Conditional Sentences &

Conditional Conjunctions

What is a Conditional Sentence?

A conditional sentence is a sentence that denotes a
condition. Like, “If you want to succeed, work hard.” Conditionals If-Clause/ Principal Clause
0th (zeroth) Present Present Indefinite
In the sentence above, you can see that it expresses a Indefinite (V1) (V1)
condition for succeeding. 1st Present Future Indefinite
And what is that condition? Yes, it’s working hard. Indefinite (V1) (Will + V1)
2nd Past Indefinite Would + V1
(V2)
Structure of a Conditional Sentence:
3rd Past perfect (had Would have + V3
All the conditional sentences have two clauses –
+ V3)
i. The principal clause.
ii. A subordinate clause (the If-clause),
Zeroth Conditional Sentences:
E.g. – 0th conditional sentences express general truths. It
• If I had an extra umbrella, I would lend it to means if one thing happen, the other thing also
you. happens as a result of the first.
In the sentence above, the first part “If I had an extra
Look at the following examples –
umbrella” is the subordinate clause, while the
second part “I would lend it to you” is the principal
• If you boil water to 100°C, it gets vapoured.
clause. • If I don’t drink water, my body becomes
dehydrated.
Moreover, both the clauses are joined by a • If you cut the branches of a tree, they grow again.
conjunction called conditional conjunction. In the • If we don’t make noise, our teachers don’t
above instance, the conjunction is If. scold us.
• The price increases, if the demand increases.
What are Conditional Conjunctions?
Conditional conjunctions are the conjunctions used to Syntax:
join two clauses to form a conditional sentence. The We have learnt that the verb of the principal clause is
most commonly used conditional conjunction usually in future tense. But, to express habitual action
is If. However, there are many of them, such and result, the verb of the principal clause is used in
as, unless, until since, lest etc. other than that. present tense.

1st Conditional Sentences:

Types of Conditional Sentences: The 1st Conditional Sentences express possible /
How many types of conditional sentences are there? realistic imaginations in the future.
There are mainly 4 types of conditional sentences. E.g. – If she comes, John will tell her everything.

Zero 1st 2nd 3rd Syntax:

Conditional Conditional Conditional Conditional If clause with a verb in present tense. And the main
Expresses Expresses Expresses Expresses clause with a verb in the future (shall/will + V1).
general realistic Unrealistic Unrealistic
truth imaginations imaginations imaginations
in the future. in the future. in the past. If + subject + verb (present tense) + object + , +
subject 2 + will/shall + verb + object.

Let’s explain one by one – More examples –

• If it rains, I’ll use an umbrella.
• I shall not buy you chocolates if you don’t listen
to me.
2nd Conditional Sentences:
The 2nd Conditional Sentences express impossible
unrealistic imagination in the future.
E.g. – If I had a pen I would give it to you
Structure –
If + subject + Verb 2 + object + , + subject + would +
verb 1 + object.
Remember this conditional sentence expresses
unrealistic imagination of the future, though the past
form of the verb (verb 2) is used in the if-clause.
Other examples –
• If I won a lottery, I would buy a new car.
• If John worked hard, he would pass the exam.
• If we played the first round well, we would
qualify for the final.
• If the man got the job, he would be very
happy.
Exception:
Sometimes, 2nd conditional also express unrealistic
imagination of the present.
For this, the subordinate clause starts with some
phrases like if only, as though, as if, I
wish ('if' too) etc. is followed by (subject +
V2) or (subject + were), then the verb used in the
main clause, should be in the past.
E.g. –
• Her father talks as though he knew everything.
If you analyse the sentence above, you can find that
the subordinate clause is starting with 'as though' one
of the phrases.
And the verb used after the phrase, is un past (knew),
unlike the 2nd Conditional rule where would + V1 is
used.
Structures:
Main clause + one of the phrases + subject + verb 2 +
object.
Or,
One of the phrases + subject + verb 2 + object + Main
clause.
(Mainly these two structures are followed. There are
several variations of it.)
More examples:
• I wish I went to a hill-station.
• If I were a horse, I would run to my mother.
• She acts as if she were the president.
3rd Conditional Sentences:
3rd conditional sentences are used to express that the
present circumstances would have been different if
something different had happened in the past.
For example–
• If you had worked hard, you would have
succeeded.
The sentence states a condition that if someone had
worked hard, he would have succeeded. But in reality
he did not do that and so he didn’t succeed.
More such examples are as follows. –
• If I had known the answer, I would have told you.
(But I didn’t know the answer.)
• If she had been present here, she would have
helped us. (But she was not present there).
• His father would have been upset if he had found
you there. (But his father didn’t find him there.)
Exception:
When the verb of the main clause is in past
use subject + had + V3 after if, if only, as if, as
though, I wish, we wish etc.
For example,
• The man talked as if he had known everything.
In the sentence above you can see that the verb used
in the main clause, in in past tense (talked). For this
reason, the verb of the subordinate clause is in past
perfect.
Other examples:
• She acted as though she had drunk.
• I wish, I had been a bird.
• If I had been the president, I put all of them
behind bars.
Inversions of the 3rd conditional
sentences:
Now here comes tricky part. We, as students, are
often confused when they come across sentences
starting with auxiliary verbs like had, were etc.
Actually they all are 3rd conditional sentences with
inversions of the structures.
Let's look at the table below and see how they are
inverted.
3rd Conditional Its Inversions
Structures
If + subject + had + V3, Had + subject + V3, ...
...
If + subject + had been + Had + subject + been +
object object
If + subject + were + Were + subject + object
object.

Examples:
• If I were the President – Were I the president.
• If you were I – Were you I.
• If I had been a bird – Had I been a bird.
Conditional conjunctions:
Conditional conjunctions are the conjunctions used to
join two clauses to form a conditional sentence. The
most commonly used conditional conjunction
is If. However, there are many of them, such
as, unless, until since, lest etc. other than that.
We can divide them into two
- affirmative and negative.
Affirmative conditional conjunctions include if, since,
only if, when etc., while the negative conditional
conjunctions include until, unless (if + not), lest and
so on.
Use of some Conditional Conjunctions:
If:
Meaning: In case
Sentences:
• If you practise well, you can perform well.
• I will go to the college if I can afford it.
• If she has come tell her to take her book.
If only:
Meaning: Never except when...
Sentences:
• I would have cleared the exam if only I had
studied smartly.
• If only you listened to my words, you would
perform well.
• She will come here again if only you ask her
to come
Only if:
Meaning: Never except when...
Sentences:
• Call me only if you face difficulties solving
this math problem.
• Only if you came here, you would see what
was going on.
• The people will raise their voices only if their
personal interests are involved.
Even if:
Meaning: Despite of anything to the contrary.
Sentences:
• Even if john doesn’t join us, we’ll still visit
that place.
• She gives her best even if the most difficult
task is assigned to her.
• Even if you apologise, I won’t talk to you.
Unless:
Meaning: Unless = If + not
Sentences:
Unless you work hard, you won’t get success.
Unless you work hard = If you don’t work hard.
• I won’t give you chocolates unless you finish
your homework.
• Emma will not stay here unless she gets a
room of her choice.
Until:
Meaning: Up to, before the time.
Sentences:
• We shall wait until the train arrives.
• Sleep until it gets light.
• We don’t know what is good until we lose it.
Lest:
Meaning: In order to prevent, for fear that.
Sentences:
• He tiptoed lest his mother should hear her.
• I ran fast lest I should be caught.
• Dayna hurried lest she should be late again.
• Lest I forget I note everything taught in the
class.
Whether:
Meaning: Expressing doubt or choice between
alternatives.
Sentences:
• She spent all her money on her car whether it
was smart or not.
• I doubt whether John will pass or not.
• I will go to the party whether you like it or
not.
Once:
Meaning: As soon as / when
Sentences:
• Once it stops raining, you will go out to play.
• I will put off my hills once I reach home.
• We will go for a trip once my examination is
over.
After:
Meaning: In the following period o time.
Sentences:
• We all went home after the match had been
finished.
• Bella would start reading the news paper after
she finished her breakfast.
• The soldiers began to march after the sun
rose.
Since:
Meaning: On account of / for the reason that
Sentences:
• Since you’re my friend, I shall not leave you
in adversity.
• You have to stay home since its raining.
• Since it's Sunday our school will remain
closed.
As:
Meaning: on account of / for the reason that.
Sentences:
• As you didn’t repay your previous loan, you
won’t get another.
• Hardly anybody could see the old man as he
was sitting in the darkest corner of the room.
• As she was ill she could not attend the
meeting.
Yet:
Meaning: in spite of it
Sentences:
• Emma waited for you so long, yet you call her
selfish.
• She was cheated, yet she loves him as before.
• I could not go out of the room all the day, yet
I had a very good time alone.
Because :
Meaning: On account of / for the reason that
Sentences:
• Because the employee worked very hard for
the company, she was promoted.
• Jack could not come last Sunday because he
was not well.
• Because he accused of murdering someone,
he was arrested.
But for:
Meaning: without
Sentences:
• You would have been be ruined but for your
brother’s help.
• But for your notes I would fail.
• But for her advice I would not get the job.
Therefore:
Meaning: Consequently
Sentences:
• You did not attend the class, therefore you
could not understand this chapter.
• It was raining in the afternoon therefore we
could not play.
• She contributed a lot in the field of
Radioactivity therefore she was honoured
with Nobel Prize.
Provided:
Meaning: On condition that
Sentences:
• I shall go provided I can wear what I like.
• You will get the job provided You will work
honestly.
• She will lead you provided you will be
respectful to her.
Providing:
Meaning: On condition that / only if
Sentences:
• We will take you in our team providing you
will respect the captain.
• It is easier to get good marks on a short
answer, providing you do it well.
• People have every right to lead their lives in a
way they want, providing they ate not hurting
someone else.
Given that:
Meaning: Although / assuming that
Sentences:
• John didn't selected for the post given that
(although) he was preparing hard for that.
• You can get the loan, given that you can
repay it within six months.