Conditional Sentences

Grammarly

Grammarly

· Grammar

There are four types of conditional sentences.

It’s important to use the correct structure for each of these different conditional sentences because they
express varying meanings.

Pay attention to verb tense when using different conditional modes.

Use a comma after the if-clause when the if-clause precedes the main clause.

Conditional sentences are statements discussing known factors or hypothetical situations and their
consequences. Complete conditional sentences contain a conditional clause (often referred to as the if-
clause) and the consequence. Consider the following sentences:

If a certain condition is true, then a particular result happens.

I would travel around the world if I won the lottery.

When water reaches 100 degrees, it boils.

Your writing, at its best.

Be the best writer in the office.

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What Are the Different Types of Conditional Sentences? There are four different types of conditional
sentences in English. Each expresses a different degree of probability that a situation will occur or would
have occurred under certain circumstances.

Zero Conditional Sentences

First Conditional Sentences

Second Conditional Sentences

Third Conditional Sentences

Let’s look at each of these different types of conditional sentences in more detail.

How to Use Zero Conditional Sentences

Zero conditional sentences express general truths—situations in which one thing always causes another.
When you use a zero conditional, you’re talking about a general truth rather than a specific instance of
something. Consider the following examples:

If you don’t brush your teeth, you get cavities.

When people smoke cigarettes, their health suffers.

There are a couple of things to take note of in the above sentences in which the zero conditional is used.
First, when using the zero conditional, the correct tense to use in both clauses is the simple present
tense. A common mistake is to use the simple future tense.

When people smoke cigarettes, their health will suffer .

Secondly, notice that the words if and when can be used interchangeably in these zero conditional
sentences. This is because the outcome will always be the same, so it doesn’t matter “if” or “when” it
happens.

How to Use First Conditional Sentences

First conditional sentences are used to express situations in which the outcome is likely (but not
guaranteed) to happen in the future. Look at the examples below:

If you rest, you will feel better.

If you set your mind to a goal, you’ll eventually achieve it.

Note that we use the simple present tense in the if-clause and simple future tense in the main clause—
that is, the clause that expresses the likely outcome. This is how we indicate that under a certain
condition (as expressed in the if-clause), a specific result will likely happen in the future. Examine some
of the common mistakes people make using the first conditional structure:
If you will rest , you will feel better.

If you rest , you will feel better.

Explanation: Use the simple present tense in the if-clause.

If you set your mind to a goal, you eventually achieve it.

If you set your mind to a goal, you’ll eventually achieve it.

Explanation: Use the zero conditional (i.e., simple present + simple present) only when a certain result is
guaranteed. If the result is likely, use the first conditional (i.e., simple present + simple future).

How to Use Second Conditional Sentences

Second conditional sentences are useful for expressing outcomes that are completely unrealistic or will
not likely happen in the future. Consider the examples below:

If I inherited a billion dollars, I would travel to the moon.

If I owned a zoo, I might let people interact with the animals more.

Notice the correct way to structure second conditional sentences is to use the simple past tense in the if-
clause and an auxiliary modal verb (e.g., could, should, would, might) in the main clause (the one that
expresses the unrealistic or unlikely outcome). The following sentences illustrate a couple of the
common mistakes people make when using the second conditional:

If I inherit a billion dollars, I would travel to the moon.

If I inherited a billion dollars, I would travel to the moon.

Explanation: When applying the second conditional, use the simple past tense in the if-clause.

If I owned a zoo, I will let people interact with the animals more.

If I owned a zoo, I might let people interact with the animals more.

Explanation: Use a modal auxiliary verb in the main clause when using the second conditional mood to
express the unlikelihood that the result will actually happen.
How to Use Third Conditional Sentences

Third conditional sentences are used to explain that present circumstances would be different if
something different had happened in the past. Look at the following examples:

If you had told me you needed a ride, I would have left earlier.

If I had cleaned the house, I could have gone to the movies.

These sentences express a condition that was likely enough, but did not actually happen in the past. The
speaker in the first sentence was capable of leaving early, but did not. Along these same lines, the
speaker in the second sentence was capable of cleaning the house, but did not. These are all conditions
that were likely, but regrettably did not happen.

Note that when using the third conditional, we use the past perfect (i.e., had + past participle) in the if-
clause. The modal auxiliary (would, could, shoud, etc.) + have + past participle in the main clause
expresses the theoretical situation that could have happened.

Consider these common mistakes when applying the third conditional:

If you would have told me you needed a ride, I would have left earlier.

If you had told me you needed a ride, I would have left earlier.

Explanation: With third conditional sentences, do not use a modal auxiliary verb in the if-clause.

If I had cleaned the house, I could go to the movies.

If I had cleaned the house, I could have gone to the movies.

Explanation: The third conditional mood expresses a situation that could have only happened in the past
if a certain condition had been met. That’s why we use the modal auxiliary verb + have + the past
participle.

Exceptions and Special Cases When Using Conditional Sentences

As with most topics in the English language, conditional sentences often present special cases in which
unique rules must be applied.

Use of the Simple Future in the If-Clause

Generally speaking, the simple future should be used only in the main clause. One exception is when the
action in the if-clause will take place after the action in the main clause. For example, consider the
following sentence:

If aspirin will ease my headache, I will take a couple tonight.

The action in the if-clause is the aspirin easing the headache, which will take place only after the speaker
takes them later that night.

“Were to” in the If-Clause

The verb phrase were to is sometimes used in conditional sentences when the likely or unlikely result is
particularly awful or unthinkable. In this case, were to is used to place emphasis on this potential
outcome. Consider these sentences:

If I were to be sick, I would miss another day of work.

If she were to be late again, she would have to have a conference with the manager.

If the rent were to have been a penny more, they would not have been able to pay it.

Note that the emphatic “were to” can be used to describe hypothetical scenarios in the present, future,
and past.

Punctuating Conditional Sentences

Despite the complex nature of conditional sentences, punctuating them properly is really simple!

Here’s the skinny:

Use a comma after the if-clause when the if-clause precedes the main clause.

If I’d had time, I would have cleaned the house.

If the main clause precedes the if-clause, no punctuation is necessary.

I would have cleaned the house if I’d had time.

As a rule, conditional sentences in English consist of two parts – the main part and the if part (or the
conditional part).

These types of sentences are used to express possible or imaginary situations.

The order of these two parts of the sentence isn’t important.

When written, if the if part of the sentence comes first, a comma should be used to separate it from the
second part.

Type Zero Conditional Sentences (zero condition)

This type of conditional sentence is used to describe scientific facts, generally known truths, events and
other things that are always true.

I think it’s the simplest type of conditional sentence in English.

The structure of Type Zero conditional sentences:

Main part: Present Simple; if part: Present Simple

Examples:

Water boils if you heat it to 100 degrees Celsius.

A red light comes on if you press the main button.

In Type Zero sentences, if can be replaced by when.

Examples:

When you heat ice, it melts.

It gets dark when the sun goes down.

Type One Conditional Sentences (open condition)

This type of sentence expresses real and possible situations in the future; it is possible for the condition
to be met.

The structure of Type One conditional sentences:

Main part: will + infinitive; if part: Present Simple

Examples:

We will stay at home if it snows.

 She will get angry if I‘m late for the party.

If we get the money for this job, we will buy a new car.

Will you help Amanda if she asks you?

Type Two Conditional Sentences (half-open condition)

This type of conditional sentence describes an unreal situation with regard to the present or future; a
hypothetical condition that can only be fulfilled in theory.

The structure of Type Two conditional sentences:

Main part: would + infinitive; if part: Past Simple

In conditional sentences, the past tense form of the verb to be is were for all persons; was is also used,
although only in spoken or conversational English.

Examples:

We would stay at home if it snowed.

I would buy a new board if I had more money.

If he were rich, he‘d buy an island.

If you left now, you‘d catch the last bus.

Type two conditional sentences are also used when making polite requests.

Examples:
 I would be grateful if you helped me.

He would be so pleased if you came to the birthday party.

The phrases If I were you or If I were in your place are usually used to give advice.

Examples:

If I were you I would accept the offer.

If he were in your place he would do it.

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Type Three Conditional Sentences (closed condition)

Type three conditional sentences are used to express situations that cannot exist, such as actions or
events that happened in the past. They are often used to indicate a missed opportunity.

The structure of Type Three conditional sentences:

Main part: would + perfect infinite; if part: Past Perfect

Examples:

If you hadn’t been late for work, the boss wouldn’t have gotten furious.

They would have finished earlier if the meeting hadn’t been held so late.

If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a house by the sea.

Would you have helped me if I had asked you?

Mixed Conditionals

This type of conditional sentence uses (mixes) different parts of the above-mentioned conditional
sentence types.

There are a few combinations: the condition emphasizes the result of the action in the present in the
past tense, or the present-day condition emphasizes the result of the action in the past.

Examples:

If you had taught me how to make waffles (in the past), I wouldn’t have to buy them in a shop
(now).

I would buy a house by the sea (now or in the future) if I had won the lottery last week.

Their team would have scored more in the match yesterday if they were good players.

Important Grammatical Notes

If the modal verbs can/could, may/might or should are used in the main part of the sentence, they take
the place of will:
 We can go to the seaside if you have time tomorrow.

If you leave now, you may catch the last bus.

If you want to pass the exam, you should study much harder.

The words will and would are not usually used in the if part, except when they express willingness, for
example, in requests (that is, when they carry a modal meaning):

If you will phone the manager now, he will surely make an appointment with you. (willingness)

I would be very thankful if you would help me with my homework. (very polite request)

The word should in the if part can mean “if perhaps” or “by any chance.”

I would be very happy if he should turn up at the party. (He’s not at all likely to come, but perhaps…)

In negative sentences, if…not can be substituted with unless.

You won’t pass the exam unless you study very hard. (= if you don’t study very hard)

If can be omitted from the sentence if the word order is changed. This is sometimes done in Type Three
conditional sentences if the, if part is at the beginning of the sentence, or in Type Two sentences if the
verb were, is used:

Were I rich, I would buy a house by the sea. (= if I were rich)

Had your cousin come earlier, I would have shown her around the house. (= if she had come earlier)

What is a Conditional Sentence?

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.

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:

What will you do if you miss the train?

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

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

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 the second and third conditional. Let’s look at each conditional to see how we
use them.

The Zero Conditional

We use the zero conditional to talk about permanent truths, such as scientific facts, and general habits.
The structure is simple:
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.

The First Conditional

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:

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.

Another way to make first conditional sentences is to use ‘unless’ which means ‘only if’ or ‘except’. 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.

The Second Conditional

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

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.

The Third Conditional

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:

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 Conditionals
It’s possible to combine the second and third conditional in one sentence when we want to make a
hypothesis about the past that has a consequence in the present. In this case, the structure is:

Here are some examples:

If you’d studied harder, you’d be at a higher level now.

We’d be lying on a beach now if we hadn’t missed the plane.

They’d have much more confidence if they hadn’t lost so many matches.

What would you be doing now if you hadn’t decided to study?