Level: Advanced

Grammar Activity
Study Practice
Unit 1:
Conditional Sentences
Explanation: Conditional sentences are composed of two clauses; the first clause is the main
(conditional) clause that possesses a verb in a form with will or would, and the second clause is a
subordinate clause that begins with if. We can describe the outcome of a certain condition by
using conditionals. For instance, the condition is stated by the if clause, and the result is told by
the main clause. Look at the below example;

If-clause states the condition The main clause tells us the result
If you work hard, you will pass your examinations.
If Ahmad eats healthy foods, he will become healthy.

We can change the position of the if clause with the main clause without bringing any changes to
its meaning. However, one punctuation rule should be followed; when we use if-clause at the
start of a sentence, it is followed by a comma. However, when we start the sentence with the
main clause, it is not followed by a comma. For example;
If you water the flowers on time in the spring, they will bloom.
The flowers will bloom if you water them on time in the spring.
Types of Conditional Sentences: Conditional sentences are often divided into four types, such
as zero, one, two, and three. Let us begin studying the zero types.

Zero Conditional: Zero conditional is typically taken to speak about things that are generally
true; in particular laws and rules. The structure for this type is as follows:
If clause Conditional Clause
If/when+present tense Present tense
Ex: If John drinks too much coffee, he cannot sleep at night.

As mentioned above, one can change the position of if-clause with the conditional clause without
causing any change to the meaning of the sentences.

Conditional Clause If clause

Present tense If/when+present tense
Ex: John cannot sleep at night if he drinks too much coffee.

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Some further examples;
If you tickle a cat under its chin, most of them purrs.
You have to go to the Walmart superstore if you want to find everything on Saturdays.
If you heat ice, it melts.
It gets dark when (if) the sun sets.
When the sun arises, everywhere gets bright and warm.
Type 1: Conditional type one is mostly used when we speak of real or possible situations in the
future. The structure is as follows:
If clause Conditional Clause
If+present tense Future tense
Ex: If it gets colder today, my dad will turn on the heating.

Some further examples include the following:

My family will go to the beach if it does rain on Saturday.
If I finish my homework soon today, I will take you to the mosque.
If spring comes this year, I will sing songs for my beloved wife.
If God gives me the talent of writing poetry, I will recite lovely poems for nature.
The world will become full of peace, beauty, and kindness if all people love one another.
We often use conditional type one to express some aspect of persuasion like cajoling and
negotiation as well as for warning others and threatening. For instance;
I will take my children to their grandfather’s home if my wife picks them up from school
earlier today. (Persuasion)
If you drive beyond the speed limit on local streets, the police will stop you and give you
a ticket. (Warning)
If you disrespect your teachers, I will not let you in at home. (Threat)
Type 2: Conditional type two is used when we want to talk about present or future situations that
are impossible or unlikely in reality. In other words, we use them to speculate about something
impossible or contrary to fact. It is also called a hypothetical clause. The structure is as follows:
If clause Conditional Clause
If+past tense Would+bare infinitive
Ex: If he invited me to the party, I will go there right away.

Some extra examples:

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 I would spend more time in her home if she did not annoy me so much.
If Ahmad were the president, he would recruit poets as his ministers in his government.
If I had money, I would invite my brothers to Canada.
If Sarah had a baby son, she would name him “Messiah”.
If we did not have to pay rent in Canada, we would not work too much.
I would cultivate flowers if I had a garden.
If I met Mawlana, I would enquire him about the secret to his poetic talent.
Type 3: Conditional type three is used when we want to speculate about past events and about
things that happened or did not happen which might have affected other things. We often use it to
express regret and reproach. The structure is as follows:
If clause Conditional Clause
If+past perfect Would+have+past participle
Ex: If I had not wasted my youth energy on I would have become a doctor.
idle activities,

Some extra examples:

If she had not accused me of stealing his money, I would have had more sympathy
towards her miseries.
John would never have had the injury on his head if he had not driven so fast.
If I had known how hard it was to find another job, I would not have left it.
Sarah would have gotten sick if it had snowed too much in her village.
If I had worked harder, I would have passed my driving test.
You have believed me if I had not lied to you.
I would have cooked a delicious meal if I had known you were coming. (But I did not
cook a meal because I did not know you were coming.)
Exercise 1: Please open the following links on your computers and let us do their practices on
conditional clauses.
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/b1-b2-grammar/conditionals-zero-first-
second#:~:text=Grammar%20explanation,you%20will%20pass%20your%20exams.
https://www.myenglishpages.com/english/grammar-exercise-conditionals-
2.php#google_vignette
https://www.kau.edu.sa/Files/0054376/Files/64604_Conditional%20Sentences.pdf

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https://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/if_clauses/mix3.htm

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Taken from English Grammar In Use by Raymond Murphy