Conditional Sentences

IF CLAUSE , RESULT CLAUSE MEANING

TYPE 1 SIMPLE , FUTURE Real in the

PRESENT ( s + modals + v1) present or
( s + v1 ) future
( s + to be +n/adj )
TYPE 2 SIMPLE PAST , PAST FUTURE Unreal in the
( s + v2 ) ( s + past modals + v1) present or
( s + to be + n/adj ) future

TYPE 3 PAST PERFECT , PAST FUTURE PERF Unreal in the

( s + had + v3 ) ( s + p. modals + have + v3) past
• Example conditional sentence type 1
1. If Jessie has (have) a sharp razor, he will shave (shave)
today.
2. I will fix (fix) your bicycle if I have (have) a screwdriver of the
proper size.
• Example conditional sentence type 2
1. If I were (be) rich, I would travel (travel) around the world.
2. we could go (go) out tonight if we didn’t go (not, go) out
tonight.
• Example conditional sentence type 3
1. If it hadn’t snowed (snow), we would have left (leave)
yesterday
2. They couldn’t have saved (save) the house if the firemen
had arrived (arrived) on time.
NOTE
• if the if clause come first comma (,) must be used but if the
result clause come first comma (,) is not necessary.
• In type 2, the past tense form of be is always were in a
conditional sentence; it can NEVER be was in correct
English.
If I were……..
if we were…..
if she/he were….
Exercise
1. If I ______ (be) sick, he would stay home today.
2. The rain will leak inside if the roofer____ (not, come) soon
3. If I hadn’t been I a hurry, I _____ (not, spill) the milk
4. If I had the time, I _____ (go) to the beach with you this
weekend.
5. I _____ (give) t to my sister for her birthday if I finish the
dress before Saturday.
6. We would have arrived sooner if we _____ (lose) our way