07/10/2021

Conditional
Sentences
English as a second language

Conditional sentences

Conditional clause Main clause

Clause showing a condition Clause showing a result
necessary for something to because of the condition
happen

If Sub +V …………………… Sub +V ……………………

If you try, you will be able to overcome this.

Sub +V …………………… if Sub +V ……………………
You will be able to overcome this if you try.

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Some subordinators which introduce conditional

clauses
• if
• Unless = if ..not
• In case: to express the condition that has little chance of
happening
In case there is a fire emergency, employees should use the stairs to exit
the building.
• In the event: the same as “in case” used in formal documents.
In the event that the president dies in office, the vice-president will
replace him.

Types of Conditional sentences

Conditions indicated in different conditional sentences are

different in terms of the possibility of happening.

Zero First Second Third

Conditional Conditional Conditional Conditional

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Zero Conditional

 Function and meaning

 Form
Condition – Result
Present - Present
To show the physical law
If the condition is met, the result
is automatic.

 If you fly west, you gain time.

 If you raise the temperature of water to 100°C, it boils.

First Conditional

 Form  Function and meaning

Condition – Result To indicate plans for the future
based on various contingencies.
Present - will+ infinitive
may/ should

 If she passes, she will be in grade 10 next year.

 If she flunks, she will still be in grade 9 next year.
 If it should rain, I’ll stay home.
 If it happens to rain, I’ll stay home.

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Second Conditional

 Form  Function and meaning

Condition – Result To express present counterfactual
condition or imaginative present.
Past - would+ infinitive

 If you had a million dollar, I would buy everything that I want

 If I had the wings of the angle, I would fly away.

Third Conditional

 Form  Function and meaning

Condition – Result To express past counterfactual
condition
Past Perfect- would have V-ed/en

 If Suzie had not been so lazy, she would have passed her
exam. (she was lazy and did not pass it.)
 If I had not come earlier, I would not have been able to help
Sue. (I came early, and I helped Sue.)

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There are other conditional sentences which do not follow the

rules mentioned before.

If someone is at the door, it must be Melissa.

Function: Inference
Conditional clause is used as the basis for making inference

Modal used:
• Must – when the speaker is certain about the
inference
• Should –when the inference is logical