Grammar 2:

Conditional
Sentences
A conditional sentence is made of two parts :
If- clause + Main clause (or result clause)
The order of the two clauses is flexible i.e. it is not fixed; BUT
when the if- clause comes first, it is followed by a comma :
- If it rains, I’ll stay home.
If the main (result) clause comes first, no comma is needed.
- I will stay home if it rains.
There are four types of conditional sentences in English. Each
type uses different tenses to show the difference in the degree
of probability of an event to take place.
 CONDITIONAL TYPE 0
 If/when+ present tense, present tense
 Type 0 conditional uses the present tense in both the if- clause and the main clause

 The time referred to is now or always and the situation is real and possible.

 1. It is used to talk about universal truths:

- Water boils if it reaches 100° C.

- If flowers don’t get any water, they die.

- ,
If you mix hydrogyn and oxygen you get water.
- If you mix yellow and blue, you get green.

 2. It is also used to give commands:

- If you feel tired, go to bed (imperative form)

- If you don’t finish your homehork first, you can’t watch TV.
 CONDITIONAL TYPE 1 :
 The most common form of conditional 1 is:
if + present tense, future tense
1. Conditional 1 is used to talk about possible events
which could easily come true in the future.
• If I feel sick tomorrow, I won’t go to school.
• If it rains, the match will be cancelled.
2. To make promises or warnings
• If you behave yourself when we are at the Johnson’s,
you will get permission to go to your friend’s birthday.
 CONDITIONAL TYPE 2 :
 Form : If + past tense, would + bare infinitive (infinitive without « to »).
 Conditional type 2 is used to speak about present situations which are unreal
(unlikely or impossible to happen). In type 2 conditional, the time is now, and the
situation is hypothetical. It simply speculates about what could happen.
- If he were a bird, he would fly across the harbour. (he is not a bird)
- If I were/ was you, I would accept the offer. (I’m not you)
- If John had the money, he would buy a Ferrari.

(I know John very well and I know he doesn’t have much money, but he loves Ferraris. He would
love to own one. But I think it is very unlikely that he will have the money to buy one in the near
future.

 NB: In conditional type 2, « were » is often used instead of « was » in first and third
person singular.
 CONDITIONAL TYPE 3 :
 Form: If + past perfect, would + have + past participle
 Type 3 conditional is used to refer to the past and to a situation that is
contrary to reality. It is used to talk about something in the past that did
NOT happen. It expresses the way we imagine how things could have been
different in the past. It is now too late for the condition or its result to
exist.

 There is always some implication of regret with conditional type 3

sentences. The reality is the opposite of, or contrary to what the sentence
expresses.
- If I had known you were in hospital, I would have visited you.
- I would have bought you a present if I had known it was your birthday.
- If you had given me your e-mail, I would have written to you.
- If he had been more careful, he wouldn’t have made such a mistake.
 CONDITIONAL TYPE 1: Variation
 The most common form of conditional 1 is if + present tense, future tense
 However, other tenses and forms can be used in both the if- clause and the main
clause
 In the if- clause instead of the simple present, the present continuous, the present
perfect simple and continuous, and the modals can/ should may also be used.
 EXAMPLES :

 If you go to Egypt, you will learn Arabic.

 If you are going to Egypt, you will learn Arabic.
 If you have called him, he will appreciate it.
 If you’ve been waiting for a long time, he will apologize to you.
 If you can wait for me, I’ll be grateful.
 If you should wait for me, I’ll be grateful.
 CONDITIONAL TYPE 1: Variation
 The main clause uses the will future, but the be going to future, the future
continuous, the future perfect, and the imperative can replace the future
simple form.

 Modal verbs like can, could, may, might, should, ought to, and must are
also possible.

 EXAMPLES:
- If you allow me in, I will keep quiet.
- If you forgive me, I’m going to clean up the mess for you.
- If you come at 2, I will be working.
- If I’m not back at noon, don’t wait for me over lunch.
- If you are late again, he might be angry.
- If you don’t do your homework, you can’t watch TV.
 CONDITIONAL TYPE 2 : Variations

 Instead of the past simple tense, the past continuous, would, was to or were to are
used.
 If he came to my wedding, I would be exteremely happy.
 If he was coming to my wedding, I would be exteremely happy.
 If he could arrest the criminal, they would surely promote him.
 If you were to visit him, he would be delighted.

 Instead of would + infinitive, « would + continuous infinitive (be verbing)» can be used.
« Would » can also be replaced with other modal verbs like could and might.
 If they had a day off, they would be visiting us.
 If his wife had some spare time, she would/ could/ might make her famous
delicious cake.
 CONDITIONAL TYPE 3 : Variation
 Form: If + past perfect, would + have + past participle Conditional
sentences may have different forms both in the if- clause and the
main clause.
 Type 3 conditional can use the past perfect continuous instead of the
past perfect simple, or could + perfect infinitive.
 If you had taken plenty of vitamin C, you wouldn’t have caught my cold.
 If they had been sleeping when the earthquake struck, they would have died.
 If they could have fixed the washing machine earlier, we would have used it.
 In the main clause, you can use could/ might + have + past participle instead of
would have + past participle.
 If he had had the right tools, he could/ might have repaired the car.
 Mixed Conditionals

 In addition to the four types of conditionals, there are other types called
MIXED CONDITIONALS.

 All mixed conditionals describe unreal, impossible, imaginary situations. As

the name suggests, in this type of conditional, we mix forms of different
types of conditionals in the same sentence. For example, a condition from
the past may have a result in the present or in the future, so we use a mixed
conditional.

 There are several types of mixed conditionals, but only three will be dealt
with.
 Mixed Conditionals
 1. PAST CONDITION + PRESENT RESULT
FORM : IF CLAUSE (3rd CONDITIONAL), RESULT CLAUSE (2nd CONDITIONAL)
IF + PAST PERFECT, WOULD + INFINITIVE

 When an action in the past has results in the present, we use a mix of past and
present conditional,
1. He ate so much, so now he feels awful.
If he hadn’t eaten so much, he wouldn’t feel awful now (he wouldn’t be feeling awful).
2. You didn’t save money when you were young; you aren’t financially secure now.
If you had saved money when you were young, you would be financially secure now.
3. I put on a lot of weight last year. I’m unable to participate in the marathon.
If I hadn’t put on a lot of weight last year, I would be able to participate in the marathon.
4. You didn’t attend classes last week, so you are unable to do the exercises now.
If you had attended classes last week, you would be able to do the exercises now.
5. I didn’t take that job 10 years ago, so I’m not rich now.
If I had taken that job 10 years ago, I would be rich now
 Mixed Conditionals
 2. PRESENT CONDITION + PAST RESULT
FORM : IF CLAUSE (2nd CONDITIONAL), RESULT CLAUSE (3rd CONDITIONAL)
IF + PAST SIMPLE, WOULD + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
This type of mixed conditional is used when a present, general, or permanent
condition affects a past situation or action. The present condition can be a
possession, a personality trait, or an ability.

2. I don’t speak Spanish. I had many communication problems during my trip to Mexico last
month.
If I spoke Spanish, I wouldn’t have had many communication problems during my trip to
Mexico last month.
3. I don’t have a car. This is why I didn’t offer you a ride yesterday.
If I had a car, I would have offered you a ride yesterday.
5. I have internet connection at home, so I sent you an e-mail yesterday.
If I didn’t have internet connection at home, I wouldn’t have sent you an e-mail yesterday.
 Mixed Conditionals
 3. PAST CONDITION + FUTURE RESULT
FORM : IF+ 3rd CONDITIONAL, 2nd CONDITIONAL
IF + PAST PERFECT, WOULD + INFINITIVE
This type of mixed conditional is used when a past situation affects the future.
1. I didn’t receive a scholarship, so I won’t move to the UK next year.
If I had received a scholarship, I would move to the UK next year.
2. The television broke, so we won’t be able to watch the match this weekend.
If the television hadn’t broken, we would be able to watch the match this weekend.
3. They didn’t read the novel, so they can’t participate in the class discussion programmed this
afternoon.
If they had read the novel, they could participate in the class discussion programmed this
afternoon.
4. I quit my job two weeks ago. I won’t have money to buy you an expensive present for your
birthday tomorrow.
If I hadn’t quit my job two weeks ago, I would have money to buy you an expensive present for
your birthday tomorrow.
5. You squandered all your money, so you won’t join us to the trip this weekend.
If you hadn’t squandered all your money, you would join us to the trip this weekend.
 CONNECTORS USED WITH THE
CONDITIONAL
 The most common connector used with the conditional form is « IF » ; however, other
connectors can be used.
 WHEN he comes, we will all be waiting for him. (When replaces « if » when you think
something will definitely happen)
 UNLESS we recycle (if we don’t recycle), we won’t have a better world. (UNLESS is used in
negative conditionals. It means « if not »)
 You can stay tonight ON CONDITION THAT you sleep on the couch.
 I will go to the party AS LONG AS you come with me.
 IMAGINE that you won a million dollars, What would you do?
 I won’t go to her party EVEN IF she begs me.
 Take an umbrella IN CASE it rains.
 You can have your birthday party PROVIDED THAT you aren’t noisy.
 ASSUMING he finds out our secret, what will we do?
 HAD I known you were visiting, I would have stayed home. (instead of if I had known…)
 WERE you an engineer, you would earn a lot of money. (instead of if you were…)
 SHOULD you need my advice, call me immediately. (instead of if you need…)