What are Conditional Sentences?
Conditionals are sentences used in English to
- Predict what could happen
- Guess what might have happened but didn’t
- Wish what would happen
Examples of Conditional Sentences are:
1. If you read this book, you will gain a lot of knowledge. 2. Smitha could have joined us if you had informed her on time. 3. Unless he owns up to his mistake, we cannot take him back on the team. |
Characteristics of Conditional Sentences:
- They are complex sentences comprising a main clause and a dependent clause.
If my parents let me, I will join you for the movie. Dependent clause main clause |
- The dependent clause starts with ‘If...’ and is also known as an ‘if clause
| If time permits, we can watch a movie. |
- They are made with different tenses.
If you keep the door open, the cat will run out. Simple present tense Simple future tense |
- In the case of negative sentences, ‘unless’ is used instead of ‘if’.
Unless he owns up to his mistake, the team will not take him back. Negative clause |
Types of Conditional sentences:
There are four types of conditional sentences in English.
1. Zero conditional
2. First conditional
3. Second conditional
4. Third conditional
1. 1 Zero Conditional sentences:
- The zero conditional is used for expressing general truths.
- The result of a zero conditional is always true.
- The dependent clause and the main clause of a zero conditional are in the simple present tense.
Example of zero conditional sentence:
If the snow melts, the roads become slippery
Simple present tense Simple present tense
More examples of zero conditional sentences are:
| Dependent Clause | Main Clause |
| If Mahesh buys a car, | his jealous neighbour also buys a car |
| If you fail to show up, | the opportunity goes to someone else. |
| If it rains, | little green shoots erupt out of the earth. |
2.1 First Conditional sentence:
- The first conditional talks about possibilities in the present or the future
- It speaks about things which may happen
- The dependent clause is in the simple present tense and the main clause is in the simple future tense
example of first conditional sentences:
If he arrives in 10 minutes, we will apprise him of the matter.
Simple present tense Simple present tense
More examples:
| Dependent Clause | Main Clause |
| If you lead a simple life, | you will have no anxieties |
| If it rains, | we will need an umbrella. |
3.1 Second Conditional sentences:
- The second conditional talks about hypothetical or unreal situations in the present or in the future
- It speaks about things which have a slim chance of happening
- The dependent clause is in the simple past tense and the main clause is in the simple future tense
Example of Second Conditional sentence:
If I had your sense of humour, I would consider a career in comedy.
Simple past tense Simple past tense
More examples of Conditional sentences are:
| Dependent Clause | Main Clause |
| If we had the means, | we would buy a car. |
| If I were the Prime Minister, | I would strive for the alleviation of poverty |
| If Manish had more time, | he would finish his paper. |
4.1 Third Conditional sentence:
- The third conditional is used to express improbable situations in the past.
- It speaks of conditions in the past which didn’t happen or are impossible
- The dependent clause is in the past perfect tense and the main clause is in the future perfect tense
Example of third conditional sentence is:
If I had saved enough money, I would have bought that house
Past perfect tense Past perfect tense
More examples of third conditional sentences are:
| Dependent Clause | Main Clause |
| If she had informed us, | we would have cancelled our plans |
| If they hadn’t worked hard, | they would not have won |
| If the purse had been stolen, | Manisha would have been left penniless. |
Variations in Form:
- The order of the clauses of the conditions can be changed. The sentence can start with the main clause and end with the dependent clause
For example: Krishna would have failed if Balram hadn’t intervened on time
Future perfect tense Future perfect tense
- Sometimes, the order of the verbs and the nouns in the conditional sentence can also vary. In such cases, ‘if’ is optional.
For example: Were I in your place, I would set the records straight.
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