Conditional sentences, also known as "if" clauses, are a fundamental part of English language that allow us to express various scenarios or hypotheses and their potential outcomes. There are several distinct types of these sentences, each carrying different meanings and possibilities. In this lesson, we will guide you through the most frequently used types of conditional sentences.
Lesson Introduction
Part 1
The Zero Conditional
|
Key Points |
|
(1)
The zero conditional
expresses facts or truths. It uses the present tense in both the 'if' clause and the main clause.
|
▶️ The zero conditional expresses facts or truths
If + subject + present tense verb …, subject + present tense verb …
subject + present tense verb … if subject + present tense verb …
Ice melts if you heat it.
Plants die if they don't get enough water.
If you mix blue and yellow, you get green.
▶️The zero conditional expresses instructions (imperative sentences)
If + subject + verb in present tense …, infinitive verb …
Infinitive verb … if + subject + verb in present tense …
If you feel sick, call a doctor.
Don't stay up late if you are tired.
Let me know if you need help.
The First Conditional
|
Key Points |
|
The first conditional
is used to express situations that are likely or possible in the future. This involves using the present tense in the 'if' clause and the future tense in the main clause.
The structure is as follows:
If + subject + present tense verb …, subject + will/can/may + base verb …
Example sentence: If it rains tomorrow, the soccer game will be put off. 👉 "It rains tomorrow" is a situation that is likely to happen in the future, so use the first conditional. |
Here are example sentences of the first conditional:
If it rains tomorrow, I
will stay at home.
If I save enough money, I
will go on a cruise.
If we go to Africa, we
will go on a safari.
If it rains, I
won't go anywhere.
If you invite Joe to the party,
he will be over the moon.
If it doesn't rain soon, the
water level in the reservoir
will continue to drop.
I will buy you dinner if I
get the job.
Continue to next part:
Part 2
The Second Conditional
|
Key Points |
|
The second conditional
is used to express hypothetical situations or events that are unlikely to happen. In the 'if' clause, we use the past tense. For 'be' verbs, we use 'were'. The main clause uses 'would', 'could', or 'might', followed by the base form of the main verb.
The structure is as follows:
Example sentence:
|
Here are example sentences of the second conditional:
If I had more time, I
would take the Japanese
course.
If I moved to the U.S., I
would learn English faster.
If the weather wasn't so bad,
we’d go to the park.
If I were the president, I
would focus on tackling climate
change.
If I were rich, I
could buy a big house.
I would go and see her if I
knew where she lived.
I would drive to the beach every
weekend if I had a car.
The Third Conditional
|
Key Points |
|
The third conditional
is used to express situations that did not happen in the past, and the hypothetical result that did not take place. The phrase 'if' introduces a clause in the past perfect tense, which is followed by a main clause that uses the form "would/could/might have + past participle".
|
Here are example sentences of the third conditional:
If it had rained, you
would have gotten wet.
If I had known you were in the
hospital, I would have visited
you.
If I had known the cost of the
repair beforehand, I
wouldn't have bought the car in
the first place.
You would have passed the final
exam if you had studied
harder.
You could have been on time if
you had caught the bus.
I'd have bought you a present if
I'd known it was your birthday.
Continue to next part:
Part 3
Mixed Conditionals
|
Key Points |
|
The mixed conditional
is used when we want to make a hypothesis about the past that has a consequence in the present. In the mixed conditional, the 'if' clause is written in the past perfect tense (had + past participle), while the verb in the main clause takes the form of 'would/could/might + original verb'.
👉The first sentence suggests that if the person being addressed was born a month earlier than their actual birth date, their zodiac sign would be Virgo.
|
Here are example sentences of mixed conditionals:
If I had finished my assignments
sooner, I could be out with
friends now.
We would be on a beach in Miami
by now if we hadn't missed our
flight.
If you hadn't failed this class
in your freshman year, you
wouldn't need to retake this
class this semester.
If I had studied harder in my
first year of high school, I
wouldn't have to go to cram
schools now.
“Were to” in Conditional Sentences
|
Key Points |
|
The phrase "were to" is used in conditional sentences to talk about hypothetical or unlikely situations in the future. We use "were to" with all subjects (I, you, he, she, it, we, they). It's followed by a verb that shows an action or state.
|
Here are example sentences using “were to”:
If I were to let the manager
know I have made so many mistakes at work, he
would kill me.
If I were to live in another
city, I would live in Paris.
If Emma were to fail her driving
test next Friday, she would have
to retake it.
If she were to move to New York,
she could see Broadway shows all
the time.
They would be very upset if we
were to cancel the event.
This is the final section of the lesson. I'm ready to start the review exercises!
Review Exercise (1/10)
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((C))".
clear Not quite. ((C)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (C) would go.
The sentence is a hypothetical or conditional sentence, which means it describes a situation that didn't actually happen (the weather was bad, so Nancy didn't go to the park). In English, we use "would" plus the base form of the verb to talk about hypothetical or conditional situations in the past. So, "would go" is the correct form to use in this sentence.
(A) "goes" is incorrect because it's the present tense form of the verb, but the sentence is about a past situation.
(B) "have gone" is incorrect because this is the present perfect form of the verb "to go", and it doesn't fit the hypothetical past situation described in the sentence.
(D) "will go" is also incorrect because it's a future tense form, which doesn't fit the past hypothetical context of the sentence.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((C))".
clear Not quite. ((C)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (C) would have improved.
The sentence is a third conditional sentence, which discusses an unreal or hypothetical situation in the past and its probable result. Third conditionals are formed by using the past perfect tense in the if-clause (had reduced) and would have + past participle in the result clause.
Thus, "would have improved" is the correct answer because it follows the correct structure of the third conditional. It suggests that if the government had reduced personal income taxes in the past (which it didn't), the national economy would have improved more quickly.
(A) "improved" is incorrect because it does not follow the correct form of the third conditional. This form would imply a simple past action, not a hypothetical past action and its result.
(B) "has improved" is incorrect because it uses the present perfect tense, which talks about an action that happened at an unspecified time before now. This tense does not fit the hypothetical past situation presented in the sentence.
(D) "has been improved" is also incorrect because it uses the present perfect passive tense, which would mean that the action (improvement) was done to the economy by someone or something else. This does not fit the context or the structure of the third conditional.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((C))".
clear Not quite. ((C)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (C) is.
This sentence is in the conditional form, which often includes an "if" clause. In this case, the sentence is in the present tense and the "if" clause requires the present tense verb "is". "Is" is the third person singular form of "to be". So, when the subject is the proposal (third person singular), we use "is".
(A) "had been" is in the past perfect tense, which is not suitable for this sentence because the approval of the proposal and the action of the publisher are not in the past.
(B) "was" is past tense. The sentence is talking about a future event (the publisher will send a timetable), so a past tense verb doesn't make sense in this context.
(D) "were" is the past tense plural form of "to be". It is also used in the subjunctive mood for hypothetical or contrary-to-fact conditions. However, in this sentence the condition (the proposal's approval) is not contrary to fact or hypothetical. Therefore, "were" is not suitable here.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((B))".
clear Not quite. ((B)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (B) wouldn't be.
In this sentence, we are talking about a hypothetical or unreal past situation and its possible outcome in the present. In English grammar, this is expressed using the third conditional. The third conditional is made up of two parts: the if-clause (if + past perfect), and the main clause (would + have + past participle). Here, the if-clause is "If we had set off earlier", and the main clause should be "we wouldn't be in this traffic jam now".
(A) "won’t be" is incorrect because it's a future tense. However, the sentence is talking about an unreal or hypothetical situation in the past and its possible outcome in the present, not about the future.
(C) "aren’t" is also incorrect because it is a present tense form. The sentence requires a conditional form to express the hypothetical outcome of a past action.
(D) "had been" is incorrect because it's a past perfect tense form. While the third conditional does use the past perfect in the if-clause, the main clause needs the form "would + base form" to express the hypothetical outcome. "Had been" would indicate a different time relationship, implying that we were in the traffic jam at some earlier point, not that we are in it now as a result of not setting off earlier.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((C))".
clear Not quite. ((C)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (C) would apply.
The sentence structure of "If + past simple, ...would + base form" is used to talk about hypothetical or unreal situations in the present or future. The speaker is imagining a situation where Brad's English skills are better. In such a case, Brad would apply for a job abroad, which is not a real situation at present, hence the term "hypothetical". Therefore, the use of "would apply" is correct.
(A) "will be applying" is incorrect because it's a future continuous tense which is used to talk about actions that will be in progress at a certain point in the future. It does not fit the hypothetical nature of the sentence.
(B) "is applying" is incorrect because it's a present continuous tense used for actions happening now or for future plans. It contradicts the hypothetical condition set by the "if" clause.
(D) "will apply" is incorrect because it's a future simple tense used for decisions, predictions or promises about the future. It does not fit the hypothetical nature of the sentence.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((D))".
clear Not quite. ((D)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (D) had not been evacuated.
Explanation: This sentence is a third conditional sentence. This type of sentence is used to express unreal or hypothetical situations in the past. It is formed with the past perfect in the if-clause (if + subject + had + past participle) and would+have+past participle in the main clause. Answer choice (D) correctly follows this structure: "if the residents had not been evacuated, the death toll would have been much higher."
(A) "were not evacuating" is incorrect because it uses the past continuous tense, which is used to describe an ongoing action in the past. However, in this context, a completed action (the evacuation) is being referred to, so the past perfect tense should be used instead.
(B) "would not be evacuated" is incorrect because it does not follow the correct structure of the third conditional. The if-clause should be in the past perfect tense, not conditional.
(C) "are not evacuated" is incorrect because it uses the present tense, while the sentence is discussing a hypothetical past event. Therefore, the past perfect tense should be used instead.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((A))".
clear Not quite. ((A)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (A) were.
This sentence is a hypothetical condition, often referred to as the second conditional. The second conditional is used to talk about unreal, or impossible situations in the present or future. It is formed with "if + past simple..., ...would + infinitive..." In this case, "If I were Gina" indicates an unreal situation where the speaker is not and cannot be Gina. Therefore, "were" is the correct verb form to use.
(B) "am" is incorrect because it is the present tense of "be." It does not fit in the second conditional structure, which requires the past simple tense for hypothetical situations.
(C) "are" is also incorrect because it is the present tense form of "be" for first and second-person plural and third-person plural. It cannot be used here due to the requirement of the past simple tense in the second conditional.
(D) "was" is the past simple form of "be" for first and third person singular; however, for unreal conditionals that involve the first person singular pronoun 'I', the convention is to use 'were' instead of 'was'. This is a common exception in English grammar.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((D))".
clear Not quite. ((D)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (D) was.
In English, when we discuss hypothetical or unreal situations in the past, we use the second conditional structure, which is "if + past simple, ...would + base verb". In this sentence, "if the advertising campaign WAS more effective" is a hypothetical situation. Therefore, we use "was", the past simple form of the verb "be", to match the structure of the second conditional.
(A) "will be" is incorrect because it is in the future tense, which is not used in a second conditional sentence. We use the future tense when we talk about real and possible situations in the future, not hypothetical past situations.
(B) "is" is incorrect because it is in the present tense. We use the present tense when we talk about real and current situations, not hypothetical past situations.
(C) "have been" is incorrect because it is in the present perfect tense, which is used to talk about actions that happened at an unspecified time before now. In this context, we are discussing a hypothetical situation in the past, so we should not use the present perfect tense.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((A))".
clear Not quite. ((A)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (A) would have offered.
The sentence is a third conditional sentence, which is used to talk about hypothetical situations in the past. In third conditional sentences, the structure is "if + past perfect, would have + past participle". Here, "if the computer had been damaged" is the "if + past perfect" part, so the second clause should be "would have + past participle". Therefore, "would have offered" is the correct answer.
(B) "has offered" is incorrect because it is present perfect tense, which is used to talk about actions that happened at an unspecified time before now or actions that started in the past and continue to the present time. This tense is not suitable for the hypothetical past situation described in the sentence.
(C) "is being offered" is incorrect because it is present continuous tense, which is used to talk about ongoing actions in the present time. This tense is not suitable for the hypothetical past situation described in the sentence.
(D) "would have been offered" is incorrect because it is in the passive voice. The sentence needs to be in the active voice because the company is the one doing the action (offering a replacement), not receiving the action.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((C))".
clear Not quite. ((C)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (C) had offered.
In this sentence, we are dealing with a third conditional situation. The third conditional is used to talk about unreal situations in the past, often to express regret or to speculate about what could have happened. The structure for the third conditional is: if + past perfect, would/could/might + have + past participle. Therefore, "had offered" is the correct option because it follows this structure and maintains the appropriate tense in the sentence.
(A) "have offered" is incorrect because it is in the present perfect tense, which is used to talk about actions that happened at an unspecified time before now, or that started in the past and continue in the present. This doesn't fit the context of the sentence, which is talking about a hypothetical situation in the past.
(B) "offered" is incorrect because it is in the simple past tense, which is used to talk about finished actions in the past. This doesn't fit the context of the sentence, which is talking about a hypothetical scenario (not a factual one) in the past.
(D) "was offered" is incorrect because it is in the passive voice and changes the meaning of the sentence. We need the active voice "had offered" – meaning that Nancy would be the one offering the ride – not the passive voice "was offered", which would mean that someone offered Nancy a ride.
Restart Test
Some mobile devices have a security feature that prevents audio from playing automatically.
Please click the 'Continue' button below to enable auto play on your device.
Note: It'll take a few seconds for the audio to start playing.