A Conditional sentence is one in which one thing depends on another. They are used to make predictions or explore possibilities.

They are concerned with things that will might should or could happen.

If
Conditional sentences often contain the connective

if
or sometimes

unless providing/provided as long as when

Conditional sentences can also refer to imaginary situations - what might have been. I would help you if I could (but I cant). What would you do if you were in my place? If the weather had been sunny we could have gone to the beach.

Modal Verbs
Certain verbs are often used in conditional sentences. These verbs are called modal verbs. They are usually used with other verbs, not on their own.

must can may will shall

ought could might would should

Complete these sentences which contain modal verbs. I can help you if You should have We might go I wouldnt do You ought to eat She will be late...

Suggest endings for these conditional sentences.

If I always do my homework I should If my mum wins the lottery we might If I were Madonna I would If I were David Beckham I could...

Sometimes we daydream about the way our lives might turn out

If only... Do you think this excuse would get you off doing lines? If my mum hadnt crashed the car on her way home from work and been so shaken up that she forgot to feed the dog then the dog wouldnt have eaten my pencil and I would have been able to do my homework.

In Toms Midnight Garden Phillipa Pearce uses conditional sentences to show how Tom tries to make sense of what has happened.

Had it been a dream? Another possible explanation occurred to him:ghosts. That was what they could all have been: ghosts Indeed, if it were haunted at all, the hall was overhaunted. Ghosts Tom doubtfully put his hand up out of the bedclothes to see if his hair were standing on end. It was not.