Scribd
Upload
19 views

Conditional Type

Uploaded by

Asmaë Asmaë
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
19 views

Conditional Type

Uploaded by

Asmaë Asmaë
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Conditional types

What Are the Different Types of Conditional 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.
1. Zero Conditional Sentences
2. First Conditional Sentences
3. Second Conditional Sentences
4. Third Conditional Sentences
Let’s look at each of these different types of conditional sentences in
more detail.

How to Use Zero Conditional Sentences?


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:
1. If you don’t brush your teeth, you get cavities.
2. when you boil water, it evaporates.
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.
 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.
How to Use First Conditional Sentences?
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:
1. If you rest, you will feel better.
2. If you set your mind to a goal, you’ll eventually achieve it.
Note that we use the simple present tense in the if-clause and
simple future tense in the main clause—that is, the clause that
expresses the likely outcome. This is how we indicate that under a
certain condition (as expressed in the if-clause), a specific result will
likely happen in the future.
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).

How to Use Second Conditional Sentences?


Second conditional sentences are useful for expressing
outcomes that are completely unrealistic or will not likely
happen in the future.
Consider the examples below:
1. If I inherited a billion dollars, I would travel to the moon.
2. 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).
How to Use Third Conditional Sentences?
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:
1. If you had told me you needed a ride, I would have left
earlier.
2. If I had cleaned the house, I could have gone to the
movies.
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, should, etc.) + have + past participle
in the main clause expresses the theoretical situation that could
have happened.

Punctuating Conditional Sentences


Despite the complex nature of conditional sentences,
punctuating them properly is really simple! Here’s the skinny:
Use a comma after the if-clause when the if-clause precedes
the main clause. If I’d had time, I would have cleaned the
house. If the main clause precedes the if-clause, no
punctuation is necessary.
1. I would have cleaned the house if I’d had time.
2. In case you buy a car, will you teach me to drive? (buy)
3. She wouldn’t have got angry if you had told her. (get)
4. If they supported our product when we asked them, they would
get a discount now. (support)
5. It will be a disaster unless Joyce helps us. (help)
6. I wouldn't risk it if I were you. (be)
7. The chicken isn't very good. It would have tasted better if you
had put some spices on it. (taste)
8. If the hotel in Paris had been full, we would have stayed
somewhere else. (stay)
9. If I got the job, I would be grateful to you. (be)
10. We would have been angry if you had refused the dinner.
( be)
11. She won't finish it on time if she doesn’t start right
now. (not start)

You might also like