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Conditional sentences

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Alberto Huelga Gonzalo
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1 views

Conditional sentences

Uploaded by

Alberto Huelga Gonzalo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Conditional sentences

Conditional sentences are sometimes confusing for learners of English


as a second language.

Watch out:

1. Which type of conditional sentences is it?

2. 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

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

I
If I study, I will not fail the exam.
If I study, I won't fail the exam.
- If I do not study, I will fail the
If I don't study, I'll fail the exam.
exam.

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

II If I studied, I would not fail the


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

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

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

1.Use
It is possible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.
2. Form

if clause main clause

will-future

Simple Present infinitive

Modal + infinitive

3. Examples

if clause main clause

If I study, I will pass the exams.

If you see John tonight, tell him to e-mail me.

If Ben gets up early, he can catch the bus.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of a


sentence. Mind the comma.

if clause main clause

If I study, I will pass the exams.


if clause main clause

main clause if clause

I will pass the exams if I study.

1. Use
It is theoretically possible to fulfil a condition which is given in the
if-clause.
2. Form

if clause main clause

would + infinitive

Simple Past could + infinitive

might + infinitive

3. Examples

if clause main clause

If I studied, I would pass the exams.

If I studied, I could pass the exams.

If I studied, I might pass the exams.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of a


sentence. Mind the comma.
if clause main clause

If I studied, I would pass the exams.

main clause if clause

I would pass the exams if I studied.

1. Use
It is impossible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.
2. Form

if clause main clause

would + have + past participle

Past Perfect could + have + past participle

might + have + past participle

3. Examples

if clause main clause

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.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of a


sentence. Mind the comma.
if clause main clause

If I had studied, I would have passed the exams.

main clause if clause

I would have passed the exams if I had studied.

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