Asian Development Foundation College

Tacloban City

Lesson No.: 2

Method(s) of Assessment: Activity, Exercise, Quiz

Key Concept: Conditional tenses are used to speculate about what could happen, what
might have happened, and what we wish would happen.

Key Terms:
1. Zero Type Conditional
2. Type 1 conditional
3. Type 2 conditional
4. Type 3 conditional
5. Mixed type conditional

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LESSON NO.: 2

CONDITIONAL

Conditional tenses are used to speculate about what could happen, what might have
happened, and what we wish would happen. In English, most sentences using the
conditional contain the word if. Many conditional forms in English are used in sentences
that include verbs in one of the past tenses. This usage is referred to as "the unreal
past" because we use a past tense but we are not actually referring to something that
happened in the past. There are five main ways of constructing conditional sentences in
English. In all cases, these sentences are made up of an if clause and a main clause. In
many negative conditional sentences, there is an equivalent sentence
construction using "unless" instead of "if".

Conditional Usage If clause Main clause verb tense

sentence type verb tense

Zero General truths Simple Simple present

present

Type 1 A possible condition and its Simple Simple future

probable result present

Type 2 A hypothetical condition and its Simple past Present conditional or

probable result Present continuous
conditional

Type 3 An unreal past condition and its Past perfect Perfect conditional
probable result in the past

Mixed type An unreal past condition and its Past perfect Present contditional
probable result in the present

The zero conditional

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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

If this thing happens that thing happens.

If you heat ice it melts.

If it rains the grass gets wet.

Type 1 conditional

The type 1 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 Main clause

If + simple present simple future

If this thing happens that thing will happen.

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If clause Main clause

If you don't hurry you will miss the train.

If it rains today you will get wet.

Type 1 conditional

In a type 1 conditional sentence, the tense in the "if" clause is the simple present, and
the tense in the main clause is the simple future.

If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + simple present simple future

If this thing happens that thing will happen.

As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to
rearrange the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the
clauses, but the meaning is identical.

Examples

• If it rains, you will get wet.

• You will get wet if it rains.
• If Sally is late again I will be mad.
• I will be mad if Sally is late again.
• If you don't hurry, you will miss the bus.
• You will miss the bus if you don't hurry.

Function

The type 1 conditional refers to a possible condition and its probable result. These
sentences are based on facts, and they are used to make statements about the real
world, and about particular situations. We often use such sentences to give warnings. In
type 1 conditional sentences, the time is the present or future and the situation is real.

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Examples

• If I have time, I'll finish that letter.

• What will you do if you miss the plane?

• Nobody will notice if you make a mistake.

• If you drop that glass, it will break.

• If you don't drop the gun, I'll shoot!

• If you don't leave, I'll call the police.

In type 1 conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of
the future tense to express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation
about the outcome.

Examples

• If you drop that glass, it might break.

• I may finish that letter if I have time.

• If he calls you, you should go.

• If you buy my school supplies for me, I will be able to go to the park.

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

If + simple past present conditional or present continuous conditional

If this thing happened that thing would happen. (but I'm not sure this thing will
happen) OR
that thing would be happening.

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If clause Main clause

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.

Form

In a type 2 conditional sentence, the tense in the "if" clause is the simple past, and the
tense in the main clause is the present conditional or the present continuous
conditional.

If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + simple past present conditional or present continuous conditional

If this thing happened that thing would happen.

As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to
rearrange the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the
clauses, but the meaning is identical.

Examples

• If it rained, you would get wet.

• You would get wet if it rained.

• If you went to bed earlier you wouldn't be so tired.

• You wouldn't be so tired if you went to bed earlier.

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• If she fell, she would hurt herself.

• She would hurt herself if she fell.

Function

The type 2 conditional refers to an unlikely or hypothetical condition and its probable
result. These sentences are not based on the actual situation. In type 2 conditional
sentences, the time is now or any time and the situation is hypothetical.

Examples

• If the weather wasn't so bad, we would go to the park. (But the weather is bad so
we can't go.)

• If I was the Queen of England, I would give everyone a chicken. (But I am not the
Queen.)

• If you really loved me, you would buy me a diamond ring.

• If I knew where she lived, I would go and see her.

It is correct, and very common, to say "if I were" instead of "if I was" (subjunctive mood).

Examples

• If I were taller, I would buy this dress.

• If I were 20, I would travel the world.

• If I were you, I would give up smoking.

• If I were a plant, I would love the rain.

In type 2 conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of
"would" to express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the
outcome.

Examples

• We might buy a larger house if we had more money

• He could go to the concert if you gave him your ticket.

• If he called me, I couldn't hear.

The present conditional tense

The present conditional of any verb is composed of two elements:
would + the infinitive of the main verb, without "to"

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Subject + would + infinitive

He would go

They would stay

To Go: present conditional

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative negative

I would go I wouldn't go Would I go? Wouldn't I go?

You would go You wouldn't go Would you go? Wouldn't you go?

He would go He wouldn't go Would he go? Wouldn't he go?

She would go She wouldn't go Would she go? Wouldn't she go?

We would go We wouldn't go Would we go? Wouldn't we go?

They would go They wouldn't go Would they go? Wouldn't they go?

Present continuous conditional

Form

In type 2 conditional sentences, the continuous form of the present conditional may be
used.

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If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + simple past present continuous conditional

If this thing happened that thing would be happening.

Function

This form is common in type 2 conditional sentences. It expresses an unfinished or

continuing action or situation, which is the probable result of an unreal condition.

Examples

• I would be working in Italy if I spoke Italian. (But I don't speak Italian, so I am not
working in Italy)
• She wouldn't be living with Jack if she lived with her parents. (But she is living
with Jack and not with her parents).
• You wouldn't be smiling if you knew the truth. (But you are smiling because you
don't know the truth.)

The present continuous conditional tense

The present continuous conditional tense of any verb is composed of three elements:
would + be + present participle
The present participle is formed by taking the base form of the verb and adding the -ing
ending.

Subject + would + be + present participle

He would be staying

They would be going

To Live: present continuous conditional

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Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative

negative

I would be living I wouldn't be living Would I be living? Wouldn't I be living?

You would be You wouldn't be Would you be Wouldn't you be

living living living? living?

He would be living He wouldn't be Would he be Wouldn't he be

living living? living?

She would be She wouldn't be Would she be Wouldn't she be

living living living? living?

We would be We wouldn't be Would we be Wouldn't we be

living living living? living?

They would be They wouldn't be Would they be Wouldn't they be

living living living? living?

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.

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If clause Main clause

If + past perfect perfect conditional or perfect continuous conditional

If this thing had that thing would have happened. (but neither of those
happened things really happened) OR
that thing would have been happening.

If you had studied you would have passed the exam.

harder

If it had rained you would have gotten wet.

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

promotion

Form

In a type 3 conditional sentence, the tense in the "if" clause is the past perfect, and the
tense in the main clause is the perfect conditional or the perfect continuous
conditional.

If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + past perfect perfect conditional or perfect continuous conditional

If this thing had happened that thing would have happened.

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As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to
rearrange the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the
clauses, but the meaning is identical.

Examples

• If it had rained, you would have gotten wet.

• You would have gotten wet if it had rained.

• You would have passed your exam if you had worked harder.

• If you had worked harder, you would have passed your exam.

• I would have believed you if you hadn't lied to me before.

• If you hadn't lied to me before, I would have believed you.

Function

The type 3 conditional refers to an impossible condition in the past and its probable
result in the past. These sentences are truly hypothetical and unreal, because it is now
too late for the condition or its result to exist. There is always some implication of regret
with type 3 conditional sentences. The reality is the opposite of, or contrary to, what the
sentence expresses. In type 3 conditional sentences, the time is the past and the
situation is hypothetical.

Examples

• If I had worked harder I would have passed the exam. (But I didn't work hard, and
I didn't pass the exam.)

• If I had known you were coming I would have baked a cake. (But I didn't know
and I didn't bake a cake.)

• I would have been happy if you had called me on my birthday. (But you didn't call
me and I am not happy.)

In type 3 conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of
"would" to express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the
outcome.

Examples

• If I had worked harder I might have passed the exam.

• You could have been on time if you had caught the bus.

• If he called you, you could go.

• If you bought my school supplies for me, I might be able to go to the park.

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Contractions
Both would and had can be contracted to 'd, which can be confusing if you are not
confident with type 3 conditional sentences. Remember 2 rules:
1. would never appears in the if-clause so if 'd appears in the if clause, it must be
abbreviating had.
2. had never appears before have so if 'd appears on a pronoun just before have, it
must be abbreviating would.

Examples

• If I'd known you were in hospital, I'd have visited you.

• If I had known you were in hospital, I would have visited you.

• I'd have bought you a present if I'd known it was your birthday.

• I would have bought you a present if I had known it was your birthday.

• If you'd given me your e-mail, I'd have written to you.

• If you had given me your e-mail, I would have written to you.

The perfect conditional tense

The perfect conditional of any verb is composed of three elements:

would + have + past participle
Have followed by the past participle is used in other constructions as well. it is called the
"perfect infinitive".

Subject + would + have + past participle

He would have gone

They would have stayed

To Go: perfect conditional

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Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative

negative

I would have gone I wouldn't have Would I have Wouldn't I have

gone gone? gone?

You would have You wouldn't have Would you have Wouldn't you have
gone gone gone? gone?

He would have He wouldn't have Would he have Wouldn't he have

gone gone gone? gone?

She would have She wouldn't have Would she have Wouldn't she have
gone gone gone? gone?

We would have We wouldn't have Would we have Wouldn't we have

gone gone gone? gone?

They would have They wouldn't Would they have Wouldn't they have
gone have gone gone? gone?

Perfect Continuous Conditional

Form

In type 3 conditional sentences, the perfect form of the present conditional may be
used.

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If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + past perfect perfect continuous conditional

If this thing had happened that thing would have been happening.

Function

The perfect continuous conditional can be used in type 3 conditional sentences. It refers
to the unfulfilled result of the action in the if-clause, and expresses this result as an
unfinished or continuous action.

Examples

• If the weather had been better (but it wasn't), I'd have been sitting in the garden
when he arrived (but I wasn't).

• If she hadn't got a job in London (but she did), she would have been working in
Paris (but she wasn't).

• If I had had a ball I would have been playing football.

• If I had known it was dangerous I wouldn't have been climbing that cliff.

The perfect continuous conditional tense

The perfect continuous conditional tense of any verb is composed of four elements:
would + have + been + present participle
The present participle is formed by taking the base form of the verb and adding the -ing
ending.

Subject + would + have + been + present participle

He would have been staying

They would have been going

To work: perfect continuous conditional

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Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative

negative

I would have been I wouldn't have Would I have been Wouldn't I have been
living been living living? living?

You would have You wouldn't have Would you have Wouldn't you have
been living been living been living? been living?

He would have He wouldn't have Would he have Wouldn't he have

been living been living been living? been living?

She would have She wouldn't have Would she have Wouldn't she have
been living been living been living? been living?

We would have We wouldn't have Would we have Wouldn't we have

been living been living been living? been living?

They would have They wouldn't Would they have Wouldn't they have
been living have been living been living? been living?

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.

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If clause Main clause

If + past perfect or present conditional or perfect conditional

simple past

If this thing had that thing would happen. (but this thing didn't happen so
happened that thing isn't happening)

If I had worked harder at I would have a better job now.

school

If we had looked at the we wouldn't be lost.

map

If you weren't afraid of you would have picked it up and put it outside.
spiders

It is possible for the two parts of a conditional sentence to refer to different times, and
the resulting sentence is a "mixed conditional" sentence. There are two types of mixed
conditional sentence.

Present result of a past condition

Form

In this type of mixed conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the past perfect,
and the tense in the main clause is the present conditional.

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If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + past perfect present conditional

If this thing had happened that thing would happen.

As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to
rearrange the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the
clauses, but the meaning is identical.

Examples

• If I had worked harder at school, I would have a better job now.

• I would have a better job now if I had worked harder at school.
• If we had looked at the map we wouldn't be lost.
• We wouldn't be lost if we had looked at the map.
• If you had caught that plane you would be dead now.
• You would be dead now if you had caught that plane.

Function

This type of mixed conditional refers to an unreal past condition and its probable result
in the present. These sentences express a situation which is contrary to reality both in
the past and in the present. In these mixed conditional sentences, the time is the past in
the "if" clause and in the present in the main clause.

Examples

• If I had studied I would have my driving license. (but I didn't study and now I don't
have my license)

• I would be a millionaire now if I had taken that job. (but I didn't take the job and
I'm not a millionaire)

• If you had spent all your money, you wouldn't buy this jacket. (but you didn't
spend all your money and now you can buy this jacket)
In these mixed conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause
instead of would to express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation
about the outcome

Examples

• If you had crashed the car, you might be in trouble.

• I could be a millionaire now if I had invested in ABC Plumbing.

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• If I had learned to ski, I might be on the slopes right now.

Past result of present or continuing condition

Form
In this second type of mixed conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the
simple past, and the tense in the main clause is the perfect conditional.

If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + simple past perfect conditional

If this thing happened that thing would have happened.

As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to
rearrange the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the
clauses, but the meaning is identical.

Examples

• If I wasn't afraid of spiders, I would have picked it up.

• I would have picked it up if I wasn't afraid of spiders.

• If we didn't trust him we would have sacked him months ago.

• We would have sacked him months ago if we didn't trust him.

• If I wasn't in the middle of another meeting, I would have been happy to help you.

• I would have been happy to help you if I wasn't in the middle of another meeting.

Function

These mixed conditional sentences refer to an unreal present situation and its probable
(but unreal) past result. In these mixed conditional sentences, the time in the if clause
is now or always and the time in the main clause is before now. For example, "If I
wasn't afraid of spiders" is contrary to present reality. I am afraid of spiders. "I would
have picked it up" is contrary to past reality. I didn't pick it up.

Examples

• If she wasn't afraid of flying she wouldn't have travelled by boat.

• I'd have been able to translate the letter if my Italian was better.
• If I was a good cook, I'd have invited them to lunch.
• If the elephant wasn't in love with the mouse, she'd have trodden on him by now.

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