.

If I had not studied, I would have failed the exam. If I'd studied, I wouldn't have
failed the exam.

If I hadn't studied, I'd have failed the exam.

* We can substitute could or might for would (should, may or must are sometimes
possible, too).

I would pass the exam.

I could pass the exam.

I might pass the exam.

I may pass the exam.

I should pass the exam.

I must pass the exam.

Thanks to Kai.

What Is the Conditional Mood?

The conditional mood is one of five sentence moods in grammar. It uses the conjunction
“if” (and occasionally “when”) to express a condition and its result. The likelihood of the
result depends on the type of conditional sentence, which are:

 zero conditionals (extremely likely)

 first conditionals (possible)
 second conditionals (unlikely but still possible)
 third conditionals (impossible)

Zero Conditional Sentences

The outcome in a zero conditional sentence is certain. Zero conditionals, also known as
Type 0 conditionals, outline situations in which one thing always causes another. If one
thing occurs, something else will also occur.

Zero conditionals are often known as factual conditionals, but they are not factual
statements. For example, “I get sunburned in hot weather” is a factual statement, but not a
conditional. “If it’s hot, I get sunburned” is a zero conditional sentence.

Examples of Zero Conditional Sentences

The first part of zero conditionals includes an “if” or “when” clause in the simple present
tense. The next part describes what happens as a natural result, also in simple present.
This is important because the simple present is used when an action is habitual or
constant.

Zero conditional sentence examples include:

 If you trip on pavement, you get a scrape.

 You receive a passing grade when you do all your homework.
 If it rains, my car gets wet.
 My boyfriend smiles when I give him a compliment.
 If the clock strikes midnight, it's a new day.
 When the dogs get a treat, they wag their tails.
 If Hannah sleeps in, she’s late for school.
 I get stressed out when I watch the news.

First Conditional Sentences

When a situation is not completely certain, it’s time for first conditionals. First conditionals
(or Type 1 conditionals) dictate that a result is not certain, but very likely that one
condition will lead to another. Unlike zero conditionals, first conditionals only use “if”
clauses, not “when” clauses.

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Examples of First Conditionals

Each clause in a first conditional has a different tense. The “if” clause is still in the simple
present tense, but the result clause now uses the future “will + verb” structure.

For example:

 I will answer if he calls me.

 If I study really hard, I'll ace this test.
 If the weather is good, our crops will flourish.
 You will succeed in college if you're diligent in your studies.
 My sister will cry if she watches this movie.
 Jenny will buy this dress if it’s on sale.
 I will attend the wedding if I’m invited.
 If the kids eat too much candy, they’ll have a stomachache.

Second Conditional Sentences

Second conditionals use the modal verb “would” to indicate that it is unlikely that a
condition will be fulfilled. They reflect a bit of wishful thinking, but are not impossible, and
if they do happen then the result will occur. These sentences often use “were” instead of
“was” in the past tense, just like subjunctive sentences. However, the conditional nature of
these sentences – condition and result using the conjunction “if” – makes them
conditional, not subjunctive.

Examples of Second Conditionals

The "if" clause in a second conditional is in the simple past. The result part of the sentence
is then written in the "would + infinitive verb" form; this is called the present conditional
tense.

For example:

 I would answer if he called.

 If the weather improved, our crops would flourish.
  If you resolved to be diligent in your studies, you would succeed in college.
 I would faint if I ever met Brad Pitt.
 You’d understand the joke if you were there.
 If I were rich, I’d never work again.
 Harry would help you move if he knew where you lived.
 The children would eat their vegetables if they tasted better.

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Third Conditional Sentences

Third conditionals, or Type 3 conditional sentences, refer to an impossible condition. These

situations are impossible because they have already occurred and can’t be changed. If,
hypothetically, that condition were true, then the described outcome would be likely. Like
second conditionals, third conditionals often use “were” instead of “was,” but are not
subjunctive.

Examples of Third Conditionals

This type of conditional sentence indicates that "if" something would have happened,
something else could have followed. The “if” clause in third conditionals is in the past
perfect verb tense because it has already happened. The result clause still uses “would,”
but adds “have” for the perfect conditional verb tense “would have + verb.”

Let's take a look at some examples:

 I would have helped if I’d known you were in trouble.

 If Bonnie had studied, she would have passed the test.
 My family wouldn’t have bought the house if they had seen the broken pipes.
 Your dog would have bitten my dog if he hadn’t been on a leash.
 If she had arrived five minutes earlier, she would have seen the whole show.
 If my nephew had gotten the job, he would have been set for life.
 Pearl wouldn’t have made that comment if she knew her brother was listening.
  The teacher would have assigned less homework if the class had finished their
assignment.

Conditional Conjunctions