Conditional sentences in English

Conditional sentences (if-clauses, main clauses)

Summary
Type I
Type II
Type III
Special types and structures
Mixed Conditionals
if I were you
will and would in if-clauses
Replacing if - Omitting if - if vs. when - in case vs. if
Conditional sentences (if) - Complex Test 1
Exercises - Conditional sentences (if)

Conditional sentences
The conditional sentences are sometimes confusing for learners of English.
Watch out:
1) Which type of the conditional sentences is used?
2) Where is the if-clause (e.g. at the beginning or at the end of the conditional sentence)?
There are three types of the if-clauses.

type

condition

condition possible to fulfill

II

condition in theory possible to fulfill

III

condition not possible to fulfill (too late)

Form
type

if clause

main clause

Simple Present

will-future (or Modal + infinitive)

II

Simple Past

would + infinitive *

III

Past Perfect

would + have + past participle *

Examples (if-clause at the beginning)

type

if clause

main clause

If I study,

I will pass the exam.

II

If I studied,

I would pass the exam.

III

If I had studied,

I would have passed the exam.

Examples (if-clause at the end)

type

main clause

if-clause

I will pass the exam

if I study.

II

I would pass the exam

if I studied.

III

I would have passed the exam

if I had studied.

Examples (affirmative and negative sentences)

type

Examples
long forms
+ If I study, I will pass the exam.

If I study, I will not fail the exam.

If I do not study, I will fail the exam.

+ If I studied, I would pass the exam.

II

short/contracted forms
If I study, I'll pass the exam.
If I study, I won't fail the exam.
If I don't study, I'll fail the exam.
If I studied, I'd pass the exam.

If I studied, I would not fail the exam.

If I did not study, I would fail the exam.

If I had studied, I would have passedthe

If I'd studied, I'd have passed the exam.
exam.

If I had studied, I would not have

failedthe exam.
If I had not studied, I would have
failedthe exam.

III

If I studied, I wouldn't fail the exam.

If I didn't study, I'd fail the exam.

If I'd studied, I wouldn't have failed the

exam.
If I hadn't studied, I'd have failed the
exam.

* We can substitute could or might for would (should, may or must are sometimes possible, too).

I would pass the exam.

I could pass the exam.
I might pass the exam.
I may pass the exam.
I should pass the exam.
I must pass the exam.

Thanks to Kai.

Use
It is theoretically possible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.

Form
if clause

main clause

Simple Past

would + infinitive
or
could + infinitive
or
might + infinitive

Examples
If I studied,

I would pass the exams.

If I studied,

I could pass the exams.

If I studied,

I might pass the exams.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence.

If I studied,

I would pass the exams.

I would pass the exams

if I studied.

Use
It is impossible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.

Form
if clause

main clause

Past Perfect

would + have + past participle

or
could + have + past participle
or
might + have + past participle

Examples
If I had studied,

I would have passed the exams.

If I had studied,

I could have passed the exams.

If I had studied,

I might have passed the exams.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence.

If I had studied,

I would have passed the exams.

I would have passed the exams

if I had studied.

Use
It is impossible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.

Form
if clause

main clause

Past Perfect

would + have + past participle

or
could + have + past participle
or
might + have + past participle

Examples
If I had studied,

I would have passed the exams.

If I had studied,

I could have passed the exams.

If I had studied,

I might have passed the exams.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence.

If I had studied,

I would have passed the exams.

I would have passed the exams

if I had studied.

Structure
If-clauses can be clause-initial (1), clause-medial (2) as well as clause-final (3).

(1)

If you like, we can catch a movie.

(2)

We, if you like, can catch a movie.

(3)

We can catch a movie if you like.

Types
Aside from the typical type I, II, III strucure, conditionals can be divided into two categories:
real and unreal conditionals.
Real Condition
If I have money, I spend it.

Present Real Conditional - type I

If I had money, I spent it.

Past Real Conditional - type I

If I have money, I will/am going to spend it.

Future Real Conditional - type I

Unreal Condition
If I had had money, I would
have spent it.

Past unreal Conditional - type III

If I had money, I would

spend it.

I think about spending the

money TODAY.

Present unreal Conditional - type II

If I had money, I would

spend it.

I think about spending the

money NEXT WEEK.

Future unreal Conditional - type II

Special Features
Modal verbs
Main clauses with real conditional tenses can have modal verbs.

If I have money, I can spend it.

You can use could and might instead of would in unreal conditional clauses.

If I had money, I could spend it.

(I would be able to spend it.)
If I had money, I might spend it.
(I would possibly spend it.)

Mixed Conditionals

Unreal conditionals (type II + III) sometimes can be mixed, that is, the time of the if clause is different from the one of the main clause.

Past --> Present

If I had taken an aspirin, I wouldn't have a headache now.

Past --> Future

If I had known that you are going to come by tomorrow, I would be in then.

Present --> Past

If she had enough money, she could have done this trip to Hawaii.

Present --> Future

If I were you, I would be spending my vacation in Seattle.

Future --> Past

If I weren't flying to Detroit, I would have planned a trip to Vancouver.

Future --> Present

If I were taking this exam next week, I would be high-strung.

Replacing if
If can be replaced by words or expressions with a similar meaning.

The most common are:

as long as
assuming (that)
on condition (that)
on the assumption (that)
provided (that)
supposing (that)
unless
with the condition (that)

Omitting if
Had I known... (instead of If I had known...)
Were you my daughter,... (instead of: If you were my daughter,...)
Should you need my advice,... (instead of: If you should need my advice,...)

if vs. when
if and when are interchangeable when the statement of the conditional clause is a fact or a general issue (also known as zero conditonal)

If you heat ice, it melts.

When you heat ice, it melts.

if is used for something that, according to the speaker, might happen.

We can spend the afternoon on the beach if the weather is fine.

when is used for something that, according to the speaker, will happen.

I will clean up the kitchen right away when I'm back from work.

in case vs. if
in case of can be used to shorten an if-clause as shown below:

If there is a fire, leave the room.

In case of fire, leave the room.

While if expresses a condition (1), in case is used to express a possibility (2).

(1)

I need painkillers if I'm in severe pain.

(2)

I need painkillers in case I'm in severe pain.

The expression just in case is used pretty much the same way.

I got you a pizza just in case you were hungry.

(I don't know whether you are hungry.)