Grammar: Conditional Sentences-Rules You Need To Know
Grammar: Conditional Sentences-Rules You Need To Know
Grammar: Conditional Sentences-Rules You Need To Know
GRAMMAR
It’s important to use the correct structure for each of these different conditional sentences because they
express varying meanings.
Use a comma after the if-clause when the if-clause precedes the main clause.
Conditional sentences are statements discussing known factors or hypothetical situations and their consequences.
Complete conditional sentences contain a conditional clause (often referred to as the if-clause) and the consequence.
Consider the following sentences:
There are four different types of conditional sentences in English. Each expresses a different degree of probability
that a situation will occur or would have occurred under certain circumstances.
Zero conditional sentences express general truths—situations in which one thing always causes another. When you
use a zero conditional, you’re talking about a general truth rather than a specific instance of something. Consider the
following examples:
There are a couple of things to take note of in the above sentences in which the zero conditional is used. First, when
using the zero conditional, the correct tense to use in both clauses is the simple present tense. A common mistake is
to use the simple future tense.
Secondly, notice that the words if and when can be used interchangeably in these zero conditional sentences. This is
because the outcome will always be the same, so it doesn’t matter “if” or “when” it happens.
First conditional sentences are used to express situations in which the outcome is likely (but not guaranteed) to
happen in the future. Look at the examples below:
Explanation: Use the zero conditional (i.e., simple present + simple present) only when a certain result is
guaranteed. If the result is likely, use the first conditional (i.e., simple present + simple future).
Second conditional sentences are useful for expressing outcomes that are completely unrealistic or will not likely
happen in the future. Consider the examples below:
If I owned a zoo, I might let people interact with the animals more.
Notice the correct way to structure second conditional sentences is to use the simple past tense in the if-clause and
an auxiliary modal verb (e.g., could, should, would, might) in the main clause (the one that expresses the unrealistic
or unlikely outcome). The following sentences illustrate a couple of the common mistakes people make when using
the second conditional:
Explanation: When applying the second conditional, use the simple past tense in the if-clause.
Explanation: Use a modal auxiliary verb in the main clause when using the second conditional mood to express the
unlikelihood that the result will actually happen.
Third conditional sentences are used to explain that present circumstances would be different if something different
had happened in the past. Look at the following examples:
If you had told me you needed a ride, I would have left earlier.
These sentences express a condition that was likely enough, but did not actually happen in the past. The speaker in
the first sentence was capable of leaving early, but did not. Along these same lines, the speaker in the second
sentence was capable of cleaning the house, but did not. These are all conditions that were likely, but regrettably did
not happen.
Note that when using the third conditional, we use the past perfect (i.e., had + past participle) in the if-clause. The
modal auxiliary (would, could, shoud, etc.) + have + past participle in the main clause expresses the theoretical
situation that could have happened.
If you would have told me you needed a ride, I would have left earlier.
If you had told me you needed a ride, I would have left earlier.
Explanation: With third conditional sentences, do not use a modal auxiliary verb in the if-clause.
Explanation: The third conditional mood expresses a situation that could have only happened in the past if a certain
condition had been met. That’s why we use the modal auxiliary verb + have + the past participle.
As with most topics in the English language, conditional sentences often present special cases in which unique rules
must be applied.
Generally speaking, the simple future should be used only in the main clause. One exception is when the action in
the if-clause will take place after the action in the main clause. For example, consider the following sentence:
The action in the if-clause is the aspirin easing the headache, which will take place only after the speaker takes them
later that night.
The verb phrase were to is sometimes used in conditional sentences when the likely or unlikely result is particularly
awful or unthinkable. In this case, were to is used to place emphasis on this potential outcome. Consider these
sentences:
If she were to be late again, she would have to have a conference with the manager.
If the rent were to have been a penny more, they would not have been able to pay it.
Note that the emphatic “were to” can be used to describe hypothetical scenarios in the present, future, and past.