CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

INTRODUCTION
A conditional sentence is a type of SUBORDINATE STRUCTURE. It often
refers to a CONDITION something which mst happen first !the action in
S"#O$DINATE CLA"SE %I&'CLA"SE( so that something else can happen
!the action in the )AIN CLA"SE*.
conditional conjunction
CONDITION MAIN ACTION
If yo get here +efore eight, we can catch the early train.
subordinate clause main clause
The order in which the )AIN or the S"#O$DINATE clase appear in the
sentence is not -ery important. .owe-er, when the I&'CLA"SE precedes
the )AIN CLA"SE, a comma is COMPUSOR!.
If yo get here +efore eight" we can catch the early train.
Oil floats if yo por it on water. !no comma needed*
As far as the NE#ATI$E strctre is concerned, any of the clases or +oth
of them can ta/e the negati-e form
%#OT.( If yo don%t get here +efore eight, we can%t
catch
the early train.
%I&'CLA"SE( If yo don%t phone me +y three, I0ll phone 1ohn.
%)AIN CLA"SE( If yo do yor homewor/, I &on%t tell yor
mother.
,+t we can only ma/e 'UESTIONS changing the word order in t(e MAIN
CAUSE.
E)am*le2 +I !OU P,ONE me if I gi-e yo my telephone nm+er3
au) subj -
If I told yo a secret, +OUD !OU TE my parents3
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au) subj -
CONDITIONA CON.UNCTIONS
I/ is, +y far, the most common con4nction to introdce conditional
sentences.
E)am*le2 If yo get here +efore eight, we can catch the early train.
BE CARE/U2 In formal style, and follo&ed b0 an adjecti-e !with no
-er+*, if can +e sed with a similar meanin1 to although.
E)am*le2 .is style, if sim*le, is pleasant to read. !5, although it is simple*
.owe-er, there are some ot(er conjunctions which are also important.
6hene-er we se any of these other con4nctions, we will place them at
the BE#INNIN# of the SUBORDINATE CAUSE, that is to say, in the
place of if.
"NLESS2 it has a similar meaning to if not , in the sense except if.
E)am*le2 Come tomorrow nless I phone. !7 5 if I dont phone / except if I
phone.*
I0ll ta/e the 4o+ nless the pay is too low. !75 if the pay isnt too
low 8 except if the pay is too low.*
BE CARE/U2 The -er+ in t(e subordinate clause CANNOT +e in
the negati-e form when we se unless.
E)am*le22 I0ll ta/e the 4o+ unless the pay isn%t too low.
9$O:IDED !T.AT*, 9$O:IDIN; !T.AT*, AS LON; AS,
SO LON; AS, ON CONDITION T.AT2 All these con4nctions ha-e
a -ery similar meaning3 only if5 / the condition is that5.
E)am*le2 <o can dri-e my car as lon1 as yo dri-e careflly !75 only if5*
so lon1 as
Tra-elling +y car to the city is -ery con-enient *ro-ided 4t(at5 yo
ha-e somewhere to par/. *ro-idin1 4t(at5
She0ll pass her e=ams on condition t(at she stdies hard.
6.ET.E$5O$ NOT2 This con4nction con-eys the idea that the
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action e=pressed in the if'clase may happen or not.
E)am*le2 +(et(er yo pay or not, yo won>t get in withot an in-itation.
ASS")IN; T.AT,S"99OSIN; T.AT2 These con4nctions ta/e for
granted the action in the if'clase.
E)am*le2 Assumin1 t(at it>s fine tomorrow, we>ll go for a swim.
CONDITIONA SENTENCES3 T!PES
Traditionally, conditional sentences are di-ided into for +asic grops
according to the tenses sed in the main or the s+ordinate clase.
6ERO CONDITIONA
The zero conditional !also called conditional type 0 or neutral
conditional* is a strctre sed for tal/ing a+ot 1eneral trut(s, t(in1s
&(ic( al&a0s (a**en under certain conditions.
T(e structure of a 7ero conditional sentence
A ?ero conditional sentence consists of two clases, an @if@ clase and a
main clase. Sometimes 8&(en8 is sed instead of @if@ withot a
significant change in meaning.
if clause
if9&(en : *resent sim*le
main clause
*resent
sim*le
If 0ou (eat &ater to ;<< de1rees"
+(en 0ou (eat &ater to ;<< de1rees"
it boils=
6e se the same -er+ form in each part of a ?ero conditional2 the simple
present tense2
if clause
if : subject : sim*le *resent -erb
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main clause
subject : sim*le *resent -erb
Usin1 t(e 7ero conditional
The ?ero conditional is sed to tal/ a+ot things which are always tre ''
scientific facts" 1eneral trut(s, and so on2
E)am*le E)*lanation
If 0ou cross an international
date line" t(e time c(an1es=
This always happens, every time
you cross a dateline.
If 0ou 1o ;< meters under
&ater" t(e *ressure increases
to t&o atmos*(eres=
This is basically always true -- the
pressure of 0 meters of water
e!uals one atmosphere.
P(os*(orus burns if 0ou
e)*ose it to air=
This is a scientific fact -- you can
test it in a laboratory.
/IRST CONDITIONA
The first conditional !also called conditional type " or open conditional*
is a strctre sed for tal/ing a+ot *ossibilities in t(e *resent or in t(e
future.
T(e structure of a first conditional sentence
A first conditional sentence consists of two clases, an @if@ clase and a
main clase2
if clause : *resent
sim*le
main clause
: sim*le future
If 0ou stud0 (ard" 0ou &ill *ass t(e test=
If the @if@ clase comes first, a comma is sally sed. If the @if@ clase
comes second, there is no need for a comma2
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main clause if clause
!ou &ill *ass t(e test if 0ou stud0 (ard=
6e se different -er+ forms in each part of a first conditional2

if clause
if : subject : sim*le *resent -erb
main clause
subject : will : -erb
Usin1 t(e first conditional
The first conditional is sed to tal/ a+ot things which are possi+le in the
present or the ftre '' t(in1s &(ic( may happen2
E)am*le E)*lanation
If it>s sunn0" &e>ll 1o to t(e
*ar?=
#aybe it will be sunny -- that$s
possible.
Paula &ill be sad if .uan
lea-es=
#aybe %uan will leave -- that$s
possible.
If 0ou coo? t(e su**er" I>ll
&as( t(e dis(es=
#aybe you will coo& the supper --
that$s possible.
In Conditional sentences type I it is not *ossible to se +,EN.
.owe-er, there are more options of tense se in the strctre of the
conditional sentence type I
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Conditional Sentences T0*e I 4li?el05
Condition
refers to3
I/ Clause Main Clause
/uture action
Sim*le
Present
If t(e boo? is
interestin1" @
Sim*le
/uture
@I &ill bu0 it=
Im*erati-e @bu0 it=
Modal
Au)iliar0
@0ou can bu0 it=
Action 1oin1
on no&
Present
Pro1ressi-e
If (e is snorin1" @
Sim*le
/uture
@I &ill &a?e (im
u*=
Im*erati-e @&a?e (im u*=
Modal
Au)iliar0
@0ou can &a?e
(im u*=
finis(ed
action
Present
Perfect
If (e (as mo-ed
into (is ne& flat" @
Sim*le
/uture
@&e &ill -isit (im=
Im*erati-e @-isit (im=
Modal
Au)iliar0
@&e can -isit (im=
im*robable
action
s(ould :
Infiniti-e
!NOTE A*
If s(e s(ould &in
t(is race" @
Sim*le
/uture
@I &ill
con1ratulate (er=
Im*erati-e @con1ratulate (er=
Modal
Au)iliar0
@&e can
con1ratulate (er=
*resent facts
Sim*le
Present
If (e 1ets &(at (e
&ants" @
Sim*le
Present
@(e is -er0 nice=
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Condition
refers to3
I/ Clause Main Clause
Past facts Sim*le Past
If I &as ri1(t" @
Sim*le
Past
@0ou &ere &ron1=
If 0ou tra-elled
durin1 t(e ni1(t" @
Sim*le
Present
@ 0ou need a rest=
Sim*le
/uture
@ 0ou &ill need a
rest=
NOTE ;3 The se of S.O"LD in the s+ordinate clase means that the
action might happen or not, t(e s*ea?er is not -er0 sure about it.
#esides, this type of strctre sally comes in what in English is /nown as
the BIN$ERSION O/ S,OUD%. In it, the con4nction I/ is not used and the
strctre in the subordinate clause ta/es the Auestion &ord order.
E)am*le2 If yo shold see 9eter, please, tell him I want to see him.
S,OUD !OU SEE 9eter, please, tell him I want to see him.
o USE O/ +I 9 +OUD IN T,E I/BCAUSE
6e can se if ' will in *olite reAuests. In this case, will is not a
ftre a=iliaryC it means (if) (you) are willing toC (if) (you) want to.
E)am*le2 If yo will come this way, IDll ta/e yo to the manager0s
office.
If yor mother will fill in this form, I0ll ha-e her lggage
ta/en p to her room.
"f ' would can +e sed to ma/e a reEest e-en more polite.
E)am*le2 If yo would come this way, I0ll ta/e yo to the manager0s
office.
6ait o-er there if yo would.
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o Stressed will can also +e sed after if when it e=presses the idea of
insistence.
E)am*le2 If yo will get drn/ e-ery night, it0s not srprising yo feel
ill. !7 If you insist on getting drn/ 5*
SECOND CONDITIONA
The second conditional !also called conditional type "" or hypothetical
(but possible) conditional* is a strctre sed for tal/ing a+ot unreal
situations in the present or in the ftre.
T(e structure of a second conditional sentence
Li/e a first conditional, a second conditional sentence consists of two
clases, an @if@ clase and a main clase2
if clause
: sim*le *ast
main clause
: sim*le
conditional
If I (ad a million
dollars"
I &ould bu0 a bi1 (ouse=
main clause
: sim*le
condicional
if clause
: sim*le *ast
I &ould bu0 a bi1 (ouse
if I (ad a million
dollars=
6e se different -er+ forms in each part of a second conditional2
if clause
if : subject : sim*le *ast -erb2
main clause
subject : would : -erb
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*NOTE that this @simple past@ form is slightly different from sal in
the case of the -er+ #E. 6hate-er the s+4ect, the -er+ form is
@were@, not @was@. The grammatical name for this se of were is
Bsubjuncti-e0.
E)am*le3 If I were rich, I'd spend all my time travelling.
If my nose were a little shorter, Id be quite pretty.
In the main clase we can also se the other modals should, ought
to and could. If we se them, they /eep their -ales as modal -er+s
+t cannot be contracted=
E)am*le3 If I had another FGG H, I could +y a car.
If yo as/ed me nicely, I mi1(t get yo a drin/.
Usin1 t(e second conditional
The second conditional is sed to tal/ a+ot things which are nreal
!not tre or not possi+le* in the present or the ftre '' t(in1s &(ic(
don$t or won$t happen2
E)am*le E)*lanation
If I &ere 0ou" I &ould dri-e more
carefull0 in t(e rain=
" am not you -- this is unreal.
Paula &ould be sad if .an left=
%an will not leave -- that$s not
going to happen.
If do1s (ad &in1s" t(e0 &ould be
able to fl0=
*ogs don$t have wings -- that$s
impossible.
.owe-er, there are more options of tense se in the strctre of the
conditional sentence type II.
Condition refers
to3
I/ Clause Main Clause
ConseAuence in t(e
*ast
Sim*le
*ast
If I ?ne&
(im" @
Perfect
Conditional
@I &ould (a-e said
(ello=
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o In this type of conditional sentences, the form be to in the past
!&as9&ere to* can +e sed in the if'clase.
E)am*le2 If yo &ere to meet )r. 1ames, yo cold see that he0s
a little gy.
In this case, the BIN$ERSION O/ +AS 9 +ERE TO0 can also apply.
+ere 0ou to meet )r. 1ames, yo cold see that he0s
a little gy.
T,IRD CONDITIONA
The third conditional !also called conditional type """ or (0*ot(etical
4but unreal5 conditional* is a strctre sed for tal/ing a+ot unreal
situations in t(e past.
T(e structure of a t(ird conditional sentence
Li/e the other conditionals, a third conditional sentence consists of two
clases, an @if@ clase and a main clase2
if clause main clause e)*lanation
If I (ad
studied
(arder"
I &ould (a-e
*assed t(e
e)am=
" failed the exam, because "
didn$t study hard enough.
If the "if" clause comes frst, a comma is usually used. If the "if"
clause comes second, there is no need for a comma:
main clause if clause
I *robabl0 &ould (a-e *assed t(e e)am if I (ad studied (arder=
We use diferent verb forms in each part of a third conditional:
if clause
if : subject : *ast *erfect -erb
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main clause
subject : would (+, could, +, might) have : *ast
*artici*le
Third conditional forms can +e contracted2
-ull form
If I (ad studied (arder" I *robabl0 &ould (a-e
*assed t(e e)am=
Contracted
form
If I>d studied (arder" I *robabl0 &ould>-e
*assed t(e e)am=
Usin1 t(e t(ird conditional
The third conditional is sed to tal/ a+ot t(in1s &(ic( DID NOT ,APPEN
in t(e *ast. It is often sed to e)*ress criticism or re1ret2
E)am*le E)*lanation
If 0ou (ad dri-en more
carefull0" 0ou &ould not (a-e
(ad an accident=
Criticism3 .ou had an accident
because you didn$t drive carefully
enough.
If &e (ad *la0ed a little better"
&e could (a-e &on t(e 1ame=
Re1ret3 /e didn$t play well, so we
lost the game.
If 0ou (ad sa-ed 0our mone0"
0ou could (a-e bou1(t a
com*uter=
Criticism3 .ou didn$t save your
money, so now you can$t afford a
computer.
If it (ad sno&ed" &e could
(a-e 1one s?iin1=
Re1ret3 "t didn$t snow, so we
couldn$t go s&iing.
As we ha-e seen in the other two conditional sentence types, in type III the
BIN$ERSION O/ ,AD% can also occr.
E)am*le2 If yo had sa-ed yor money, yo cold ha-e +oght a
compter.
,AD !OU SA$ED yor money, yo cold ha-e +oght a
compter.
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BE CARE/U2 In Selecti-idad e=ams,Eestions are sometimes made
sing this strctre.
E)am*le2 .ad the writer met his friend, what wold he ha-e done3
.ad Carol waited for 1ohn, wold she ha-e ta/en the +s3
Conditional sentences type III also offer a different tense strctre.
Condition refers
to3
I/ Clause Main Clause
t(e *resent
Past
Perfect
If I (ad
?no&n"@
Sim*le
Conditional
@I &ouldn%t be (ere
no&=
So, if yo wold li/e more information on this topic, as/ yor teacher.
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