4/10/23, 12:04 Conditional Sentences | Examples & Use

FAQ About us  Log in  Search

Proofreading & Editing  Plagiarism Checker Citation Tools  AI Writing  Knowledge Base

Home  Knowledge Base  Verbs  Conditional Sentences | Examples & Use

Search...  Conditional Sentences | Examples &

Use
Verbs Published on March 14, 2023 by Eoghan Ryan. Revised on September 11, 2023.

Overview
A conditional sentence refers to a hypothetical situation and its possible
Stative verbs
consequence.
Action verbs

Subject-verb agreement Conditional sentences always contain a subordinate clause that expresses a
condition (e.g., “If it snows tomorrow”) and a main clause indicating the outcome
+ Verb tenses
of this condition (e.g., “school will be canceled”).
Regular verb

Irregular verb There are four main types of conditionals in English, each of which expresses a

Transitive verb specific level of likelihood or possibility.

Intransitive verb

Linking verb

Auxiliary verb

Modal verb
4/10/23, 12:04 Conditional Sentences | Examples & Use

Subjunctive mood

Imperative mood

Conditional sentences

+ Participle

+ Phrasal verbs

Active vs. passive voice

+ Past tense of irregular verbs

Interesting topics
AMA style

Working with sources

IEEE

Commonly confused words  Table of contents

Commas
1. How to use conditional sentences
Definitions 2. Zero conditional sentences

3. First conditional sentences
4. Second conditional sentences

Try our other services 5. Third conditional sentences

6. Mixed conditional
7. Common mistake: Adding “would” to the “if” clause
Proofreading & Editing
8. Other interesting language articles
9. Frequently asked questions
AI Proofreader
4/10/23, 12:04 Conditional Sentences | Examples & Use

Plagiarism Checker How to use conditional sentences

Conditional sentences are used to describe a hypothetical scenario and the
Citation Generator
possible consequences of this scenario. All conditional sentences contain two

Paraphraser clauses:

A subordinate clause that describes an unreal condition (e.g., “If you train
more”)
A main clause that indicates the result of this hypothetical scenario (e.g.,
“you will become a better swimmer”)

The subordinate clause of a conditional sentence usually begins with the

conjunction “if.”

This is often paired with a “then” at the start of the second clause (e.g., “if you
want to go, then you should go”). However, including “then” is optional.

When the subordinate clause is used at the start of a sentence, it’s always
followed by a comma. If the main clause comes first, no comma is needed (and
“then” should not be included).

Examples: How to form conditional sentences

 If you ate healthier food, then you would have more energy.
 You would have more energy if you ate healthier food.

If you switch the order of conditional clauses, you may also need to switch the
order of the nouns and pronouns in the sentence.
4/10/23, 12:04 Conditional Sentences | Examples & Use

Examples: Conditional clause order

 If Tom had called earlier, he might have gotten an appointment.

 Tom might have gotten an appointment if he had called earlier.

Note

While most conditional sentences use the conjunction “if,” expressions such as
“provided that,” “so long as,” or “whether or not” can also be used to express a
condition (e.g., “So long as you fill the tank back up, you can borrow the car”).

Zero conditional sentences

The zero conditional is used to indicate general truths, scientific facts, or habits.
In zero conditional sentences, both the main clause and the conditional clause
are normally in the present simple tense.

Zero conditional sentences can also use “when” instead of “if,” because they
refer to general truths rather than specific scenarios.

Example: Zero conditional sentences

If you don’t eat, you become hungry.

When you melt ice, it turns to water.

4/10/23, 12:04 Conditional Sentences | Examples & Use

Zero conditionals can also be used to make a command or request or to give

advice or instructions. In these instances, the conditional clause is in the present
simple tense and the main clause is in the imperative mood.

Examples: Zero conditionals in the imperative mood

If you get lost, call me.

If you want to speak to a sales representative, dial “1.”

Note

While zero conditionals are most commonly formed using the present simple
tense, other tenses can also be used to express logical implications. These
sentences also count as zero conditionals (e.g., “If he was there on Thursday
evening, it has major implications for our investigation”).

First conditional sentences

First conditional sentences refer to a possible action in the present and its
realistic future consequence. Sentences using the first conditional contain two
clauses:

A subordinate clause with a verb in the present simple tense (e.g., “if you
eat”)
A main clause formed using a modal verb (usually “will,” “may,” “can,” or
“might”) along with the infinitive form of the main verb (e.g., “run”)
4/10/23, 12:04 Conditional Sentences | Examples & Use

Examples: First conditional sentences

If Laura sleeps any longer, she will miss the bus.

If you don’t practice guitar, then you won’t improve.

I can drive Nick to the airport if he needs a lift.

Tip

In first conditional sentences, “unless” can be used instead of “if” to create a

negative conditional statement (e.g., “You won’t improve unless you practice
guitar”).

Second conditional sentences

Second conditionals are used to refer to an improbable or impossible past or
present condition and its unlikely or unrealistic future consequence. Sentences
that use the second conditional contain two clauses:

A subordinate clause with a verb in the past subjunctive form (e.g.,

“looked”)
A main clause using a modal verb (usually “would,” “could,” or “might”)
along with the infinitive form of the main verb (e.g., “sing”)

Examples: Second conditional sentences

4/10/23, 12:04 Conditional Sentences | Examples & Use

If I were rich, then I would drive a different car every day.

If Bill talked less, he could finish more tasks.

Everyone would be unhappy if the flight were delayed.

Note

The past subjunctive form of the verb “be” is “were,” regardless of the subject
(e.g. “If I were you, I’d call in sick”). All other verbs in the past subjunctive are
identical to their past simple forms.

Third conditional sentences

Third conditional sentences are used to refer to an unreal past situation and its
past result. Sentences that use the third conditional contain two clauses:

A subordinate clause with a verb in the past perfect tense (e.g., “if I had
worked”)
A main clause using a modal verb (usually “would,” “could,” or “might”)
along with the auxiliary verb “have” and the past participle of the main verb

Examples: Third conditional sentences

If you hadn’t burned the pie, it would have tasted delicious.

If Sander had studied more, then he might have gotten a better grade.
4/10/23, 12:04 Conditional Sentences | Examples & Use

I would have labeled the files more clearly if I had known they were important.

Mixed conditional
Mixed conditional sentences use a combination of the second and third
conditionals. The first type of mixed conditional is used to refer to an unreal past
condition and its ongoing consequence. Sentences that use the first type of
mixed conditional contain two clauses:

A subordinate clause containing a verb in the past perfect tense (as in a

third conditional)
A main clause with a modal verb (usually “would”) and the infinitive form of
the main verb (as in a second conditional)

Examples: Type 1 mixed conditional sentences

If you had eaten your dinner, you wouldn’t be hungry.

You would know there was a meeting if you had read the email.

The second type of mixed conditional sentence is used to describe an unreal

past condition and its past consequence. It’s formed using:

A subordinate clause with a verb in the past subjunctive form (as in a

second conditional)
A main clause containing a modal verb (usually “would”) along with the
auxiliary verb “have” and the past participle of the main verb (as in a third
4/10/23, 12:04 Conditional Sentences | Examples & Use

conditional)

Examples: Type 2 mixed conditional sentences

If you paid attention in school, you would have learned more.

I would have invited you if I knew you were free.

Common mistake: Adding “would” to the “if”

clause
When using conditional sentences, people sometimes add the modal verb
“would” to the subordinate clause. While “would” is often used in the main clause
of second, third, or mixed conditional sentences, it’s wrong to add “would” to the
subordinate clause.

Instead, subordinate clauses in the second conditional always use the past
subjunctive form, while subordinate clauses in the third conditional always use
the past perfect form.

Examples: Modal verbs and conditionals

 If you would drive to work, you would arrive earlier.

 If you drove to work, you would arrive earlier.

 If he would have asked first, I might have agreed.

 If he had asked first, I might have agreed.
4/10/23, 12:04 Conditional Sentences | Examples & Use

Other interesting language articles

If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, common
mistakes, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out
some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

 Nouns &  Verbs  Other

pronouns
Verb tenses Articles
Common nouns Modal verbs Interjections
Proper nouns Auxiliary verbs Adjectives
Indefinite Subjunctive Determiners
pronouns mood Prepositions
Personal Imperative mood
pronouns
Uncountable and
countable nouns

Frequently asked questions

What is a conditional sentence? 

4/10/23, 12:04 Conditional Sentences | Examples & Use

What is a conditional clause? 

Sources in this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite
our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

This Scribbr article

Ryan, E. (2023, September 11). Conditional Sentences | Examples &

Cite this
Use. Scribbr. Retrieved October 4, 2023, from
article
https://www.scribbr.com/verbs/conditional-sentences/

Sources

Aarts, B. (2011). Oxford modern English grammar. Oxford University Press.

Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015). Fowler’s dictionary of modern English

usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

 Show all sources (3)

Is this article helpful? 31 5

4/10/23, 12:04 Conditional Sentences | Examples & Use

Eoghan Ryan
Eoghan has a lot of experience with theses and dissertations at
bachelor's, MA, and PhD level. He has taught university English
courses, helping students to improve their research and writing.

Other students also liked

Imperative Mood | The Subjunctive Mood | What Is a Modal Verb? |

Definition, Examples & Definition & Examples Definition & Examples
Use
The subjunctive mood is used to Modal verbs (e.g., “can” and “may”)
The imperative mood is a verb form refer to a hypothetical situation or to are used along with a main verb to
used to make a demand or to give express a wish, demand, or indicate possibility, ability,
advice or instructions (e.g., “Be obligation. permission, and necessity (e.g., “I
quiet”). can swim”).

12 70 112

Scribbr Our services Contact

Our editors Plagiarism Checker info@scribbr.com
Jobs Proofreading Services  +1 (510) 822-8066
4/10/23, 12:04 Conditional Sentences | Examples & Use

Partners Citation Generator 

 
 

FAQ AI Proofreader
Free AI Detector
Paraphrasing Tool
Grammar Checker
Free Text Summarizer
Citation Checker
Knowledge Base

4.7

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Copyright Policy Happiness guarantee