Conditional sentences. What are conditional sentences? 1. Uncertain events ...
Type 2 Conditional can also be used to give advice or refer to unreal situations.
Pope Paul VI College S.2E English Language Conditional sentences What are conditional sentences? 1.
Uncertain events and situations In clauses after if, we usually talk about uncertain events and situations: things which may or may not happen, which may or may not be true, etc. If I see John, I will give her your love. (I may or may not see John.)
2.
Conditions An if-clause often talks about a condition – something which must happen so that something else can happen. If you get here before 8pm, we can catch the early train.
Type 1 conditional Meaning It talks about something which is likely to happen in the future. Form If clause
Main clause
If + present tense
Future form
If it gets colder tonight,
I will turn on the heating.
Main clause
If clause
Future form
If + present tense
He will get here early
if he catches the early train.
Some more examples: I will take the children to the party if you collect them from school. If you try to take a short cut, you will get lost. If you poke your brother again, I will thrash you.
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Other forms If + present, imperative We use an imperative to give advice or instructions. If clause
Main clause
If + present
Imperative
If you go to the supermarket,
Buy some bread please.
Other present tenses: Future forms in the main clause Present continuous:
If the transport strike goes ahead, we are staying at home on Wednesday.
Going to:
If their mother remembers where the old house is, they are going to take her to it.
Present forms in the if-clause Present perfect:
If it has not rained by the weekend, we will have to water the garden.
Present continuous:
If they are watching TV, they will not hear you.
Type 2 conditional Meaning -
It is also called ‘hypothetical’ or ‘unreal’ conditional.
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We use it to refer to or speculate about something that is impossible or opposite to the fact.
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It can refer to the present or to the future.
Form If clause
Main clause
If + past tense
would + base verb form
If I got an invitation,
I would go there immediately.
If he did not annoy me so much,
I would spend more time in his office.
Compare Type 1 to Type 2: Type 1:
If it gets colder tonight, I will turn on the heating. (a real possibility)
Type 2:
If It got colder tonight, I would turn on the heating. (not a real possibility)
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Type 2 Conditional can also be used to give advice or refer to unreal situations.
If I were … , I would … Examples: If I were you, I would see the doctor. If I were Donald Tsang, I would give $6,000 to all Hong Kong citizens. If I were rich, I would spend all my time travelling. Be careful: If I was you, I would see the doctor. If I were you, I would see the doctor.
Type 3 conditional Meaning -
To speculate about past events
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To speculate about things that happened or did not happen might have affected other things
Form If clause
Main clause
If + past perfect
would + have + past participle
If we had not wasted time,
We would not have missed the train.
Main clause
If clause
would + have + past participle
if + present tense
I would have been more sympathetic
if she had not accused me of lying
In this example, she accused me of lying and so I was not very sympathetic. Other meaning -
To express reproach and regret
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To make excuses
Examples: If you had not driven so fast, you would never have had the accident. If I had known how difficult it is to find another job, I would not have left my job. If there had not been an accident on the motorway, I would have been here on time.
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Zero conditional Meaning -
To express general truths or facts
Form If clause
Main clause
If + present tense
Present tense
If it rains,
the floor gets wet. Main clause
If clause
Present tense
If + present tense
Ice melts
if you heat it.
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