CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

WHAT ARE CONDITIONAL SENTENCES?

 Conditional sentences are also known as Conditional clauses or If
clauses
 They are used to express that the action in the main clause (without
if)can only take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if)is
fulfilled.
 So,these clauses are used to talk about possible situations.

 The event described in the main clause depends on the condition

described in the subordinate clause being fulfilled.There are 3 types
of conditional sentences.
 1.ZERO CONDITIONAL

 2.PROBABLE /OPEN CONDITION

 3.IMPROBABLE CONDITION/HYPOTHETICAL/IMAGINARY
CONDITIONS
 4.IMPOSSIBLE CONDITION/UNREAL CONDITIONS
ZERO CONDITIONAL
 This refers to cause and effect.
 EX:If you heat metal ,it expands.

 If I make a promise ,I fulfill it.

 If people fall ill,they take medicine

 In this type of conditional clause ,the verbs in both the

clauses are in Simple Present tense.
PROBABLE OR OPEN CONDITION
 This sentence implies that it is likely that what is stated in the “if
clause”will happen and the action in the main clause is the result that is
likely to follow.

 This type of a sentence can also be called “an open condiion”as the
speaker does not state definitely that the condition will be realized or that
it will not be realized.He leaves the question open.

 The verb in the if clause is in the present simple tense and the verb in the
main clause is in the future tense.The auxiliaries :can,may and must are
used for the present as well as for the future.

 EX:If he studies hard,he will pass the exam.

 It refers to conditions that may or may not refer that may or may not be
fulfiilled.
IMPROBABLE CONDITION/HYPOTHETICAL
/IMAGINARY CONDITIONS
PRESENT/FUTURE REFERENCE)

 The conditions in these sentences are contrary to fact or

impossible or unlikely to be fulfilled.
 The if clauses in these sentences refer to the present or
the future .
 The simple past tense that is used in the if clause does
not refer to past time.The past tense form is used as a
subjunctive which indicate improbability or unreality.
 In this type ,the verb in the conditional clause is in the
simple past tense and the verb phrase in the main clause
is formed with a modal verb in the past
–would/could/might etc.plus root verb.
 The verb in the if clause is in the simple past tense
and ,in the main clause ,the auxiliary verbs
would,should,could and might are used.
 The if clause may also contain : “were,were to,or
should.”
 EX:If I were you ,I would/should be happy.

 If she were to go,we would/should be disappointed.

 Should he fail ,it would be very unfortunate.(here , “if”is

omitted.
IMPOSSIBLE CONDITION/UNREAL
CONDITIONS
 We know that the conditions in these sentences cannot be fulfilled as
they refer to past events which did not happen or possibilities that never
materialized.
 The verb in the if clause is in the past perfect tense and the main clause
contains one of the verbs :would,should,could or might with have+the
past participle.
 EX:If I had gone to Paris ,I would /should have learnt French.

 Past time reference –the condition cannot be fulfilled because the action
in the conditional clause did not take place.
 The following conjunctions are used to introduce conditional
clauses :if/unless/provided that/so long as/only if/on condition that/in
case
 EX:I will lend you the money on condition that you return it in two
weeks/Take these tablets ,in case you fall ill on the plane/Glasses can
make driving a lot safer,provided they are worn instead of emptied.
THE ZERO CONDITIONAL
 This functions in expressing facts,circumstances and
logical conditions.
 The conditional is used when the result will always
happen.
 EX:If water reaches 100 degrees ,it boils.

 If people eat too much,they get fat.

 Snakes bite,if they are scared.

EXERCISE
 Fill in each blank with the right part of the verb within
brackets.
 1.If she …….(go)home,she will be happy.

 2.If you eat too much,you…..(fall)ill.

 3.If he……..(be)younger,he would be more active.

 4.If one drank poison,one……..(die).

 5.If I had learnt French ,I………..(go)to France.

 6.If they……..(play)well,they would have won the
match.
 7.If I qualify as an engineer ,I ….(go)abroad.
 COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONAL
SENTENCES.

 They would have increased your salary,…………………………..

 2.If the bus arrives in time,………………………

 3.If I lived in a village,…………………………………..

 4.If I had a car,………………………………….

 5.I would be happy,…………………………

 6.I will buy a car,…………………..

 7.I would have taken a photograph of the scene,………………….

 8.They will attend the meeting,……………………

 9.She will give a performance at the concert tonight,

…………………….
 10.If he had spoken louder,………………………………………’
THANK YOU!!!!!!!