Conditional Sentencesin English

Conditionals

• The conditionals are used to talk about real or unreal situations, sometimes called… if-clauses.

• Used to show an action is reliant on something else.

• Real Conditional describes real-life situations.

• Unreal Conditional describes unreal, imaginary situations.

Conditional Sentences

Structure :

A conditional sentence is composed of 2 parts :

If-clause + Main Clause

Example :

If it rains tomorrow, we will put on rain coats.

If-clause Main Clause

Conditional Sentences

The order of the two clauses is flexible. When the if-clause comes first, it must be followed by

a comma.

If it rains, I’ll stay at home

I’ll stay at home if it rains.

CONDITIONAL SENTENCESTypes

There are 4 types of conditional sentences. They are classified according to the degree of probability that they express.

Each type of conditional sentences uses different tenses to show the difference in the degree of probability.

• Zero Conditional: (Factual)

If /when + present tense ….. / present tense

• Water boils if it reaches 100º

Real Conditionals

• First Conditional: (Likely to happen)

If/unless + present,….. Future

• If I study, I’ll pass

• Second Conditional: (Hypothetical situations)

If + past, ……would +inf.

• If we won the lottery, we would travel the world.

• Third Conditional: (Impossible) Unreal Conditionals

If + past perfect ….. would have + pp

• If I had studied, I would have passed

Conditional Sentences types

ZERO Conditional

• It is used to talk about things that are always true or factual (Scientific Facts, General or Universal Truths).

(present simple + present simple) If you expose phosphorous to air, it burns.

More Examples

1. If people eat too much, they get fat.

2. If you touch a fire, you get burned.

3. People die if they don't eat.

4. You get water if you mix hydrogen and oxygen.

5. Snakes bite if they are scared

6. If babies are hungry, they cry

Practice

1. (I / wake up late / I / be late for work)

2. (my husband / cook / he / burn the food)

3. (Julie / not wear a hat / she / get sunstroke)

4. (children / not eat well / they / not be healthy)

5. (you / mix water and electricity / you / get a shock)

Answers

1. If I wake up late, I’m late for work.

2. If my husband cooks, he burns the food.

3. If Julie doesn’t wear a hat, she gets sunstroke.

4. If children don’t eat well, they aren’t healthy.

5. If you mix water and electricity, you get a shock.

First Conditional(VERY LIKELY SITUATIONS)

It is used to:

1. Talk about situations which are very likely to happen

2. Giving advice and instructions

3. Suggest something which is unlikely to happen

4. Talk about the result of a situation which is just a possibility

5. Talk about present decisions based on future abilities

a) If + Simple present + will

Both condition and result are very likely to happen

If Javaid gets a good result, he will study medicine.

If he fails his exams, he will not go abroad.

b) If + Simple present + Imperative

This is a way of giving advice or instructions

If you feel tired, drink a cup of coffee.

If you can't wake up, buy an alarm clock.

If you see my wife, tell her I'll be late for dinner.

Possible sentence structures

c) If + should + imperativeIn this way we can suggest that something is unlikely to happen, or is not particularly probable.

Ex. If you should run into Peter, tell him he owes me a letter.

d) If + Simple present + mayThe result of the condition is just a possibility.

Ex. 1. If we go to Writing workshop, we may not get time to shop.2. If we don't give them directions, they may get lost.

e. If + Simple present + can/ would

We use this form when we make present decisions

about future ability. Otherwise we use will be able to.

Ex.

1. If I haven't enough time today, I can wash your car tomorrow.

Sentence structures in First conditional

Functions

1 If+ Simple present + will Both conditions or results are very likely to happen

2 If + Simple present + Imperative Giving Advice or Instructions

3 If + should+ imperative To suggest that something is unlikely to happen

4 If + simple present + may The result of the condition is just a possibility

5 If + Simple present + can To talk about present decisionsbased on future ability

Practice

Write two sentences for each function

Write conditional sentences, using the given facts in your conditional clause, and adding a suitable completion.

e.g. He is thinking of going to England.If he goes to England, he will have to learn English.

1.- It looks as if those shoes in the window are my size.2.- Do not drop that vase.3.- It looks like being fine tomorrow.4.- My father has suggested that I change my job.5.- It seems that we will be late for the class.6.- Do not lose my library book!7.- You may meet some friends of mine in Karachi.8.- He expects to pass his exams.

Second Conditional(Hypothetical Situations)

• It is used to talk about unreal or impossible situation in present or Future. These structures are used to imagine what would it be like if things were different.

Ex.

If I were rich, I would travel around the world.

If I have a car, I could drive you home.

a) If + Simple past + wouldIf I were the president, I would end

unemployment.If I won the lottery, I would buy a FerrariIf I were you, I'd start packing now.

b) If + Simple past + mightThe result of the condition would be just a possibilityEx.If you drove with drowsy head, you might have

an accidentIf you were not so selfish, you might be happier

c) If + Simple past + could (the meaning of could here is would be able to).

Ex.

1) If I had another 1000 Rs, I could by the latest edition of this book.

2) I could have passed my CSS Exam if I had another month for preparation.

d) If + were to + would

This makes a future possibility sound less probable

Ex. If world war were to break out, I would emigrate to Mars.

Possible sentence structure for 2nd

conditionals

Function

1 If+ simple past+ would To imagine what would it be like if things were different

2 If + simple past +might The result of a condition (in past) would be just a possibility

3 If + simple past + could To talk about a past ability with a hypothetical condition

4 If were to + would To talk about a less probable future possibility

Practice

Complete these 2nd conditional sentences

1. If you _______________ (leave) your job, you ________________ (travel) around the world.

2. If you _____________ (be) nicer to him, he ____________________(lend) you the money

3. It _________________(be) nice if the rain ____________________(stop)!

Exercise

Answer the following sentences with 2nd

conditional sentences.

1. What cities or other places of interest would you visit if you went to America?

2. What would you do (or not do) if you could live your life over again?

3. What famous person would you like to meet if you had the chance?

THIRD Conditional

• It is used to talk about conditions which didn’t happen in the past, and so the result did not happen either. It is used for speculating about past events.

1. If you hadn’t been lazy, you would have been on time for the audition.

2. If he had come earlier, he could have had a free lunch.

a) If + Past perfect + Perfect conditional

Ex. If he had studied, he would have passed.

b) If + Past perfect + might have

Ex. If someone had heard the S.O.S., their lives might have been saved

c) If + Past perfect + could have (Could have been means here able to)

Ex. If my parents had not been poor, I could have gone to university

Possible sentence structures

Functions

1 If + Past perfect + perfect conditional (would have)

1. These structures are used to talk about the conditions which did not happen in past

2. These structures are used to talk about past regrets and to criticize past actions

2 If + Past perfect + might have

3 If + Past perfect + could have

Practice

Complete these sentences1. He crashed his car, because he fell asleep while driving.

If he _______ asleep while driving, he __________ his car.2. We couldn't go to the concert, because we didn't have

enough money.If we __________ enough money, we ____________ to the concert.

3. I lost my job because I was late for work.I _____________ my job if I ___________ late for work.

4. The wind was so strong that the bridge collapsed.If the wind _______________so strong, the bridge _____________________ .

5. I couldn't call Sally because I had lost her number.I __________________ Sally if I ________________ her number.

Make 3rd Conditional sentences based on

information provided in given sentences.

1. Nobody told me about your birthday, and so I asked you to have an official tour out of city.

2. There was no chance of rescuing survivors, and so they called off the search

3. Ali was suddenly taken ill, and so he and his family did not go on holiday to MureeHills.

Other words to used for showing conditions

provided, providing, supposing, as long as, on condition that.Ex.1. Supposing you fell into a water pool on a winter morning, what would you do?2. You can borrow my bike provided/providing you bringit back.3. I'll give you the day off on condition that you work onSaturday morning.4. You are welcome to stay with us, as long as you sharethe rent.

Conditional Probability Example Time

zero CertainIf you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it boils

any time

first Likely If it rains, I will stay in. future

second Unlikely If I won the lottery, I would retire. future

second ImpossibleIf I had the money, I would lend it to you

present

third ImpossibleIf I had seen him, I would have given him the message.

past

Good Luck with Conditionals!!!