Conditional Sentences

A quick guide by Gabriela Szpak

GOO
WOR D
K
 Contents
1 What are conditional senteces?

2 Conditional Type 0

3 Conditional Type 1

4 Conditional Type 2

5 Conditional Type 3

6 Mixed Conditional Sentences

7 Other expressions used in conditional sentences

 What are conditional
senteces?
YOU
DID
IT!
 What are conditional senteces?
● A conditional sentence is based on the word ‘if’. There are always two parts to a conditional
sentence – one part beginning with ‘if’ to describe a possible situation, and the second part which
describes the consequence. For example:

If it rains, we’ll get wet.

Notice: the
phrases are
If phrase/clause separated by
Main phrase/clause a comma.
(conditional phrase)
 What are conditional senteces?
● We can also invert the two parts of a conditional sentence so that the ‘if’ part comes second, and
this is especially common in questions. For example:
Notice: when
What will you do if you miss the train? inverted there is no
comma between
the phrases
Main phrase/clause If phrase/clause

How can you finish the project if you don’t have a computer?

Main phrase/clause If phrase/clause

What happens if the students don’t pass an exam?

Main phrase/clause If phrase/clause

 What are conditional senteces?
There are four types of conditional sentences:

→ 0 – The zero conditional

→ 1 – The first conditional

→ 2 – The second conditional

→ 3 – The third conditional

It is also possible to mix them.

Conditional Type 0

AT
GRE !
J OB
 Conditional Type 0
● We use the zero conditional to talk about permanent truths, such as scientific facts, and general
habits. The structure is simple:

If + present simple, present simple.

100% certainty 100% certainty
 Conditional Type 0
● Here are some examples:

● If you heat water to 100°, it boils.

● If you eat a lot, you put on weight.

● If it doesn’t rain for a long time, the earth gets very dry.

● If we go out with friends, we normally go to a restaurant.

● If I’m tired, I go to bed early.

 Conditional Type 1

AWE
SOME
 Conditional Type 1
● We use the first conditional to talk about a realistic situation in the present or future. The structure
of the first conditional is as follows:

will + verb.
can + verb.
If + present simple,
must + verb.
50% possibility imperative form.
100% certainty
 Conditional Type 1
● Here are some examples:

● If you’re free later, we can go for a walk.

● If they’re hungry, I’ll make some sandwiches.

● If you’re not back by 5pm, give me a ring.

● If he studies hard, he’ll do well in the exam.

● If we arrive late, we must get a taxi.

● He’ll call if he needs help.

● Take a break if you’re tired.

 Conditional Type 1
● Another way to make first conditional sentences is to use ‘unless’ which means ‘only if’ or
‘except’ or ‘if not’. As with ‘if’, the word ‘unless’ can never be followed by ‘will’ but only by the
present simple. For example:

Unless you hurry up, you won’t catch the bus.

I’ll carry on doing this work unless my boss tells me to do

something else.

We’ll stay at home unless the weather improves.

 G O OD
W O RK

Conditional Type 2
 Conditional Type 2
● We use the second conditional to talk about improbable or impossible situations in the present or
future. Here is the structure:

could + verb
If + past simple, would + verb
0-5% possibility
100% certainty
 Conditional Type 2
● For example:

● If I had more time, I’d exercise more. (But I don’t have more time so I don’t.)

● If I were rich, I’d spend all my time travelling. (But I’m not rich so I can’t.)

● If she saw a snake, she’d be terrified.

● If he didn’t have to work late, he could go out with his girlfriend.

● What would you do if you were offered a job in Canada?

● You wouldn’t have to walk everywhere if you bought a bike.

 Conditional Type 2
● A common expression used to give advice has the second conditional structure. The expression is
‘If I were you, I’d..’, meaning ‘in your situation, this is what I would do’. For example:
● A: I’ve got a headache.

● B: If I were you, I’d take an aspirin.

● A: I don’t understand this.

● B: If I were you, I’d ask your teacher for help.

● A: This order won’t be delivered on time.

● B: If I were you, I’d phone the customer to let them know.

 Conditional Type 3

YOU
DID IT!
 Conditional Type 3
● We use the third conditional to talk about impossible situations, as in the second conditional, in
the past. We often use the third conditional to describe regrets. The structure is:

If + past perfect, could have + past participle

would have + past participle
0% possibility
100% certainty
 Conditional Type 3
● Here are some examples:

● If we had left earlier, we would have arrived on time.

● If you hadn’t forgotten her birthday, she wouldn’t have been upset.

● If they had booked earlier, they could have found better seats.

● If I hadn’t learnt English, I wouldn’t have got this job.

● What would you have studied if you hadn’t done engineering?

● They wouldn’t have hired you if you hadn’t had some experience abroad.

● You could have helped me if you’d stayed later.

Mixed Conditional
Sentences

AT
G RE
J OB
 Mixed Conditional Sentences
● It is possible for the two parts of a conditional sentence to refer to different times, and the
resulting sentence is a "mixed conditional" sentence. There are two types of mixed conditional
sentence.
 Present result of a past condition

YOU
DID IT!
 Form
● In this type of mixed conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the past perfect, and the
tense in the main clause is the present conditional.

If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + past perfect present conditional

If this thing had happened that thing would happen.

● As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange
the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is
identical.
 Examples
● If I had worked harder at school, I would have a better job now.
● I would have a better job now if I had worked harder at school.
● If we had looked at the map we wouldn't be lost.
● We wouldn't be lost if we had looked at the map.
● If you had caught that plane you would be dead now.
● You would be dead now if you had caught that plane.
 Function
● This type of mixed conditional refers to an unreal past condition and its probable result in the
present. These sentences express a situation which is contrary to reality both in the past and in the
present. In these mixed conditional sentences, the time is the past in the "if" clause and in the
present in the main clause.
 Examples
Examples
● If I had studied I would have my driving license. (but I didn't study and now I don't have my
license)
● I would be a millionaire now if I had taken that job. (but I didn't take the job and I'm not a
millionaire)
● If you had spent all your money, you wouldn't buy this jacket. (but you didn't spend all your
money and now you can buy this jacket)

In these mixed conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of would to
express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the outcome.

Examples
● If you had crashed the car, you might be in trouble.
● I could be a millionaire now if I had invested in ABC Plumbing.
● If I had learned to ski, I might be on the slopes right now.
 Past result of present or continuing
condition

YOU
DID IT!
 Form
● In this second type of mixed conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the simple past, and
the tense in the main clause is the perfect conditional.

If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + simple past perfect conditional

If this thing happened that thing would have happened.

● As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange
the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is
identical.
 Examples
Examples
● If I wasn't afraid of spiders, I would have picked it up.
● I would have picked it up if I wasn't afraid of spiders.
● If we didn't trust him we would have sacked him months ago.
● We would have sacked him months ago if we didn't trust him.
● If I wasn't in the middle of another meeting, I would have been happy to help you.
● I would have been happy to help you if I wasn't in the middle of another meeting.
 Function
These mixed conditional sentences refer to an unreal present situation and its probable (but unreal)
past result. In these mixed conditional sentences, the time in the if clause is now or always and the
time in the main clause is before now. For example, "If I wasn't afraid of spiders" is contrary to present
reality. I am afraid of spiders. "I would have picked it up" is contrary to past reality. I didn't pick it up.

Examples
● If she wasn't afraid of flying she wouldn't have travelled by boat.
● I'd have been able to translate the letter if my Italian was better.
● If I was a good cook, I'd have invited them to lunch.
● If the elephant wasn't in love with the mouse, she'd have trodden on him by now.
Other expressions used in
conditional sentences

GREAT
JOB
 Unless
● Conditional clauses can begin with unless. Unless means something similar to ‘if … not’ or
‘except if’.

● The verb forms in the examples are similar to sentences with if: we use the present simple in the
unless-clause and shall, should, will, would, can, could, may or might in the main clause:

● Unless I phone you, you can assume the train’s on time. (If I do not phone you /except if I phone
you, you can assume the train is on time.)

● We’ll have to cancel the show unless we sell more tickets at the last minute. (We’ll have to cancel
the show if we do not sell more tickets/except if we sell more tickets at the last minute.)
 Unless
Warning:
Warning:
We don’t use unless for
We don’t use unless and if
impossible conditions:
together:
If the government had not raised
We’ll go to the coast tomorrow
food prices, there would not
unless it rains.
have been so many protests.
Not: We’ll go to the coast
Not: Unless the government had
tomorrow unless if it rains.
raised food prices …
 Should you (Should with inversion)
● In formal situations, we can use should + subject (s) + verb (v) instead of if:

● Should you wish to cancel your order, please contact our customer service department on 02317
6658932. (or If you should wish to cancel your order …)

● Should your child become anxious or nervous about any activity, it is a good idea to inform the
team-leader. (or If your child should become …)
 Had you (Had with inversion)
● In formal situations, we can use had + subject + verb instead of if in third conditional sentences:

● Had I known you were waiting outside, I would have invited you to come in. (If I had known you
were waiting outside …)

● Had Margaret realised she would be travelling alone, she would never have agreed to go.
 If + were to
● In formal situations, we can use if + were to when we talk about things that might happen but
which we think are unlikely:

● If the Prime Minister were to resign, there would have to be a general election within 30 days.

● In even more formal styles, we use were + subject-verb inversion + to-infinitive:

 As long as, so long as, providing, etc.
● Sometimes we need to impose specific conditions or set limits on a situation. In these cases, conditional clauses can begin with phrases
such as as long as, so long as, only if, on condition that, providing (that), provided (that).

● As long as is more common in speaking; so long as and on condition that are more formal and more common in writing:

● [to a group of children]

You can play in the living room as long as you don’t make a mess.

● So long as a tiger stands still, it is invisible in the jungle.

● The bank lent the company 100,000 pounds on condition that they repaid the money within six months.

● Providing (that) is more common in speaking; provided (that) is more formal and more common in written language:

● [talking about rail travel in the UK]

You can get a senior citizen’s reduction providing you’ve got a railcard.

● They may do whatever they like provided that it is within the law.
 Or and otherwise
● We often use or and otherwise with conditional meanings:

● You’ve got to start studying, or you’ll fail all those exams. (If you don’t start studying, you will fail the exams.)

● [talking about sending a package by mail]

We’d better send it express, otherwise it’ll take days. (If we do not send it express, it will take days.)
 Supposing
● Supposing may be used with a conditional meaning. It can be used in first, second or third conditional sentences. The speaker invites the
listener to imagine a situation:

● Supposing I don’t arrive till after midnight, will the guest-house still be open? (Imagine if I don’t arrive till after midnight …)

● Supposing you lost your passport, you’d have to go to the embassy, wouldn’t you?

● Supposing he hadn’t recognised us – he might never have spoken to us.

 an G O OD

ks
W O RK

fo
r
by Gabriela Szpak
w