Conditional Sentences
Conditional Sentence Type 0
Conditional
type zero is used to talk about general truths, scientific facts or things
which always happen under certain conditions.
Form:
|
If +
Simple Present, + Simple Present
|
Use:
The zero conditional
is used to talk about things which are always true, scientific facts, general
truths:
Examples:
If you cross an international date line, the time
changes.
Phosphorus burns if you expose it to air.
If I wake up early, I go jogging.
Phosphorus burns if you expose it to air.
If I wake up early, I go jogging.
NOTE: you
can use "when" instead of "if".
Conditional Sentence Type 1
Often
called the "real" conditional because it is used for real or possible
situations. These situations take place if a certain condition is met. It is
possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled.
Form:
|
If +
Simple Present, + Simple Future
|
Use
Conditional
Sentences Type1 refer to the future. An action in the future will only happen
if a certain condition is fulfilled by that time. We don't know for sure whether
the condition actually will be fulfilled or not, but the conditions seems
rather realistic – so we think it is likely to happen.
Example:
If I have enough time, I'll watch the football match.
I may have time to watch the match but I'm not sure
about it.
Conditional Sentence Type 2
Often
called the "unreal" conditional because it is used for unreal
impossible or improbable situations. This conditional provides an imaginary
result for a given situation. It is very unlikely that the condition
will be fulfilled.
Form:
|
if +
Simple Past, + would + base verb
|
Were /
Was
In
conditional type 2, we usually use in the if clause "were" instead of
"was" even if the pronoun is I, he, she or it.
"were" here is a subjunctive form.
NOTE
"was" is also a possible form.
Example:
If I were a millionaire, I would buy a castle.
Use
Conditional
Sentences Type 2 refer to an action in the present that could happen if the
present situation were different. I don't really expect the situation to change
because it is very unlikely.
Example:
If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the
world.
Conditional Sentence Type 3
It is impossible
that the condition will be met because it refers to the past.
Form:
|
if +
Past Perfect, + would + have + Past Participle
|
Use
Conditional
Sentences Type 3 refer to situations in the past. They expresse hypothetical
results to past given situations.
Example:
If he had been careful, he wouldn't have had that
terrible accident.
Sometimes in the past, he was careless. He drove so
fast. So he had a terrible accident
Things to remember
1. The
main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't
use a comma.
Examples:
"Phosphorus burns if you expose it to air."
" I will send her an invitation if I find her address."
" I would travel around the world if I had a million dollars."
"He wouldn't have had that terrible accident if he had been careful."
" I will send her an invitation if I find her address."
" I would travel around the world if I had a million dollars."
"He wouldn't have had that terrible accident if he had been careful."
2. Main
clause and/or if clause might be negative.
Example:
If I don’t see him this afternoon, I will phone
him in the evening.
If he had been careful, he wouldn't have had an accident.
If he had been careful, he wouldn't have had an accident.
- If I (finish)______________ early, I will call you.
- I (catch)___________ the 9:00 train if I hurry up .
- He (visit)_____________ his uncle, if he finishes early.
- If she had taken care of her son, he (not/become) ________________a
criminal.
- If I were a star, I (help)_____________ the poor.
