Conditional sentence
In grammar, conditional sentences are sentences discussing factual implications or hypothetical situations and their consequences. Languages use a variety of conditional constructions and verb forms (such as the conditional mood) to form these kinds of sentences.
Full conditional sentences contain two clauses: the condition or protasis, and the consequence or apodosis.
If it rains [condition], (then) the picnic will be cancelled [consequence].
Conditional sentences in English
English conditional sentences can be divided into two broad classes, depending on the form of the verb in the condition (protasis). The terms "realis" and "irrealis" broadly correspond to the notions of realis and irrealis modality.
Realis conditions
In these constructions, the condition clause expresses a condition the truth of which is unverified. The verb in the condition clause is in the past tense (with a past tense interpretation) or in the present tense (with a present or future tense interpretation). The result clause can be in the past, present, or future. Generally, conditional sentences of this group are in two groups, the "zero" conditional and the potential or indicative conditional. This class includes universal statements (both clauses in the present, or both clauses in the past) and predictions.
Example : If I were the king of the world, I would make it easy to write English.
Irrealis conditions
In these constructions, the condition clause expresses a condition that is known to be false, or presented as unlikely. The result clause contains a conditional verb form consisting of would (or could, should, might) plus an infinitival main verb.
Example : If I'm your teacher next year, I'll give you some writing exercises.
Conditional Sentences / If-Clauses
Type I, II and III
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.
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.
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.
What are the differences in these three groups of conditional sentences?
Notice that the first group of three sentences are all true. Well, we don't know about the 8 a.m. flight, but it sounds as if the information is being given on good authority! All three sentences tell what will happen (result) if certain conditions are met. These are real conditions.
The second group tells what might happen (result) if some unreal conditions were met. I'm not the ambassador, I'm not taller, and I don't speak French. Thus, none of these outcomes (results) will materialize.
The third group just speculates about what would result if past conditions had been different. These are considered unreal past conditional sentences. IF Clause Type 1
Form
if + Simple Present, will-Future
Example: If I find her address, I will send her an invitation.
The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence.
Example: I will send her an invitation if I find her address.
Note: 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.
Use
Conditional Sentences Type I 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 find her address, I’ll send her an invitation.
I want to send an invitation to a friend. I just have to find her address. I am quite sure, however, that I will find it.
Example: If John has the money, he will buy a Ferrari.
I know John very well and I know that he earns a lot of money and that he loves Ferraris. So I think it is very likely that sooner or later he will have the money to buy a Ferrari.
1) If I study, I will pass the exams.
2) If the sun shines, we will walk to the town.
3) If he has a temperature, he will see the doctor.
4) If my friends come, I will be very happy.
5) If she earns a lot of money, she will fly to New York.
IF Clause Type 2
Form
if + Simple Past, main clause with Conditional I (= would + Infinitive)
Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation.
The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence.
Example: I would send her an invitation if I found her address.
Note: Main clause and / or if clause might be negative.
Example: If I had a lot of money, I wouldn’t stay here.
Were instead of Was
In IF Clauses Type II, we usually use ‚were‘ – even if the pronoun is I, he, she or it –.
Example: If I were you, I would not do this.
Use
Conditional Sentences Type II refer to situations in the present. An action could happen if the present situation were different. I don't really expect the situation to change, however. I just imagine „what would happen if …“
Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation.
I would like to send an invitation to a friend. I have looked everywhere for her address, but I cannot find it. So now I think it is rather unlikely that I will eventually find her address.
Example: If John had the money, he would buy a Ferrari.
I know John very well and I know that he doesn't have much money, but he loves Ferraris. He would like to own a Ferrari (in his dreams). But I think it is very unlikely that he will have the money to buy one in the near future.
Conditional II Simple
The conditional II simple expresses an action that could have taken place in the past.
Form
- A: He would have talked.
- N: He would not have talked.
- Q: Would he have talked?
Use
- action that could have taken place in the past
- if causes type III (If I had seen that, I would have helped.)
IF Clause Type 3
Form
if + Past Perfect, main clause with Conditional II
Example: If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.
The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. Example: I would have sent her an invitation if I had found her address.
Note: Main clause and / or if clause might be negative. Example: If I hadn’t studied, I wouldn’t have passed my exams.
Use
Conditional Sentences Type III refer to situations in the past. An action could have happened in the past if a certain condition had been fulfilled. Things were different then, however. We just imagine, what would have happened if the situation had been fulfilled.
Example: If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.
Sometime in the past, I wanted to send an invitation to a friend. I didn't find her address, however. So in the end I didn't send her an invitation.
Example: If John had had the money, he would have bought a Ferrari.
I knew John very well and I know that he never had much money, but he loved Ferraris. He would have loved to own a Ferrari, but he never had the money to buy one.
Questions with Conditions
You can, of course, ask questions with conditions:
Yes-no Questions
Does Homer get angry if you forget to feed him?
Would it hurt the car if you put apple juice in the gas tank?
Does it hurt your computer if you leave it on all night?
Does Homer get angry if you forget to feed him?
Would it hurt the car if you put apple juice in the gas tank?
Does it hurt your computer if you leave it on all night?
Information Questions
What happens to your computer if you leave it on all night?
What would happen if you put apple juice in the gas tank?
Unreal: What would you do if you got the job?
What happens to your computer if you leave it on all night?
What would happen if you put apple juice in the gas tank?
Unreal: What would you do if you got the job?
Real: What will you do if you get the job?
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