Second VS Third

Conditional
Sentence
 Conditional Sentence
Structure :
A conditional sentence is composed of 2 parts :
If-clause + Main Clause
Example :
If it rains tomorrow, we will not come.
If Clause Main Clause

* The order of the two clauses is flexible, it’s not important. But if
the if-clause comes first, it must be followed by a comma.
Second Conditional Sentence
FUNCTION

To talk about imaginary

situation that could happen
now or in the future. The
meaning of the sentence is
the present, not the past.
Usually these are unlikely
situation although sometimes
there is a chance that they
could happen.
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Second Conditional Patterns
IF + S + V2, S + would + V1

Examples :

If I had $200,000 now, I would buy a car.

(Meaning : I don’t have that much money now)
If he were a bird, he would fly across the harbor.
(Meaning : he isn’t a bird, he can’t fly across the harbor)

Were is often used

instead of was in the 1st
and 3rd person singular
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Third Conditional Sentence
FUNCTION

To talk about the past. It is

often used for regret and
wishes in the past.
Usually it is about what we
wanted something to be
different.

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Third Conditional Patterns
IF + S + had +V3, S + would+ have + V3

Examples :

If they had gone by bus, they would have arrived

much later.
(Meaning: They didn’t go by bus)

He would have travelled around the world if he had

had more money.
(Meaning : he didn’t have the money)
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Practice
Guess the type of conditional sentence and complete the blank with the correct form.
2nd
were
1. If I ____ (be) four years old, I would learn to play the piano. conditional

2. If I had not failed in the examination, my mother_______________

would have bought
3rd
(buy) me a new computer. conditional
2nd
3. If I found 100 in the street, I ____
would ____
keep (keep) it. conditional 3rd
conditional
4. We would have finished if we________
had had (have) better preparation.

5. If she _______________
had not worn (not wear) her helmet, she might have been
3rd
seriously injured. conditional
spoke
6. If he ______ (speak) clearly, people would understand him. 2nd
conditional