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Conditionals

Conditional sentences have two clauses: a condition clause and a result clause. There are several types of conditional sentences that use different verb tenses to indicate varying levels of possibility or likelihood. The zero conditional uses present tense to describe something that is always true. The first conditional uses present in the condition and future in the result to describe a probable future outcome. The second conditional uses past tense to describe an unlikely hypothetical scenario. The third conditional similarly describes an unlikely past hypothetical using past perfect tense. Mixed conditionals combine aspects of the second and third conditionals.

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208 views2 pages

Conditionals

Conditional sentences have two clauses: a condition clause and a result clause. There are several types of conditional sentences that use different verb tenses to indicate varying levels of possibility or likelihood. The zero conditional uses present tense to describe something that is always true. The first conditional uses present in the condition and future in the result to describe a probable future outcome. The second conditional uses past tense to describe an unlikely hypothetical scenario. The third conditional similarly describes an unlikely past hypothetical using past perfect tense. Mixed conditionals combine aspects of the second and third conditionals.

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Jamaica Bancairen Artiaga
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CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

WHAT IS A CONDITIONAL SENTENCE?


Conditional sentences have two parts or clauses that give a condition in the dependent clause and a result in
the independent clause. The condition clause usually contains an if statement. There are several different
forms of conditional sentences that allow the writer to express various meanings using different tenses.

• Condition (if) clause + result clause

ZERO CONDITIONAL
The zero conditional uses the present tense in both clauses and is used to talk about something that is always
or generally true. The present tense signifies that these actions are both possible and typical.

Form: If + simple present, simple present

Example 1: If it rains, I take an umbrella with me to work.

Example 2: If I wake up early, I always read in bed.

FIRST CONDITIONAL
The first conditional uses the present tense in the if clause and the future tense in the result clause. This form is
used to talk about something that is a probable future result of a condition.

Form: If + simple present, will + base verb

Example 1: If I see you later, I will say hello.

Example 2: If I don’t see you later, I won’t be able to say hello.

SECOND CONDITIONAL
The second conditional uses the past tense in the if clause and a modal and base verb in the result clause. This
form is used to talk about a hypothetical situation that cannot happen or is unlikely to happen.

Form: If + simple past, modal + base verb

Example 1: If I had a million dollars, I would buy a large vacation home.

Example 2: If I were you, I wouldn’t wait to study for the test.

Note: The condition and the result are not taking place in the past, but the past tense is used to indicate the
unreal nature of the situation.

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THIRD C ONDITIONAL
The third conditional uses the past perfect in the if clause and a modal and present perfect in the result clause.
This form is used to talk about a hypothetical situation in the past that did not happen – typically with an
outcome that did not happen and is perhaps the opposite of what did happen.

Form: If + past perfect, modal + present perfect

Example 1: If it had rained last week, the plants would not have died.

Example 2: If I had finished college, I would have become a doctor.

MIXED CONDITIONAL
Mixed conditionals combine the second and third conditionals to present both an unreal condition either in the
past or the present and an unreal result either in the past or the present.

The first form presents an unreal condition in the past that changes an unreal outcome in the present (the past
changes the present).

Form 1: If + past perfect, modal + base

Example 1: If I had finished college, I would be a doctor now.

Example 2: If it had rained last week, the plants would be alive now.

The second form presents an unreal condition in the present that changes an unreal outcome in the past (the
present changes the past).

Form 2: If + simple past, would/could + present perfect

Example 1: If I spoke louder, you would have heard me before.

Example 2: If you were nicer, you could have had more friends when you were younger.

ADDITIONAL NOTES ON C ONDITIONALS


There are a few aspects of conditionals that should be noted in order to make their use easier and clearer.

• Conditionals can be categorized as real and unreal. You can think of this as meaning possible or
impossible. Zero and first conditionals are possible as they deal with things that are generally true or
that could be true in the future. Second, third, and mixed conditionals are impossible because they are
either hypothetical or concerned with events in the past that we cannot change.
o Real Conditionals: Zero and First
o Unreal Conditionals: Second, Third, and Mixed
• In the second conditional, the simple past is used in the condition clause. If the be verb is being used, it
is typical to use were in more formal contexts. If you’re speaking informally though, was is more usual.
o Formal: If I were you, I would drink more water.
o Informal: If I was you, I wouldn’t stay out so late.

Adapted from: Farlex International. (2016). The Farlex grammar book: Complete English grammar rules (Vol. 1).

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