CONDITIONAL

SENTENCES
GRAMMAR
DEFINITION

• 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.
 TYPES OF CONDITIONAL
type Condition

condition possible to fulfill

I

condition in theory possible to fulfill

II

condition not possible to fulfill (too late)

III
FORM OF CONDITIONALS
Type if - clause Main clause

1 Simple Present Will future or (model + infinitive)

Condition possible to fulfill

2 Simple Past Would+ Infinitive

Condition in theory possible to fulfill

3 Past Perfect Would + have + Past Participle

Condition not possible to fulfill (too late)
 FIRST CONDITIONAL
We use the First Conditional to talk about future events that are likely
to happen. The first conditional has the present simple after 'if', then
the future simple in the other clause:
if + present simple + will
For example:-
If I study today, I'll go to the party tonight.
If I find her address, I’ll send her an invitation.
If I see her, I'll tell her.
If I have enough money, I will go to Japan.
 SECOND CONDITIONAL
• The 2nd conditional sentence structure is also called the present
unreal conditional or hypothetical conditional. The Second
Conditional is used to talk about 'impossible' situations.
• If + simple past + modal + base form
• If I had time, I would help you.
• If I found her address, I would send her an invitation.
• If I studied , I would pass the exams.
• If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.
• If it rained you would get wet.
 THIRD CONDITIONAL
• The third conditional is called the past unreal conditional. It is for past
actions. We can use the Third Conditional to talk about 'impossible'
conditions, impossible because they are in the past and we cannot
change what has happened.
• if + past perfect + would + have + past participle
• If she had studied, she would have passed the exam.
• If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a car.
• If we had bought that house, we would have had to rebuild the kitchen.
• If we had taken a taxi, we wouldn't have missed the plane.
 ZERO CONDITIONAL
• In zero conditional sentences, the tense in both parts of the sentence is the
simple present. This conditional is used when the result will always happen. So, if
water reaches 100 degrees, it always boils. It's a fact. I'm talking in general, not
about one particular situation. The result of the 'if clause' is always the main
clause.
• If + simple present, simple present
• The zero conditional uses if or when and must be followed by the simple present
or imperative.
• If I eat too much, I get sick.
• i always ask for directions if I get lost.
• If I am late for work, my boss gets angry.