CONDITIONAL FORM
TYPE 1
TYPE 2
TYPE 3
TYPE 1 CONDITIONAL FORM
FORM
In a Type 1 conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the simple present, and the
tense in the main clause is the simple future.
If clause (condition) Main clause (result)
If + simple present simple future
If this thing happens that thing will happen.
As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to
rearrange the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but
the meaning is identical.
EXAMPLES
If it rains, you will get wet.
You will get wet if it rains.
If Sally is late again I will be mad.
I will be mad if Sally is late again.
If you don't hurry, you will miss the bus.
You will miss the bus if you don't hurry.
FUNCTION
The type 1 conditional refers to a possible condition and its probable result. These sentences
are based on facts, and they are used to make statements about the real world, and about
particular situations. We often use such sentences to give warnings. In type 1 conditional
sentences, the time is the present or future and the situation is real.
EXAMPLES
If I have time, I'll finish that letter.
What will you do if you miss the plane?
Nobody will notice if you make a mistake.
If you drop that glass, it will break.
If you don't drop the gun, I'll shoot!
If you don't leave, I'll call the police.
In type 1 conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of the
future tense to express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the
outcome.
EXAMPLES
If you drop that glass, it might break.
I may finish that letter if I have time.
If he calls you, you should go.
If you buy my school supplies for me, I will be able to go to the park.
TYPE 2 CONDITIONAL
FORM
In a Type 2 conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the simple past, and the tense in
the main clause is the present conditional or the present continuous conditional.
If clause (condition) Main clause (result)
If + simple past present conditional or present continuous conditional
If this thing happened that thing would happen.
EXAMPLES
If it rained, you would get wet.
You would get wet if it rained.
If you went to bed earlier you wouldn't be so tired.
You wouldn't be so tired if you went to bed earlier.
If she fell, she would hurt herself.
She would hurt herself if she fell.
FUNCTION
The type 2 conditional refers to an unlikely or hypothetical condition and its probable
result. These sentences are not based on the actual situation. In type 2 conditional sentences,
the time is now or any time and the situation is hypothetical.
EXAMPLES
If the weather wasn't so bad, we would go to the park. (But the weather is bad so we can't
go.)
If I was the Queen of England, I would give everyone a chicken. (But I am not the Queen.)
If you really loved me, you would buy me a diamond ring.
If I knew where she lived, I would go and see her.
It is correct, and very common, to say "if I were" instead of "if I was" (subjunctive mood).
EXAMPLES
If I were taller, I would buy this dress.
If I were 20, I would travel the world.
If I were you, I would give up smoking.
If I were a plant, I would love the rain.
In type 2 conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of "would"
to express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the outcome.
EXAMPLES
We might buy a larger house if we had more money
He could go to the concert if you gave him your ticket.
If he called me, I couldn't hear.
THE PRESENT CONDITIONAL TENSE
The present conditional of any verb is composed of two elements:
would + the infinitive of the main verb, without "to"
Subject + would + infinitive
He would go
They would stay
TO GO: PRESENT CONDITIONAL
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative Negative
I would go I wouldn't go Would I go? Wouldn't I go?
You would go You wouldn't go Would you go? Wouldn't you go?
He would go He wouldn't go Would he go? Wouldn't he go?
She would go She wouldn't go Would she go? Wouldn't she go?
We would go We wouldn't go Would we go? Wouldn't we go?
They would go They wouldn't go Would they go? Wouldn't they go?
TYPE 3 CONDITIONAL
FORM
In a Type 3 conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the past perfect, and the tense in
the main clause is the perfect conditional or the perfect continuous conditional.
If clause (condition) Main clause (result)
If + past perfect perfect conditional or perfect continuous conditional
If this thing had happened that thing would have happened.
As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to
rearrange the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but
the meaning is identical.
EXAMPLES
If it had rained, you would have gotten wet.
You would have gotten wet if it had rained.
You would have passed your exam if you had worked harder.
If you had worked harder, you would have passed your exam.
I would have believed you if you hadn't lied to me before.
If you hadn't lied to me before, I would have believed you.
FUNCTION
The type 3 conditional refers to an impossible condition in the past and its probable result
in the past. These sentences are truly hypothetical and unreal, because it is now too late for
the condition or its result to exist. There is always some implication of regret with type 3
conditional sentences. The reality is the opposite of, or contrary to, what the sentence
expresses. In type 3 conditional sentences, the time is the past and the situation
is hypothetical.
EXAMPLES
If I had worked harder I would have passed the exam. (But I didn't work hard, and I
didn't pass the exam.)
If I had known you were coming I would have baked a cake. (But I didn't know and I
didn't bake a cake.)
I would have been happy if you had called me on my birthday. (But you didn't call me
and I am not happy.)
In type 3 conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of "would"
to express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the outcome.
EXAMPLES
If I had worked harder I might have passed the exam.
You could have been on time if you had caught the bus.
If he called you, you could go.
If you bought my school supplies for me, I might be able to go to the park.
CONTRACTIONS
Both would and had can be contracted to 'd, which can be confusing if you are not confident
with type 3 conditional sentences. Remember 2 rules:
A. would never appears in the if-clause so if 'd appears in the if clause, it must be
abbreviating had.
B. had never appears before have so if 'd appears on a pronoun just before have, it must be
abbreviating would.
EXAMPLES
If I'd known you were in hospital, I'd have visited you.
If I had known you were in hospital, I would have visited you.
I'd have bought you a present if I'd known it was your birthday.
I would have bought you a present if I had known it was your birthday.
If you'd given me your e-mail, I'd have written to you.
If you had given me your e-mail, I would have written to you.
THE PERFECT CONDITIONAL TENSE
The perfect conditional of any verb is composed of three elements:
would + have + past participle
Have followed by the past participle is used in other constructions as well. it is called the
"perfect infinitive".
Subject + would + have + past participle
He would have gone
They would have stayed
TO GO: PERFECT CONDITIONAL
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative
Negative
I would have gone I wouldn't have gone Would I have gone? Wouldn't I
have gone?
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative
Negative
You would have gone You wouldn't have Would you have Wouldn't you
gone gone? have gone?
He would have gone He wouldn't have gone Would he have gone? Wouldn't he
have gone?
She would have gone She wouldn't have Would she have Wouldn't she
gone gone? have gone?
We would have gone We wouldn't have gone Would we have gone? Wouldn't we
have gone?
They would have They wouldn't have Would they have Wouldn't they
gone gone gone? have gone?
