There are 4 main types of

if sentences in English,
often called conditional sentences.

• These sentences are divided in two parts

(clauses):
• the if part (if clause)
•
the other part where you can use words
such as can, will, may, might, could
and would (main clause)
FOUR TYPES OF
CONDITIONAL
SENTENCES
 TYPE 0 OR ZERO CONDITIONAL

1. Type 0 or zero conditional is a conditional

sentence that is used when the result
/ consequence of thecondition
occurs because it is a always scientific
fact oractivity.
general truth which is a habitual
The dependent clause (if + clause) can be
preceded by the word "if" or "when"
 CONDITIONAL SENTENCE TYPE 1

2. Type 1 conditional sentence or first

conditional is a conditional sentence that is
used when the result / consequence of the
condition has the possibility to occur in the
future because the conditions are realistic
to be fulfilled.
 CONDITIONAL SENTENCE TYPE 2

3. Type 2 conditional sentence or second

conditional is a conditional sentence that is
used when the result / consequence of the
condition has no or little chance of being
realized because the condition may not be
fulfilled in the present (present unreal
situation) or the condition is difficult to fulfill
in the future (unlikely to happen).
 CONDITIONAL SENTENCE TYPE 3

4. Conditional sentence type 3 or third

conditional is a conditional sentence that is
used when the result / consequence of a
condition is not possible to occur because
the situation must have been fulfilled in the
past
 Which is the most correct, If I were or If
I was?
“If I were" are the words commonly used in type 2
conditional sentences (present unreal conditional). Then
can "If I was" also be used in type 2 conditional
sentences?
Both "if I were" and "if I was" are all grammatically
correct, but depending on the context. "If I were" is used
in an unreal situation, while "if I was" is acceptable for
Cambridge University in its English learning test, but not
for ETS (English Testing Service).
 Which is the most correct, If I were or
If I was?
The grammatically correct "If I was" is when the
subordinate conjunction "when" is used to
represent time. Was here is a verb in the indicative
mood (the verb is to express a fact or opinion).
Example:
1If I was embarrassed, my face often turned red.
(When I am shy, my face often turns red.) <- a fact
that has often happened in the past)
2 If I were her, my face would turn red.
(If I were him, my face would turn red.) <- but I am
not him, just a presumption)
If clause Main clause
If + Present simple Present simple

If I am late for school,

my teacher gets
angry.
If I oversleep
…
I miss the bus.
If I miss the bus, I am late for school.
If I am late for school, my teacher gets angry.
 If clause Main clause
•
If + Present tense will / can / may / must + verb

If I go to London,
I will see the Big Ben.
If I go to London
…
I will see the Big Ben.
 If I go to Buckingham Palace,
I can take a photo of the Royal Guard.
 If you go to London,
you must look right before crossing a street
If clause Main clause
If + Past Simple would / could / might + verb

If I were an astronaut,
I would travel in a spaceship.
 If I were an astronaut,
I would travel in a spaceship.
If I travelled in a spaceship, to
Mars. I would go
 If I went to Mars,
I would meet a Martian.
Nice to
meet you!
If I met a Martian, I wouldn’t
understand him.

□♐□
♋❖♏♎
 If I didn’t understand him,
I would come back to the Earth.
If clause Main clause
If + Past Perfect would/could/might + have + past
tense participle

If I had studied hard,

I would have passed my exams.
 If you had studied hard,
you wouldn’t have failed your exam.
 If you had passed your exam,
you could have gone to the beach.
If I had gone to the
beach, I would have
made sand castles.
Fill in the correct forms of the verbs in brackets, according to the
type of the IF-sentence shown at the end!
1. If he _______ (EAT) everything he _______ (BE) ill. (3)
2. The police _______ (ARREST) him if they _______ (CATCH) him.
(1)
3. What _______ (HAPPEN) if my parachute _______ (NOT OPEN)?
(1)
4. I _______ (BE) angry if he _______ (MAKE) more mistakes. (2)
5. If he _______ (NOT BE) late we _______ (GO) without him. (3)
6. If I _______ (LEND) you 10 pounds, _______ (YOU, GIVE) it back
to me? (1)
7. If you _______ (NOT LIKE) this one, I _______ (BRING) you
another one. (1)
8. If I _______ (KNOW) that I _______ (VISIT) you. (3)
9. I _______ (NOT DRINK) that wine if I _______ (BE) you. (2)
10. If we _______ (HAVE) more rain our crops _______ (GROW)
faster. (3)