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Conditional Sentences
First Conditional Second Conditional Third Conditional Mixed Conditionals It is a compound sentence. What are various forms of "if clause" sentences? Are all complete "if clause" sentences compound sentences? Where do �if clause� sentences fit in the type or kind of sentences? What are some examples of "if clause" sentences? What type of sentence is an "if clause" in the form of a complete sentence? It is a compound sentence. What are various forms of "if clause" sentences? Are all complete "if clause" sentences compound sentences? Where do �if clause� sentences fit in the type or kind of sentences? What are some examples of "if clause" sentences? If you aren't interested in this topic, we can discuss another topic. If you answer these questions, then you can be considered competent. If you answer these questions, then you can be an English teacher. If libraries provide industry-specific and situation-specific education resources, then they are assets to the economy. If schools provide industry-specific and situation-specific education, then they are assets to the economy. What type or kind of sentence is it?
Mixed Conditionals will and would in if-clauses Replacing if - Omitting if - if vs. when - in case vs. if If Clauses If clauses are usually used to talk about uncertain events and situations. They often refer to a condition - something which must happen first, so that something else can happen. Dependent Clause Main Clause If it rains, I'll stay at home. If you promise to do it, I'll help you. If she calls me, tell her to leave a message. If Jane were here, she'd know what to do. If I were you, I wouldn't do it. If you love me, I will love you. If you don't hurry up, you will be late. Clauses of this kind are often called conditional clauses. There are four main types of conditional clauses in English. They are: 1. Zero conditional 2. Type 1 conditional 3. Type 2 conditional 4. Type 3 conditional An if-clause can come at the beginning or end of a sentence. When an if-clause begins a sentence, we use a comma to separate it from the rest of the sentence. Compare: * I will phone you if I have time. * If I have time, I will phone you. Leaving out If In a formal or literary style if can be dropped and an auxiliary verb put before the subject. This is common with had, should and were. * Were I you I would accept the offer. (= If I were you I would accept the offer.) Zero Conditional Here we use a simple present in both clauses. * If you give respect, you get respect. * If you heat ice, it melts. * If I am late, my father takes me to school. * If he comes to town, we have dinner together. The Zero Conditional is used to talk about situations that are always true if something happens. They are also used to talk about general truths. In most cases, it is possible to replace a zero conditional by a time clause using when. * When you heat ice, it melts. * When I am late, my father takes me to school. * When he comes to town, we have dinner together. * When you give respect, you get respect. The Type 1 Conditional Here we use a simple present in the if-clause and a simple future in the result clause. * If you want, I will talk to him. * If I see her, I will give her your love. * If you finish on time, we will go to the movies. * If it rains, the match will be cancelled. * You will be late if you don't hurry up. The Type 1 conditional refers to the present or future time. Here the situation is real and possible. It is used to talk about a possible condition and its probable result. The Type 1 Conditional - Alternate forms Future in both clauses Sometimes we use a future tense in both clauses. This is particularly common in polite requests. * If you will marry me, I will love you forever. (More polite than 'If you marry me�') * If you will wait for me, I will come with you. * If you will help us, we will be g rateful. Here will means ' is/are willing to'. In more polite requests we can use would. * If you would help us, we will be extremely grateful. * If you would come this way, I will take you to the theatre. Going to in result clause Going to often replaces will in the type 1 conditional. This is done to emphasize a certain result. * If you skip your classes, you are going to fail. * If you don't mend your ways, you are going to land in trouble. Going to can be used in the if-clause to mean 'intend to'. * If you are going to skip school, you certainly won't pass your exams. Present perfect in if-clause Sometimes we use a present perfect, instead of a simple present, in the if-clause. This is to put an extra focus on the completion of an action. Compare: * We will go to the movies if you have finished your work. (There is a focus on the completion of the action.) * We will go to the movies if you finish your work. (There is no focus on the completion of the action.) Should in if-clause Should is sometimes used in the if-clause to imply that something is possible, but not very likely. * If he should arrive, we will invite him along to dinner. (He will probably not come. But if he comes, we will invite him to dinner.) This use of should in the type 1 conditional is stronger than the type 2 conditional in which an imaginary or unreal situation is presented. Compare: * If he arrives, we will invite him along to dinner. (Type 1 conditional - He is likely to come. And if he comes we will invite him to dinner.) * If he arrived, we would invite him to dinner. (Type 2 conditional - I am sure he will not come.) * If he studied, he would pass the exam. (Type 2 Conditional - I am sure the student will not pass.) * If he studies, he will pass the exam. (Type 1 conditional - He will probably study. And if he does he will pass.) * If he should study, he will pass the exam. (Type 1 conditional with should - The student will probably not study. But if he does he will pass.) Happen to/ should happen to We sometimes use happen to or should happen to in If- clauses. It suggests that something is unlikely, but if it happens, something else will happen. * If they happen to come to town, we will meet them. (= They are unlikely to come. But if they come, we will meet them.) Should happen to has a similar meaning. * If he should happen to get stuck in that town, he will be able to find a good hotel. Modals in result clauses We can use modals in result clauses to talk about future possibilities, permission and advice. * If you finish your work, you can go out and play. * You should see a doctor if you continue to feel bad. * If I arrive early, I might give him a call. Provided (that), as long as Provided that and as long as can be used instead of if to say that a particular condition must be met in order for something to happen. * Provided (that) he finishes his studies, he will find an excellent job. * (= If he finishes his studies, he will find an excellent job.) As long as you pay off the loan, the house will be yours at the end of this year. (= If you pay off the loan, the house will be yours at the end of this year.) The Type 2 Conditional Here we use a simple past in the if-clause and would + infinitive (bare form of the verb) in the result clause. * If you asked, they would help you. * If it rained, you would get wet. * If you loved her, she would love you. * If he studied more, he would pass the exam. The type 2 conditional refers to present and future situations. It is used to talk about unreal - impossible, improbable or imaginary - situations. It refers to an unlikely or hypothetical condition and its probable result. Type 1 or type 2 - What to use? Real and imaginary situations The type 1 conditional is often called the real conditional. It is used for real and possible situations. The type 2 conditional is used for unreal - impossible, improbable or imaginary - situations. Compare: * If I become the President, I will give free electricity to farmers. (Said by a candidate, who may win the election - Type 1) * If I became the President, I would give free electricity to farmers. (Said by a child - Type 2) Direct requests and suggestions In direct request or suggestions we use type 1 conditional. To make a request or suggestion more polite, we use type 2 conditional. Compare: * It will be nice if you help me. (direct request - Type 1) * It would be nice if you helped me. (less direct, more polite request - Type 2) The Type 2 Conditional - Alternate forms Modals in the result clause We can use could in the result clause to mean would be able to. * If you were more serious about your work, you could finish it in time. (= You would be able to finish it in time.) * If I had more money, I could buy a new car. (= I would be able to buy a new car.) * If you spoke a foreign language, you could get a better job. (= You would be able to get a better job.) Might can be used in the result clause to mean would perhaps or would possibly. * If you requested them more politely, they might help you. (= They would perhaps help you.) Were to If can be followed by 'subject + were to' to suggest that we are talking about an imaginary condition. * If you were to lose your job, what would you do? * If you were to win, what would you give me? If it were not for This structure is used to say that one event depends on another for completion. * If it weren't for his dedication, this company wouldn't exist. * If it weren't for your timely help, I wouldn't be alive today. * If it weren't for his wife's money, he wouldn't be a millionaire. Supposing Supposing is used in place of if to emphasize the imaginary. It is more commonly used in everyday speech. * Supposing he came to visit you, what would you do? (= If he came to visit you, what would you do?) The Type 3 Conditi onal - Alternate forms Here we use a past perfect in the if-clause and would have + past participle in the result clause. * If I had won that award, my life would have changed. * If she had studied science, she would have found a better job. The Type 3 Conditional is used to talk about past situations that did not happen. * If you had invited them they would have come. (You did not invite them and therefore they did not come.) * If you had worked harder you would have passed the exam. (You did not work hard and therefore you did not pass.) Modals in result clauses Could have, might have, should have etc., can be used in place of would have. * If he had known, he could have helped you. * You might have finished the assignment on time, if you had planned more carefully. * If you hadn't prepared, you should have told the professor. The Mixed Conditional There are two types of mixed conditional sentences. One of them states the present result of a past condition and the other state the past result of a present or continuing condition. Present result of a past condition Here we use a past perfect in the if-clause and would + infinitive in the main clause. * If I had accepted that job I would be a millionaire now. * If I had married him I would live happy now. In these sentences the time is past in the If-clause and present in the main clause. They refer to an unreal past condition and its probable result in the present. Past result of a present or continuing condition Here we use a simple past in the If clause and would have + past participle in the main clause. * If I didn't love him I wouldn't have married him. (= I love him and that is why I married him.) * If I were invited I would have come. (= I was not invited. Therefore I did not go) They refer to an unreal present situation and its probable (but unreal) past result. If Clause Type I if + Simple Present, will-Future Type I indicates what will happen, provided that a certain situation is given. Examples: If you send your order by fax, we will deliver the goods immediately. If you invite me for lunch, I will help you with your presentation. If Clause Type II if + Simple Past, would + infinitive Type II indicates what could happen if a present situation were different. Examples: If we had more employees, we would work more efficiently. If we delivered poor quality, we would not be the leading company in our business. If Clause Type III if + Past Perfect, would + have + past participle Type III indicates what could have happened in the past if a situation had been different then. Examples: If you had read the paper, you would have seen the advertisement. If I had taken the bus, I would have been late. There are four main types of if sentences in English, often called conditional sentences. These sentences are in two halves, with the if part in one half and the other part where you can use words such as can, will, may, might, could and would. If + present form + present form "If you heat ice, it melts." In this type of sentence, you could use when instead of if. It's always true that when you heat ice it melts. This is why this type of sentence is sometimes called a zero conditional. If + present form, + will, can or may "If I am late, I will call you." "If you need me, you can call me at home." "If it gets any hotter, we may have a thunder storm." In these sentences (or first conditional sentences), there is a strong possibility that the first part (coming after if) is going to happen. The second part says what will happen as a result. If + past form + would, could or might "If I got a pay rise, I would buy a new car." "If you left your job, you could travel around the world." "If you were nicer to ______, she might ______ you the ______." In these sentences, the first part with if shows that the event is unlikely to happen. In English, we often use this type of sentence (called a second conditional) to talk about hypotheses, or imaginary future events. Note: in American English, it is correct to use "if I were�" In British English, it's more common to say "if I was�" If + past perfect + would/might/could have done "If I had ______, I would have ______ my ______." "If we had gone out earlier, we might have got to the cinema on time." "If you had told me there was a problem, I could have helped." In these sentences (or third conditional sentences), the first part of the sentence with if didn't happen. So there is no possibility of the second part of the sentence happening. I didn't revise, so I didn't pass my exams and there is nothing I can do about it now. English speakers use this type of sentence to show how things could have been different. Conditional Sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If Clauses. They are used to express that the action in the main clause (without if) can only take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if) is fulfilled. There are three types of Conditional Sentences. Conditional Sentence Type 1 → It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled. Form: if + Simple Present, will-Future Example: If I find her address, I�ll send her an invitation. more on Conditional Sentences Type I ► Conditional Sentence Type 2 → It is possible but very unlikely, that the condition will be fulfilled. Form: if + Simple Past, Conditional I (= would + Infinitive) Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation. more on Conditional Sentences Type II ► Conditional Sentence Type 3 → It is impossible that the condition will be fulfilled because it refers to the past. Form: if + Past Perfect, Conditional II (= would + have + Past Participle) Example: If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation. If you had only 24 hours to live, what would you do? If a classmate asked you for the answer to a question during an exam while the teacher was not looking, what would you do? If someone's underwear was showing, would you tell them? If the whole world were listening, what would you say? If one song were to describe your life, what song would it be? If you bumped your car into another car, but nobody saw you do it, would you leave your name and address? If you could ask God any one question, what would it be? If you could be a bird, what would you choose to be? If you could be a plant, what would you choose to be? If you could be a super-hero, which one would you be? If you could be an animal, any animal, what animal would you be and why? If you could be an animal, what would you be? If you could be an animal, what would you choose to be? If you could be another man or woman for a day, who would you choose? If you could be another person for a day, who would you be? If you could be invisible for a day what would you do and why? If you could change one thing about your spouse or significant other, what would it be? If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be? If you could choose how you were going to die, what would you choose your death to be? If you could choose to live on a different planet, which one would you choose? If you could commit any crime and get away with it, what would you do? If you could date a celebrity, who would you choose? If you could have only one food for the rest of your life (assuming that this strange situation would not affect your health), which food would you choose? If you could hear what someone is thinking for a day, who would you choose? If you could live anywhere, where would you live? If you could meet any famous person, dead or alive, who would it be and why? If you could speak any other language (besides English) which language would you like to speak? If you could spend a day with any celebrity, who would it be and what questions would you ask that person? If you could take a vacation anywhere in the world for any length of time, where would you go? if you could go anywhere in the world for a holiday, where would you go? If you could travel back in time, where would you go? If you didn't have enough money to get the bus home what would you do? If you discovered a new island, what would you name it and why? If you got arrested for murder, whom would you call with your telephone call from prison? And why? If you had an accident and you had to be at home to recover for a long time, what would you do to relieve the boredom? What would you do if you were at home at night, alone, and you heard a noise in your flat/house that seemed to be footsteps? Would you stay calm or would you panic? What would you do if you found the wallet of your next-door neighbor who you hated? If you could have any car you wanted, which car would you choose? Would it be practical or flashy? If your car broke down on the motorway, what would you do? Would you try to fix it yourself? If you could solve the problem of hunger in the third world or repair the ozone, which would you do? If you could stop a bad habit that you have, what would you stop? If you could go back to any moment in history, where would you go? If you could be famous (a household name), what would you like to be famous for? If you were on holiday and you lost your passport, would you know what to do? If you were offered a job in another part of the country, would you be willing to take the job, assuming that the pay is very good? If your partner were offered a job in another part of the country, which was well paid, would you be willing to change places? If you were in the bank and somebody started to hold up the bank, what would you do? How would you react?If you had one wish, what would you wish for? If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, which song would you choose? If only one book existed, which book would you like it to be? If you could do any job, what would you like to do? If you could move anywhere, where would you like to live? If you found a suitcase full of $1,000,000, what would you do? If you found a wallet with �1,000 in it, what would you do? If you had 25-hour days (while everyone else continued to have 24-hour days), what would you do with the extra time? If you had one wish, what would it be? If you had the opportunity to be different, what would you change? If you had time machine, where would you go and why? If you had to choose between a wonderful romantic relationship that would end after only a year, or so-so relationship that would last your entire life, which one would you choose? If you had to choose between love and no money or money and no love for the rest of your life, which would you choose? If you had to choose, would you give up your sight or your hearing? If you received lottery tickets as a gift at the office party, and you won $30,000.00, would you share the winnings with the person that gave you the gift? If you saw a robbery, would you report it? If you saw your zipper was down and people had noticed, what would you do? If you speak two languages and your spouse (husband or wife) speaks only one, will you raise your children to be bilingual? If you were a candy, what candy would you be? If you were a monster, what monster would you be? If you were a toy, what toy would you be? If you were abducted by aliens, would you tell anybody? Why or why not? If you were American/Chinese/Mexican, how would your life be different? If you were asked to choose which time you would like to live in, which century would you choose? If you were asked to speak to a graduating class, what would you say? If you were given a chance to go to the moon, would you go? Why or why not? If you were given a choice between being given great wisdom or great wealth, which would you choose? If you were given an opportunity to be born again, in which country would you like to be born? If you were given an opportunity to be born again, what kind of person would you choose to be? If you were given one million dollars, what would you buy? If you were given the opportunity to be born again, how would you change how you lived? If you were given the opportunity to mold your partner the way you wanted, how would you mold your partner? If you were given three wishes, what would you wish for? If you were God, how would you transmit or let people know your message? If you were going to a deserted island and could only take three things with you, what would you take? Why? If you were marooned on a desert island with one other person how would you survive? If you were invited to have tea with the Queen of England, what would say? if you were the leader of your country, what would you change? If you were the President, what problem or concern would you work on first? If you were to be stranded on an island, which three things would you bring with you? If you were told that you were going to die tomorrow, what would you do today? If you were walking through the forest and you suddenly saw a tiger, what would you do? If you woke up suddenly because your house was on fire, which three things would you save as you ran outside? If you worked for a store and you saw another employee steal something, would you tell the manager? If your friend could not have a child, would you carry her child for her? If you saw someone in public with toilet paper stuck to their shoe, would you tell them? If you could change one thing that you did that was bad,perhaps a crime or some wrong you did to another person,what would it be? What kinds of problems would you have if you had to always tell the truth? You were told you had a terminal illness and had six months to live. What three things would be most important for you to do? Your doctor has just told you that you have a month to live, what would you do in that stretch of time? If your doctor told you that you had only one month to live, how would you use the time left? What if you have to sacrifice yourself for the sake of saving your mother? What would you do? If you could live perfectly well without sleeping, if you had no need to sleep at all, how would you spend all your nights? If you could be married with a foreign (man/woman), how do you think your life would change? If you had a chance to choose a poor (man/woman) as a (husband/wife) from your culture or a rich (man/woman) from another culture, which would you choose? If you got into traffic accident, what would you do at first? If you could be God, what would you do for humanity? If you could receive praise from a person, what person would it be? What kind of praise would you like to receive? If you were a color, what color would you be and why? If you could be a crayon, What color and Why? If you were a fruit, what fruit would you be and why? If you had time machine and you could be transported to any time, the past or the future. What time would you choose? If you could ask an All-Knowing Being one question about life, what would it be? If you could have dinner with anyone (dead OR alive), who would you choose, and why? If you could live forever on earth as it is now, would you? Why or why not? If you could have a free chip put in your brain so that you would automatically be able to speak and understand another language besides English, which language would it be and why? If you had to spend 100 days on a desert island, what five things would you take with you and why? If you were down on your luck, would you seek the advice of a palm reader, You can ask current event questions using this pattern. However, depending on the class, you need to be careful about what kind of questions you ask. What would you do if you lost your bathing suit while you were swimming? Imagine you woke up one morning to find you had switched bodies with someone you know. What would you do? If you could have any one supernatural power (flying, being invisible), which would you choose and why? If you could say a sentence which the whole world could hear, what would you say? If you were a loin would you like to eat a man? If you could choose to live anywhere in the world where would you prefer to live? If your spouse cheated on you, what would you do? If you were given a choice to live as long as you want, how long would you like to live? If we could live for 300 years, what would the life be like? [If / When ... Simple Present ..., ... Simple Present ...] The Present Real Conditional is used to talk about what you normally do in real-life situations. Examples: Both "if" and "when" are used in the Present Real Conditional. Using "if" suggests that something happens less frequently. Using "when" suggests that something happens regularly. I would read more if I didn't watch so much TV. Only the word "if" is used with the Present Unreal Conditional because you are discussing imaginary situations. "When" cannot be used. EXCEPTION Conditional with Modal Verbs There are some special conditional forms for modal verbs in English: would + can = could would + shall = should would + may = might The words "can," "shall" and "may" cannot be used with "would." Instead, they must be used in these special forms. The words "could," should," "might" and "ought to" include conditional, so you cannot combine them with "would." Examples: * If I had more time, I would could exercise after work. Not Correct * If I had more time, I could exercise after work. Correct If you promise to do it, I'll help you. If she calls me, tell her to leave a message. If Jane were here, she'd know what to do. If he had studied, he'd have passed. If I were you, I wouldn't do it. IF AND THE CONDITIONAL There are four main types of 'if' sentences in English: 1. The 'zero' conditional, where the tense in both parts of the sentence is the simple present:
In these sentences, the time is now or always and the situation is real and possible. They are often used to refer to general truths. 2. The Type 1 conditional, where the tense in the 'if clause is the simple present, and the tense in the main clause is the simple future
In these sentences, the time is the present or future and the situation is real. They refer to a possible condition and its probable result. 3. The Type 2 conditional, where the tense in the 'if' clause is the simple past, and the tense in the main clause is the present conditional:
In these sentences, the time is now or any time, and the situation is unreal. They are not based on fact, and they refer to an unlikely or hypothetical condition and its probable result. 4. The Type 3 conditional, where the tense in the 'if' clause is the past perfect, and the tense in the main clause is the perfect conditional:
In these sentences, the time is past, and the situation is contrary to reality. The facts they are based on are the opposite of what is expressed, and they refer to an unreal past condition and its probable past result. A further type if 'if' sentence exists, where Type 2 and Type 3 are mixed. The tense in the 'if' clause is the past perfect, and the tense in the main clause is the present conditional:
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