ETELT 2020 Prof. M.

Sajid Iqbal
CONDITIONAL TENSES
Conditional sentences are composed by 2 parts
 One that expresses the condition introduced by the word “if”, commonly known as “if
clause”. (Condition No. 1 shows variablity of action)
 One that expresses the consequence.
Example: If you work hard, you will succeed.
If I meet him, I will tell him your story.
 A zero condtional sentence consists of two clauses, an “if clause” and a “ main clause”.
(Universal /General Truth/ immediate or simultaneous action ( It shows no variability)
For example,
If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.
If you boil ice, It melts.
If you press the button, the computer comes on.
 Note that most of the zero conditional sentences will mean the same thing if “ When” is
used instead of “if”.
You succeed if you work hard. Or
You succeed when you work hard.
There are 3 main types of conditional patterns.
 Pattern A : probable condition ‫نکمم وصراحتل‬
 Pattern B : improbable condition ‫نانکمم وصراحتل‬
‫ت‬
 Pattern C : imaginary condition ‫خیٰالیت وصراحتل‬
Pattern A : Probable Condition:
Used for actions which are true or likely to happen. Its structure is used for talking about
possibilities in the present or in the future.
It is composed by two parts:
i. One that expresses the condition, IF + Simple Present.
ii. One that expresses the Result.
Examples:
 If it rains tomorrow, we shall cancel the picnic.
 You will be tired if you do a lot of exercise.
Note on pattern A:
(If + present tense), (future tense)
Pattern B : Improbable Condition:
 Used for present or future activities which are improbable or unlikely to happen. In
this conditional sentence, the IF clause is either hypothetical or unlikely to happen.
Examples:

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ETELT 2020 Prof. M. Sajid Iqbal
 If it rained tomorrow, we should stay at home.
 You could start dinner if it were ready.
If I were the president of America, I would/should/could
Note on Pattern B:
(if + past tense), would/should + verb
NOTE that after the IF clause, we use the Simple past. We can use “ would, could or might”.
If I won the lottery ( I will probably never win the lottery), I wouldn’t stop working.
Pattern C : Imaginary Condition:
 Used for impossible activities which could NOT be true or performed. It talks about a
situation in the past that “didn’t happen” and is always imaginary.
Examples:
 If it had rained yesterday, I would have stayed at home.
 What would you have done if you had been attacked by a monster?
If wish were horse, beggars would ride.
If I had a great banglow, I would throw a huge party to all my friends.
Note on Pattern C:
if + past perfect, perfect conditional “Should/would + present perfect tense” is called
perfect conditional.
There Are Three Kinds Of Conditional Sentences
 Zero Conditional
If + present simple, present simple
Note:
if + present simple = i.e. real things (situation or condition) – present simple = i.e. real result
USAGE:
Zero conditional is used to talk about facts / something that will definitely happen when the
condition is true (or happens).
For examples,
If you press that button, the light turns off.
It turns gray if we mix black and white.
If water gets 100 degree Celsius, it boils.
If you touch a fire, you get burned.
 First Conditional
If + present simple, future simple
Note:
- if + present simple = i.e. real things (situation or condition)
- present simple = i.e.likely result
- You can use some modals like can, may, might, and should instead of will.
USAGE:
We use first conditional to talk about future possibility (condition) and its probable result.
For examples,
If you work hard, you will pass the exam.

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ETELT 2020 Prof. M. Sajid Iqbal
If I meet him, I will tell him.
If you don’t listen carefully, you won’t be able to do your assignment.
If you travel by plane, you will spend more money.
If you buy her a present, she will be happy.
 Second Conditional
If + past simple, sub + would + verb (present)
Note:
- If + past simple = i.e. unreal present situation/condition
- subject + would + verb 1 = i.e. probable result
- You can use some modals like could instead of would.
USAGE:
We use second conditional to talk about unreal (not true) present situation(s) and its
probable result(s).
For examples,
If I had enough money, I would buy a big house. [ = Now I don’t have money. ]
If I were a writer, I would write about your love story. [= I am not a writer now. ]
If he studied harder, he would pass the exam. [= He didn’t study hard.]
If he stopped smoking, his cough would get better. [= He doesn’t stop smoking.]
If I had some free time, I would visit you. [= I don’t have much free time.]
 Third Conditional
If + past perfect simple, sub + would + have + Third Form of verb (past participle)
Note:
- If + past perfect simple = i.e. unreal past situation/condition
- subject + would + have + verb 3 = i.e. impossible
result
- You can use some modals like “could” instead of
“would.”
USAGE:
We use third conditional to talk about unreal (not true) past situation(s) and its impossible
result(s).
For examples,
If I had studied hard, I would have passed the exam. [= I didn’t study, and I failed the
exam. ]
If she had come to the party, she would have met Sophal. [= She didn’t come and didn’t
meet John. ]
We would have gone out last night if we hadn’t been so tired.
If I had known you didn’t have a car, I would have given you a lift.
If she had paid attention in class yesterday, she would have heard that we have a quiz
today.