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Conditional Sentence Type

The document describes 4 types of conditional sentences in English: 1) Zero conditional uses the simple present for real and possible present/future situations. 2) Type 1 conditional uses the simple present and future tenses for possible present/future situations. 3) Type 2 conditional uses the past tense and present conditional for hypothetical present situations. 4) Type 3 conditional uses the past perfect and perfect conditional for unreal past situations.

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Harsh Srivastava
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61 views6 pages

Conditional Sentence Type

The document describes 4 types of conditional sentences in English: 1) Zero conditional uses the simple present for real and possible present/future situations. 2) Type 1 conditional uses the simple present and future tenses for possible present/future situations. 3) Type 2 conditional uses the past tense and present conditional for hypothetical present situations. 4) Type 3 conditional uses the past perfect and perfect conditional for unreal past situations.

Uploaded by

Harsh Srivastava
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Conditional Usage If clause Main clause ve

Sentence type verb tense


tense

Zero General truths Simple Simple present


present

Type 1 A possible condition and Simple Simple future


its probable result present

Type 2 A hypothetical condition Simple Present condition


and its probable result past Present continuou
conditional

Type 3 An unreal past condition Past Perfect conditiona


and its probable result in perfect
the past

Mixed type An unreal past condition Past Present condition


and its probable result in perfect
the present

Zero Conditional
The zero conditional is used for when the time being
referred to is now or always and the situation is real
and possible. The zero conditional is often used to refer
to general truths. The tense in both parts of the
sentence is the simple present. In zero conditional
sentences, the word "if" can usually be replaced by the
word "when" without changing the meaning.

If clause Main clause


If + simple present simple present Type 1
If this thing happens that thing happens. conditional
If you heat ice It melts. The type 1
If it rains the grass gets wet. conditional
is used to
refer to the present or future where the situation is real. The
type 1 conditional refers to a possible condition and its
probable result. In these sentences the if clause is in the simple
present, and the main clause is in the simple future.
If clause
If clause Main clause

If + simple simple future


present
If this thing that thing will
happens happen
If you don't you will miss the
hurry train.
If it rains today you will get wet.

Type 2 conditional
The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a time that is now or
any time, and a situation that is unreal. These sentences are
not based on fact. The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a
hypothetical condition and its probable result. In type 2
conditional sentences, the if clause uses the simple past, and
the main clause uses the present conditional.

If clause Main clause


present conditional or present continuous
If + simple past
conditional
If this thing that thing would happen. (but I'm not sure
happened this thing will happen) OR
If clause Main clause
that thing would be happening.
If you went to bed
you would not be so tired.
earlier
If it rained you would get wet.
If I spoke Italian I would be working in Italy.
Type 3 conditional
The type 3 conditional is used to refer to a time that is in the
past, and a situation that is contrary to reality. The facts they
are based on are the opposite of what is expressed. The type 3
conditional is used to refer to an unreal past condition and its
probable past result. In type 3 conditional sentences, the if
clause uses the past perfect, and the main clause uses the
perfect conditional.

If clause Main clause


perfect conditional or perfect continuous
If + past perfect
conditional
that thing would have happened. (but
If this thing had neither of those things really happened)
happened OR
that thing would have been happening.
If it had rained you would have gotten wet.
If clause Main clause

If I had accepted
I would have been working in Milan.
that promotion

]Mixed type conditional


The mixed type conditional is used to refer to a time that is in
the past, and a situation that is ongoing into the present. The
facts they are based on are the opposite of what is expressed.
The mixed type conditional is used to refer to an unreal past
condition and its probable result in the present. In mixed type
conditional sentences, the if clause uses the past perfect, and
the main clause uses the present conditional.

If clause Main clause


If + past perfect or
present conditional or perfect conditional
simple past
that thing would happen. (but this thing
If this thing had
didn't happen so that thing isn't
happened
happening)
If we had looked at
we wouldn't be lost.
the map

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