Conditional (If) Clauses Grammar Explanation and Sentences
English learners
often have problems with conditional sentences. One problem is knowing which
conditional to use. We may then have difficulties with the construction of the first,
second or third conditional sentence.
Here are all four
conditional forms in English, with examples and explanations of when and how to
use them.
Zero conditional
If people eat too much, they get fat.
Zero conditional – examples, structure, usage
If people eat too much, they get fat.
Zero conditional – examples, structure, usage
First conditional
If I have time, I will visit you.
First conditional – examples, structure, usage
If I have time, I will visit you.
First conditional – examples, structure, usage
Second conditional
If I had more time, I would travel the world.
Second conditional – examples, structure, usage
If I had more time, I would travel the world.
Second conditional – examples, structure, usage
Third conditional
If I had had time, I would have gone to the football match.
Third conditional – examples, structure, usage
If I had had time, I would have gone to the football match.
Third conditional – examples, structure, usage
Conditional Clause and Main Clause
If I have enough money,
conditional clause |
I will go to Japan.
main clause |
I will go to Japan,
main clause |
if I have enough money
conditional clause |
First, Second, and
Third Conditional
1. First
conditional:
|
If I have enough money, I will go to Japan.
|
2.
Second conditional:
|
If I had enough money, I would go to Japan.
|
3. Third
conditional:
|
If I had had enough money, I would have gone to Japan.
|
Conditional clause
|
Main
clause
|
1. If
+ Present Tense
|
will + inf / present tense / imperative
|
a. If you help me with the dishes (if +
pres),
I will help you with your homework. (will + inf)
b. If
the sum of the digits of a number is divisible by three,
the number is divisible by three (Pres. tense)
c.
If you see Mr Fox tonight, tell him I am ill.
(imperative).
|
|
2. If
+ Past Tense
|
would + inf
|
3. If
+ Past Perfect Tense
|
would have + past participle
|
We do not
normally use will or would in the conditional clause,
only in the main clause. |
Uses of the
Conditional
1.
First conditional
a.
Nature: Open condition, what is said in the
condition is possible.
b.
Time: This condition refers either to present or
to future time.
e.g. If he is late, we will have to go without him.
If my mother knows about this, we are in serious trouble.
e.g. If he is late, we will have to go without him.
If my mother knows about this, we are in serious trouble.
2.
Second conditional
a.
Nature: unreal (impossible) or improbable
situations.
b.
Time: present; the TENSE is past, but we are
talking about the present, now.
e.g. If I knew her name, I would tell you.
If I were you, I would tell my father.
e.g. If I knew her name, I would tell you.
If I were you, I would tell my father.
Compare: If I become
president, I will change the social security system. (Said by a presidential
candidate)
If I became president, I would change the social security system. (Said by a
schoolboy: improbable)
If we win this match, we are qualified for the semifinals.
If I won a million pounds, I would stop teaching. (improbable)
3.
Third conditional
a.
Nature: unreal
b.
Time: Past (so we are talking about a situation
that was not so in the past.)
e.g. If you had warned me, I would not have told your father about that party.(But you didn't, and I have).
e.g. If you had warned me, I would not have told your father about that party.(But you didn't, and I have).
Remember!
1. The conditional construction does not
normally use will or would in if-clauses. EXCEPTION: If will or would express willingness, as in requests,
they can be used in if-clauses.
e.g. If you will come
this way, the manager will see you now.
I would be grateful if you would give me a little help.
(= ± please, come this way; please, give me...)
2. For the second conditional, were replaces was:
If I were a rich man...
3. After if,
we can either use "some(-one, -where...)" or "any(-one,
-where...).
If I have some spare time
next weekend....or :
If I have any spare time...
4. Instead of if
not, we can use unless.
e.g. I'll be back
tomorrow unless there is a plane strike.
He'll accept the job unless the salary is too low.
5.There is a "mixed type" as well, for the present results of
an unreal condition in
the past:
If + Past Perfect - would
+ inf.
If you had warned me [then], I would not be in prison [now].
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