Conditional Clause and Main Clause

If I have enough money, I will go to Japan.

conditional clause main clause
I will go to Japan, if I have enough money
main clause 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.

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.
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).

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].
Conditional Sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If Clauses. They are used to
express that the action in the main clause (without if) can only take place if a certain condition (in
the clause with if) is fulfilled. There are three types of Conditional Sentences.

Conditional Sentence Type 1

→ It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled.

Form: if + Simple Present, will-Future

Example: If I find her address, I’ll send her an invitation.

more on Conditional Sentences Type I ►

Conditional Sentence Type 2

→ It is possible but very unlikely, that the condition will be fulfilled.

Form: if + Simple Past, Conditional I (= would + Infinitive)

Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation.

more on Conditional Sentences Type II ►

Conditional Sentence Type 3

→ It is impossible that the condition will be fulfilled because it refers to the past.

Form: if + Past Perfect, Conditional II (= would + have + Past Participle)

Example: If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.

more on Conditional Sentences Type III ►

Exceptions
Sometimes Conditional Sentences Type I, II and III can also be used with other tenses.

So far you have only learned the basic rules for Conditional Sentences. It depends on the context,
however, which tense to use. So sometimes it's possible for example that in an IF Clause Type I
another tense thanSimple Present is used, e.g. Present Progressive or Present Perfect.

Conditional Sentences Type I (likely)

Condition refers
IF Clause Main Clause
to:

Future I …I will buy it.

Imperative …buy it.

future action Simple Present If the book is interesting, …
Modal
…you can buy it.
Auxiliary

action going on Present If he is snoring, … Future I …I will wake him up.

 Condition refers
IF Clause Main Clause
to:

Imperative …wake him up.

now Progressive
Modal
…you can wake him up.
Auxiliary

Future I …we will visit him.

If he has moved into his new Imperative …visit him.

finished action Present Perfect
flat, …
Modal
…we can visit him.
Auxiliary

Future I …I will congratulate her.

Imperative …congratulate her.

improbable action should + Infinitive If she should win this race, …
Modal …we can congratulate
Auxiliary her.

Simple
present facts Simple Present If he gets what he wants, … …he is very nice.
Present

Conditional Sentences Type II (unlikely)

Condition refers to: IF Clause Main Clause

present / future event Simple Past If I had a lot of money, … Conditional I …I would travel around the world.

consequence in the past Simple Past If I knew him, … Conditional II …I would have said hello.

Conditional Sentences Type II (impossible)

Condition refers to: IF Clause Main Clause

present Past Perfect If I had known it, … Conditional I …I would not be here now.

Conditional
past Past Perfect If he had learned for the test, … …he would not have failed it.
II

Conditional Sentences Type I

To illustrate the use of different tenses, similar examples are used in the exercise. Complete the
Conditional Sentences Type I according to the information in brackets.

1. If it (rain /still - action going on now) , (stay - imperative) here for another while.

2. If it (stop - completed action) raining, we (go - future) .

3. If it (start - fact) raining, we always (close - fact) the windows.

4. If it (rain / should - not very likely) , please (close - imperative) the windows.

5. If it (rain - future action) , the windows (must / close - passive voice) .

Conditional Sentences Type II

Study the following situations. In every sentence, the 'if' clause expresses a general situation in
the present (Type II). Decide, however, whether the consequences refer to the present
(Conditional I) or past (Conditional II).

1. I am trying to reach Sue on the phone now, but I'm afraid she is not there because …

If she (be) at the office, she (answer) the phone.

2. A couple of minutes ago, I tried to reach Sue on the phone, but I'm afraid she is not there because …

If she (be) at the office, she (answer) the phone.

3. I want to ring a friend now, but I don't know his phone number.

If I (know) his phone number, I (ring) him.

4. A week ago, I wanted to ring a friend, but I don't know his phone number.

If I (know) his phone number, I (ring) him.

5. A friend tells me what she is planning to do. I don't think what she is planning is a good idea.

If I (be) you, I (do / not) this.

6. A friend tells me what she did. I don't think what she did was a good idea.

If I (be) you, I (do / not) this.

7. Somebody tells me that Sarah is on holiday in Italy at the moment. This cannot be true because I'm
seeing her in town tonight.

If Sarah (be) in Italy, I (see / not) her in town tonight.

8. Somebody tells me that Sarah is on holiday in Italy at the moment. This cannot be true because I saw
her in town last night.

If Sarah (be) in Italy, I (see / not) her in town last night.

9. My brother feels like he is getting the flu. I tell him …

You (get / not) the flu if you (eat) more fruit.

10. A few weeks ago, my brother had the flu. I tell him …

You (get / not) the flu if you (eat) more fruit.

Conditional Sentences Type III

Study the following situations. In every sentence, the 'if' clause expresses a situation in the past
(Type III). Decide, however, whether the consequences refer to the present (Conditional I) or past
(Conditional II).

1. It didn't rain yesterday. So I had to water the plants yesterday.

If it (rain) yesterday, I (water / not) the plants.

2. It didn't rain yesterday. So I am watering the plants now.

If it (rain) yesterday, I (water / not) the plants now.

3. I went to bed late last night. So I am still tired now.

If I (go) to bed earlier yesterday, I (feel / not) so tired now.

4. I went to bed late last Tuesday. So I was very tired the following day.

If I (go) to bed earlier that Tuesday, I (feel / not) that tired the following day.
5. After a night out, I want to drive home now. I haven't drunk any alcohol.

If I (drink) alcohol, I (drive / not) .

6. After a night out last weekend, I drove home. I hadn't drunk any alcohol.

If I (drink) alcohol, I (drive / not) .

7. We won the match last week. So when we came home, we looked really happy.

We (look / not) that happy if we (win / not) the match.

8. We've just won a match. So we look really happy now.

We (look / not) that happy if we (win / not) the match.

9. My daughter is blamed for having done something. She tells me now that she didn't do it. I believe
her.

She (tell) me if she (do) it.

10. Last year, my daughter was blamed for having done something. She told me that she hadn't done it. I
believed her.

She (tell) me if she (do) it.

 Conditional sentences
Conditional sentences are sometimes confusing for learners of English as a second language.

Watch out:

1. Which type of conditional sentences is it?

2. Where is the if-clause (e.g. at the beginning or at the end of the conditional sentence)?

There are three types of conditional sentences.

type condition

I condition possible to fulfill

II condition in theory possible to fulfill

III condition not possible to fulfill (too late)

1. Form

type if-clause main clause

I Simple Present will-future or (Modal + infinitive)

II Simple Past would + infinitive *

III Past Perfect would + have + past participle *

2. Examples (if-clause at the beginning)

 type if clause main clause

I If I study, I will pass the exam.

II If I studied, I would pass the exam.

III If I had studied, I would have passed the exam.

3. Examples (if-clause at the end)

type main clause if-clause

I I will pass the exam if I study.

II I would pass the exam if I studied.

III I would have passed the exam if I had studied.

4. Examples (affirmative and negative sentences)

type Examples

long forms short/contracted forms

+ If I study, I will pass the exam. If I study, I'll pass the exam.

I
If I study, I will not fail the exam. If I study, I won't fail the exam.
-
If I do not study, I will fail the exam. If I don't study, I'll fail the exam.

II + If I studied, I would pass the exam. If I studied, I'd pass the exam.
 type Examples

long forms short/contracted forms

If I studied, I would not fail the exam. If I studied, I wouldn't fail the exam.
-
If I did not study, I would fail the exam. If I didn't study, I'd fail the exam.

If I had studied, I would have passed the

+ If I'd studied, I'd have passed the exam.
exam.

III
If I had studied, I would not have failed the If I'd studied, I wouldn't have failed the
exam. exam.
-
If I had not studied, I would have failed the If I hadn't studied, I'd have failed the
exam. exam.

* We can substitute could or might for would (should, may or must are sometimes possible,
too).

 I would pass the exam.

 I could pass the exam.

 I might pass the exam.

 I may pass the exam.

 I should pass the exam.

 I must pass the exam.

Conditional sentences – type I

1. Use
It is possible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.

2. Form
if clause main clause

will-future

Simple Present infinitive

Modal + infinitive

3. Examples

if clause main clause

If I study, I will pass the exams.

If you see John tonight, tell him to e-mail me.

If Ben gets up early, he can catch the bus.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.

if clause main clause

If I study, I will pass the exams.

main clause if clause

 if clause main clause

I will pass the exams if I study.

Conditional sentences – type II

1. Use
It is theoretically possible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.

2. Form

if clause main clause

would + infinitive

Simple Past could + infinitive

might + infinitive

3. Examples

if clause main clause

If I studied, I would pass the exams.

 if clause main clause

If I studied, I could pass the exams.

If I studied, I might pass the exams.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.

if clause main clause

If I studied, I would pass the exams.

main clause if clause

I would pass the exams if I studied.

onditional sentences – type III

1. Use
It is impossible to fulfil a condition which is given in the if-clause.

2. Form

if clause main clause

Past Perfect would + have + past participle

 if clause main clause

could + have + past participle

might + have + past participle

3. Examples

if clause main clause

If I had studied, I would have passed the exams.

If I had studied, I could have passed the exams.

If I had studied, I might have passed the exams.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.

if clause main clause

If I had studied, I would have passed the exams.

main clause if clause

I would have passed the exams if I had studied.

 Conditionals

What are conditionals in English grammar? Sometimes we call them 'if clauses'. They describe the
result of something that might happen (in the present or future) or might have happened but
didn't (in the past) . They are made using different English verb tenses.
There are four kinds of conditionals:

 The Zero Conditional:

(if + present simple, ... present simple)
If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.
Click here to learn more.
 The First Conditional:
(if + present simple, ... will + infinitive)
If it rains tomorrow, we'll go to the cinema.
Click here to learn more.
 The Second Conditional:
(if + past simple, ... would + infinitive)
If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.
Click here to learn more.
 The Third Conditional
(if + past perfect, ... would + have + past participle)
If I had gone to bed early, I would have caught the train.

The Third Conditional

We make the third conditional by using the past perfect after 'if' and then 'would have' and
the past participle in the second part of the sentence:

 if + past perfect, ...would + have + past participle

It talks about the past. It's used to describe a situation that didn't happen, and to imagine the
result of this situation.

 If she had studied, she would have passed the exam (but, really we know she didn't study and
so she didn't pass)
 If I hadn't eaten so much, I wouldn't have felt sick (but I did eat a lot, and so I did feel sick).
 If we had taken a taxi, we wouldn't have missed the plane
 She wouldn't have been tired if she had gone to bed earlier
 She would have become a teacher if she had gone to university
 He would have been on time for the interview if he had left the house at nine