CONDITIONAL

Conditional tenses are used to speculate about what could happen, what might have happened, and what we wish
would happen. In English, most sentences using the conditional contain the word if. Many conditional forms in
English are used in sentences that include verbs in one of the past tenses. This usage is referred to as "the unreal
past" because we use a past tense but we are not actually referring to something that happened in the past. There
are five main ways of constructing conditional sentences in English. In all cases, these sentences are made up of
an if clause and a main clause. In many negative conditional sentences, there is an equivalent sentence
construction using "unless" instead of "if".

Conditional
If clause verb
sentence Usage Main clause verb tense
tense
type
Zero General truths Simple present Simple present
A possible condition and its probable
Type 1 Simple present Simple future
result
A hypothetical condition and its Present conditional or Present continuous
Type 2 Simple past
probable result conditional

THE ZERO CONDITIONAL

EXAMPLES
 If you heat ice, it melts.
 Ice melts if you heat it.
 When you heat ice, it melts.
 Ice melts when you heat it.
 If it rains, the grass gets wet.
 The grass gets wet if it rains.
 When it rains, the grass gets wet.
 The grass gets wet when it rains.

2. FUNCTION
The zero conditional is used to make statements about the real world, and often refers to general truths, such as
scientific facts. In these sentences, the time is now or always and the situation is real and possible.
EXAMPLES
 If you freeze water, it becomes a solid.
 Plants die if they don't get enough water.
 If my husband has a cold, I usually catch it.
 If public transport is efficient, people stop using their cars.
 If you mix red and blue, you get purple.
TYPE 1 CONDITIONAL
1. FORM
The type 1 conditional is used to refer to the present or future where the situation is real. The type 1
conditional refers to a possible condition and its probable result. In these sentences the if clause is in the simple
present, and the main clause is in the simple future.
If Clause Main Clause
If + Simple Present Simple Future
If this things 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.

2. 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.

TYPE 2 CONDITIONAL
1. FORM
The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a time that is now or any time, and a situation that is unreal. These
sentences are not based on fact. The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a hypothetical condition and its
probable result. In type 2 conditional sentences, the if clause uses the simple past, and the main clause uses the
present conditional.
If Clause Main Clause
If + Simple Past Present Conditional (would + the infinitive of the main
verb, without ‘to’) or Present Continuous Conditional
(would + be + present participle/V1 + -ing).
If this thing happened That thing would happen. (But I’m not sure this thing
will happen) or that thing would be happening.

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 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.

2. 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.
 I would be working in Italy if I spoke Italian. (But I don't speak Italian, so I am not working in Italy)
 She wouldn't be living with Jack if she lived with her parents. (But she is living with Jack and not with her
parents).
 You wouldn't be smiling if you knew the truth. (But you are smiling because you don't know the truth.)

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.