Conditional

Sentences
Fachschaft Englisch
Maria-Montessori-Gesamtschule
Meerbusch
 Conditional sentences have two parts: the if-clause
and the main clause:

If it rains I will stay at home

If-clause Main clause

There are three kinds of conditional sentences. Each

kind contains a different pair of tenses. With each type
certain variations are possible but students who are
studying the conditional for the first time should ignore
these and concentrate on the basic forms.
 Type 1
The verb in the if-clause is in the present tense; the
verb in the main clause is in the future simple. It doesn't
matter which comes first.

If he runs he'll get there in time.

Simple
Future simple
present
This type of sentence implies that the action in the if-clause is
quite probable, that is to say, you are talking about something that
is generally true or happens often.

The cat will scratch you if you pull her tail.

 Possible variations of type 1 (I)
a) if + present – modal verb (usually can, may, must,
should):

If the fog gets thicker the plane may be diverted.

If you want to lose weight you should eat less bread.

b) if + present – another present tense (automatic or
habitual results):
If you heat ice it turns to water.
c) if + present – imperative:
Wake me up if you're worried.
 Possible variations of type 1 (II)
d) if + present progressive (to indicate a present action
or a future arrangement):

If you are looking for Peter you'll find him upstairs.

If you are staying for another night I'll ask the manager to
give you a better room.

e) if + present perfect:

If you have finished dinner I'll ask the waiter for the bill.
 Type 2
The verb in the if-clause is in the past tense; the verb
in the main clause is in the conditional tense:
If I had a pen I would lend it to you.

Simple Conditional
past tense

Type 2 indicates unreality or improbability, that is to

say, when you are talking about something that you think is
unlikely to happen.
I'd be in time for school if I lived near it.
 Possible variations of type 2
a) Were is sometimes used instead of was in the
conditional clause, especially after 'I':
If I weren't so busy, I would do it for you.
b) if + past progressive:
I hate flying. If we were going by boat I'd feel much
happier.
c) if + past perfect (this is a mixture of types 2 and 3):

If he had taken my advice he would be a rich man now.

d) might or could may be used instead of would:
If I knew her number I could ring her up.
 Type 3
The verb in the if-clause is in the past perfect tense;
the verb in the main clause is in the perfect conditional.
If he had realized that he would have run away.

Past perfect Perfect conditional

Type 3 indicates that the condition cannot be fulfilled
because the action in the if-clause didn't happen, that is to
say, when you are talking about something that could have
happened in the past but which did not actually happen.

I would have met you at the airport if I had known you

were coming.
 Possible variations of type 3
a) could or might may be used instead of would:

If we had found him earlier we could have saved his life.

b) had can be placed first and the if omitted:

If you had obeyed orders this wouldn't have
happened.
Had you obeyed orders this wouldn't have happened.
 Unless
When you want to mention an exception to what you
are saying, you use a conditional clause beginning with
unless.
You will fail your exams unless you work harder.
Note that you can often use if ... not instead of
unless.
You will fail your exams if you don't work harder.
When you use unless, you use the same tenses that
you use with if:
You wouldn't believe it, unless you saw it.
He wouldn't have let you go unless he had been forced to
do so.
 Other conditional expressions
If and unless are not the only ways of beginning
conditional clauses. You can also use as long as, only if,
provided, provided that, providing, providing that or so
long as. These expressions are all used to indicate that
one thing only happens or is true if another thing happens
or is true:
I will come only if nothing is said to the press.
She was prepared to come, provided that she could bring
her daughter.
Providing they remained at a safe distance, we would be
all right.
Water cannot harm a book, so long as it has been
properly stored.
 Now you … here‘s a short test!
 1. Conditional 1:
 (I - go by train) (I - be on time)
 ......................................................................................................
 (you - forget to phone) (you - not meet us)
 ......................................................................................................
 2. Conditional 2:
 (I – marry a rich partner) (we - live in a wonderful house)
 ......................................................................................................
 (we - have an indoor-swimming pool) (we – swim every day)
 ......................................................................................................
 3. Conditional 3:
 (John – not - eat too much Fast Food yesterday) (he - not feel sick)
 ......................................................................................................
 (We – play football for two hours in the morning) (we - be tired in the
afternoon)
 ......................................................................................................
 Check your results now!
 1. Conditional 1:
 If I go by train, I will be on time.
 ......................................................................................................
 If you forget to phone, you will not meet us.
 ......................................................................................................
 2. Conditional 2:
 If I married a rich partner, we would live in a wonderful house.
 ......................................................................................................
 If we had an indoor-swimming pool, we could swim every day!
 ......................................................................................................
 3. Conditional 3:
 If John hadn‘t eaten too much Fast Food yesterday, he wouldn‘t have felt sick.
 ......................................................................................................
 If we had played football for two hours in the morning, we would have been tired in the afternoon.
 ......................................................................................................