Conditional Sentences
Conditional Sentences
Form:
If + Simple Present, + Simple Present
Use:
The zero conditional is used to talk about things which are always true, scientific facts, general truths:
Examples:
If you cross an international date line, the time changes.
Phosphorus burns if you expose it to air.
If I wake up early, I go jogging.
NOTE: you can use "when" instead of "if".
Form:
If + Simple Present, + Simple Future
Use
Conditional Sentences Type 1 refer to the future. An action in the future will only happen if a certain
condition is fulfilled by that time. We don't know for sure whether the condition actually will be
fulfilled or not, but the conditions seems rather realistic so we think it is likely to happen.
Example:
Form:
if + Simple Past, + would + base verb
Were / Was
In conditional type 2, we usually use in the if clause "were" instead of "was" even if the pronoun
isI, he, she or it. "were" here is a subjunctive form.
NOTE "was" is also a possible form.
Example:
If I were a millionaire, I would buy a castle.
Use
Conditional Sentences Type 2 refer to an action in the present that could happen if the present
situation were different. I don't really expect the situation to change because it is very unlikely.
Example:
If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.
Form:
if + Past Perfect, + would + have + Past Participle
Use
Conditional Sentences Type 3 refer to situations in the past. They express hypothetical results to past
given situations.
Example:
If he had been careful, he wouldn't have had that terrible accident.
Sometimes in the past, he was careless. He drove so fast. So he had a terrible accident
Things to remember
1. The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a comma.
Examples:
"Phosphorus burns if you expose it to air."
" I will send her an invitation if I find her address."
" I would travel around the world if I had a million dollars."
"He wouldn't have had that terrible accident if he had been careful."
2. Main clause and/or if clause might be negative.
Example:
If I dont see him this afternoon, I will phone him in the evening.
If he had been careful, he wouldn't have had an accident.
1. If I study hard, I will pass
on a picnic.
the museums.
me what I need.
2. If I were
3. I would travel
a millionaire.
my job.
my job.
4. I would buy
5. I would buy
6. If I traveled
that jackpot.
8. I would help
9. I would give
10. If I had
millions of dollars.
a millionaire.
rich.
mean.
the exam.
8. If the weather had been better last weekend, we would have gone
9. If you had come
to the beach.
a. if I finish early.
b. I would buy a beautiful c
c. if she had driven carefull
to understand.
3. Her father would not have died, if he (go) had gone/'d gone
to the doctor.
3. If she had taken care of her son, he (not/become) would not have become
4. If I were a star, I (help) would help
a criminal.
the poor.
5. She would have been top of her class if she (work) had worked
hard.
Give the correct gerund form of these verbs (do not use 'to' and do not capitalize the verbs)
Verbs
Gerunds
1.
painting
2.
listening
3.
playing
4.
setting
5.
emigrating
6.
dancing
7.
reading
8.
laughing
9.
being
10.
smoking