Conditional Sentences
1. What is a Conditional Sentence?
A conditional sentence tells the “conditions” in which something happens. It shows a possible cause and effect situation in the form of an “if…then” statement—in fact, every conditional sentence has a clause beginning with “if.” Conditional sentences let us express things that might or could have happened, could still happen, we wish could happen, or always happen in specific circumstances.
2. Examples
Conditional sentences are made of two clauses: one beginning with “if,” and one main clause. The order of the clauses can change. Here are some examples:
If you love me, let me go!
I wouldn’t be here if I had never met you.
If opportunity knocks, open the door.
You can’t be shy if you want to make friends.
3. Parts of Conditional Sentences
A conditional sentence has two clauses that really rely on each other to make sense—a conditional clause (which is a dependent clause) and a main clause (which is the independent clause). The tenses of these clauses determine the type of conditional sentence, which the next section will explain.
a. Conditional Clause
The conditional clause is a dependent clause beginning with “if.” All conditional sentences have a clause beginning with “if” because it expresses the conditions (what must or might have happen), like this:
If you want
If I am late to school
If you don’t do your homework
If I hadn’t eaten so much candy
Whenever a clause begins with “if,” it depends on more information to be complete—it must be paired with an independent clause. So, the dependent clause is only half of a conditional sentence, and couldn’t be a sentence on its own.
b. Main Clause
The main clause is what provides the rest of the information to complete a conditional sentence. It’s an independent clause that states the result of the conditional “if” clause. In other words, it’s the “then” part of an if/then situation. In these examples, the main clauses are orange.
If you want, I can go with you to the store.
If I am late to school, I will get detention.
If I don’t do my homework, the teacher yells.
If I hadn’t eaten so much candy, I might be hungry.
As you can see, these main clauses express complete thoughts and can be sentences on their own. But, you can also see that we also need them to complete the thoughts of the dependent clauses!
4. Types of Conditional Sentences
As a rule, conditional sentences are categorized by whether their situations are “real” or “imagined.” However, there are many types and forms of conditional statements, and they can be quite complicated, varying depending on time, its likeliness of occurring, and other factors. This article will help you understand the basics, and teach you how to recognize a conditional sentence when you see one.
a. “Real” Conditionals (Zero Conditional)
Real conditionals (also called zero conditionals) are sentences expressing the real conditions for things that happen, not hypothetical things (see Imagined Conditionals). They share true statements about things that will happen or do happen in certain conditions or circumstances.
Zero conditional sentences can come in many forms. But since they are based in fact, they only share past and present situations, NOT possible future situations. So, we write them using a combination of past and present tenses.
Present Tense
In many zero conditional sentences, both clauses are in the present simple tense, like this:
If you are happy, I am happy.
If there is snow, we make snowmen.
He cleans if I cook.
f you don’t mind, I need a glass of water.
But we also write them using other present tenses, like this:
Present continuous + Present simple
If it is snowing, we don’t drive.
I eat at home if Jane is cooking dinner.
Present continuous + Present continuous
If he is staying, I am going.
If the plant is dying, you are not watering it.
All of these examples express that every time A happens, B happens or we do B.
Past Tense
Zero conditionals can also reflect situation that already happened, like this:
Past simple + Past simple
If it snowed, we never drove.
If we had chocolate chips, we made cookies.
Past simple + Past continuous
We always made snowmen if it was snowing.
If Jane was cooking, I ate at home.
b. “Imagined” Conditionals
We use imagined conditional sentences to talk about hypothetical or “imagined” conditions that are possible, likely, or even impossible. Based on the level of possibility, there are three conditionals: first, second, and third.
First Conditional
The first conditional shares the result of situation in the future that we think is pretty likely to happen. Its form uses a conditional clause in the present simple, and the main clause in the future tense. The main clause will use a modal, like would, should, could, will, may, might, or can. Here are some examples:
If I sleep now, I will be up all night.
If I do well on my SATs, I could go to Harvard.
If you take the highway, you might hit traffic.
If he likes cookies, you should bake some for him.
Of all the conditionals, the first conditional expresses things that are most possible or likely to happen. As we will explain, with the second and third conditionals, things become less likely or even completely imagined.
Second Conditional
The second conditional shows possible outcomes that could occur in the present or future, if specific conditions exist. To put it simply, second conditionals reflect ideas of “if you did this, this can happen.” BUT, the “did” hasn’t actually happened yet, it’s just possible.
The second conditional’s form uses a conditional clause in the past simple, and the main clause in the future tense, also using modals. Here are some examples:
If you slept until 3pm, you shouldn’t be tired.
If you did well on the SATs, you will get accepted.
If you wanted to avoid traffic, you could take the highway.
If he ate all the cookies, you would have to bake more.
On a special note, the English language lets us use the past tense to reflect hypothetical situations that aren’t based in reality. So, even though the second conditional uses the past tense in the conditional clause, it’s expressing what could happen “if,” not what did already happen. It still expresses the present and future because the ideas are only possibilities. It also helps us use more polite language like this:
If you wanted, I could help you study.
If you needed me to, I could pick up your dry cleaning.
If you wouldn’t mind, I could use some help.
Third Conditional
The third conditional lets us contemplate what could have happened if things went differently in the past. It lets us reflect upon things in the way of “if this had happened, this could have happened.”
Its form uses the past perfect for the conditional statement, and the conditional perfect tense (would have + verb) for the main clause (you can also use other modals instead of would). Here are some examples:
If you had gone to bed earlier, you would have been well rested.
If you had done well on the SATs, you would have been accepted.
If you had taken the highway, you could have avoided traffic.
If you had made more cookies, we might have had enough.
As you can see, these sentences only reflect what possibly could have happened—not what still can or might happen.
c. Other Forms
There are several other special forms of conditions, like mixed conditionals and conditional sentences using will or would.
Mixed Conditionals
Sometimes we can mix the tenses to express conditions. Mixed conditionals reflect things that did or did not happen in the past that are still relevant now and in the future. We form a mixed conditional with the past perfect tense in the conditional statement and using would in the main clause of the sentence. Here are some examples:
If I hadn’t slept, I would be very tired.
If I had made more cookies, he would be eating them.
If there had not been traffic, I would be on time.
If I had failed the SATs, I would not be at Harvard.
Conditionals Using Will or Would
In English, will and would can refer to either the present or the future. That’s because we use will and would to express willingness to do something. Here are some examples:
If you will cook, I will clean.
If he would pick up the cookies, that would be great.
If you would show me the way, I will be very grateful.
If you would just stop crying, I will try to help you.
5. How to Write a Conditional Sentence
In a way, conditional sentences are some of the easiest to write because they always include certain things—particularly a conditional clause beginning with “if.” We can use them for both real and imagined scenarios, and to express all kinds of possibilities and hypothetical situations. What’s more, conditional sentences let us do these things by mixing together the past, present and future tenses without many restrictions.
When you want to use conditional sentences, you can just stick by these guidelines:
1. You always need 2 clauses:
a conditional clause beginning with “if”
a main clause
2. Present pieces of information that rely on each other:
the goal is to show that if one thing happens, another thing will happen.
3. Choose your tenses based on 2 things:
whether the situation is “real” or “imagined”
if it reflects past, present or future possibilities
Finally, here’s a chart to help you see the differences between the conditionals. It’s a lot to remember!
1. What is a Conditional Sentence?
A conditional sentence tells the “conditions” in which something happens. It shows a possible cause and effect situation in the form of an “if…then” statement—in fact, every conditional sentence has a clause beginning with “if.” Conditional sentences let us express things that might or could have happened, could still happen, we wish could happen, or always happen in specific circumstances.
2. Examples
Conditional sentences are made of two clauses: one beginning with “if,” and one main clause. The order of the clauses can change. Here are some examples:
If you love me, let me go!
I wouldn’t be here if I had never met you.
If opportunity knocks, open the door.
You can’t be shy if you want to make friends.
3. Parts of Conditional Sentences
A conditional sentence has two clauses that really rely on each other to make sense—a conditional clause (which is a dependent clause) and a main clause (which is the independent clause). The tenses of these clauses determine the type of conditional sentence, which the next section will explain.
a. Conditional Clause
The conditional clause is a dependent clause beginning with “if.” All conditional sentences have a clause beginning with “if” because it expresses the conditions (what must or might have happen), like this:
If you want
If I am late to school
If you don’t do your homework
If I hadn’t eaten so much candy
Whenever a clause begins with “if,” it depends on more information to be complete—it must be paired with an independent clause. So, the dependent clause is only half of a conditional sentence, and couldn’t be a sentence on its own.
b. Main Clause
The main clause is what provides the rest of the information to complete a conditional sentence. It’s an independent clause that states the result of the conditional “if” clause. In other words, it’s the “then” part of an if/then situation. In these examples, the main clauses are orange.
If you want, I can go with you to the store.
If I am late to school, I will get detention.
If I don’t do my homework, the teacher yells.
If I hadn’t eaten so much candy, I might be hungry.
As you can see, these main clauses express complete thoughts and can be sentences on their own. But, you can also see that we also need them to complete the thoughts of the dependent clauses!
4. Types of Conditional Sentences
As a rule, conditional sentences are categorized by whether their situations are “real” or “imagined.” However, there are many types and forms of conditional statements, and they can be quite complicated, varying depending on time, its likeliness of occurring, and other factors. This article will help you understand the basics, and teach you how to recognize a conditional sentence when you see one.
a. “Real” Conditionals (Zero Conditional)
Real conditionals (also called zero conditionals) are sentences expressing the real conditions for things that happen, not hypothetical things (see Imagined Conditionals). They share true statements about things that will happen or do happen in certain conditions or circumstances.
Zero conditional sentences can come in many forms. But since they are based in fact, they only share past and present situations, NOT possible future situations. So, we write them using a combination of past and present tenses.
Present Tense
In many zero conditional sentences, both clauses are in the present simple tense, like this:
If you are happy, I am happy.
If there is snow, we make snowmen.
He cleans if I cook.
f you don’t mind, I need a glass of water.
But we also write them using other present tenses, like this:
Present continuous + Present simple
If it is snowing, we don’t drive.
I eat at home if Jane is cooking dinner.
Present continuous + Present continuous
If he is staying, I am going.
If the plant is dying, you are not watering it.
All of these examples express that every time A happens, B happens or we do B.
Past Tense
Zero conditionals can also reflect situation that already happened, like this:
Past simple + Past simple
If it snowed, we never drove.
If we had chocolate chips, we made cookies.
Past simple + Past continuous
We always made snowmen if it was snowing.
If Jane was cooking, I ate at home.
b. “Imagined” Conditionals
We use imagined conditional sentences to talk about hypothetical or “imagined” conditions that are possible, likely, or even impossible. Based on the level of possibility, there are three conditionals: first, second, and third.
First Conditional
The first conditional shares the result of situation in the future that we think is pretty likely to happen. Its form uses a conditional clause in the present simple, and the main clause in the future tense. The main clause will use a modal, like would, should, could, will, may, might, or can. Here are some examples:
If I sleep now, I will be up all night.
If I do well on my SATs, I could go to Harvard.
If you take the highway, you might hit traffic.
If he likes cookies, you should bake some for him.
Of all the conditionals, the first conditional expresses things that are most possible or likely to happen. As we will explain, with the second and third conditionals, things become less likely or even completely imagined.
Second Conditional
The second conditional shows possible outcomes that could occur in the present or future, if specific conditions exist. To put it simply, second conditionals reflect ideas of “if you did this, this can happen.” BUT, the “did” hasn’t actually happened yet, it’s just possible.
The second conditional’s form uses a conditional clause in the past simple, and the main clause in the future tense, also using modals. Here are some examples:
If you slept until 3pm, you shouldn’t be tired.
If you did well on the SATs, you will get accepted.
If you wanted to avoid traffic, you could take the highway.
If he ate all the cookies, you would have to bake more.
On a special note, the English language lets us use the past tense to reflect hypothetical situations that aren’t based in reality. So, even though the second conditional uses the past tense in the conditional clause, it’s expressing what could happen “if,” not what did already happen. It still expresses the present and future because the ideas are only possibilities. It also helps us use more polite language like this:
If you wanted, I could help you study.
If you needed me to, I could pick up your dry cleaning.
If you wouldn’t mind, I could use some help.
Third Conditional
The third conditional lets us contemplate what could have happened if things went differently in the past. It lets us reflect upon things in the way of “if this had happened, this could have happened.”
Its form uses the past perfect for the conditional statement, and the conditional perfect tense (would have + verb) for the main clause (you can also use other modals instead of would). Here are some examples:
If you had gone to bed earlier, you would have been well rested.
If you had done well on the SATs, you would have been accepted.
If you had taken the highway, you could have avoided traffic.
If you had made more cookies, we might have had enough.
As you can see, these sentences only reflect what possibly could have happened—not what still can or might happen.
c. Other Forms
There are several other special forms of conditions, like mixed conditionals and conditional sentences using will or would.
Mixed Conditionals
Sometimes we can mix the tenses to express conditions. Mixed conditionals reflect things that did or did not happen in the past that are still relevant now and in the future. We form a mixed conditional with the past perfect tense in the conditional statement and using would in the main clause of the sentence. Here are some examples:
If I hadn’t slept, I would be very tired.
If I had made more cookies, he would be eating them.
If there had not been traffic, I would be on time.
If I had failed the SATs, I would not be at Harvard.
Conditionals Using Will or Would
In English, will and would can refer to either the present or the future. That’s because we use will and would to express willingness to do something. Here are some examples:
If you will cook, I will clean.
If he would pick up the cookies, that would be great.
If you would show me the way, I will be very grateful.
If you would just stop crying, I will try to help you.
5. How to Write a Conditional Sentence
In a way, conditional sentences are some of the easiest to write because they always include certain things—particularly a conditional clause beginning with “if.” We can use them for both real and imagined scenarios, and to express all kinds of possibilities and hypothetical situations. What’s more, conditional sentences let us do these things by mixing together the past, present and future tenses without many restrictions.
When you want to use conditional sentences, you can just stick by these guidelines:
1. You always need 2 clauses:
a conditional clause beginning with “if”
a main clause
2. Present pieces of information that rely on each other:
the goal is to show that if one thing happens, another thing will happen.
3. Choose your tenses based on 2 things:
whether the situation is “real” or “imagined”
if it reflects past, present or future possibilities
Finally, here’s a chart to help you see the differences between the conditionals. It’s a lot to remember!
There are four basic types of conditional sentences in the English language. Each type has two parts - the main clause and the if clause.
Zero conditional:
The zero conditional describes situations that are always true. If has the same meaning as when or whenever .
If I go to school, I get up at seven. (Whenever I go to school I get up at the same time.)
If you park your car on double yellow lines, you pay a fine . (Whenever you park illegally, you pay a fine.)
We use the present simple tense in both the main clause and the if clause.
I take my umbrella if it rains.
First conditional: I'll call you if I work late.
Second conditional: If the bus didn't arrive on time, I would drive you to the airport.
Third conditional: She wouldn't have come if I hadn't invited her.
First conditional
The first conditional refers to the present or future. First conditional sentences are used to speculate about possible situations that can really happen.
We use the present tense in the if clause and will + bare infinitive in the main clause.
If he studies hard, he'll pass the exams.
If we catch the 10.15 train, we will arrive on time.
If you don't get the ticket, what will you do?
Second conditional
The second conditional also refers to the present or future. In second conditional sentences we speculate about situations that will probably never happen.
We use the past tense in the if clause and would + bare infinitive in the main clause.
If I had more time, I would help you . (But I am not free at the moment. I can't help you).
If I won a million dollars, I would start a business of my own . (But I know that it is not realistic.)
Note: the verb to be can have a specific form in the if clause.
If I were rich, I wouldn't work.
If he were younger, he would marry her.
(But was is also possible: If I was rich, I wouldn't work. If he was younger, he would marry her .) But: If I were you, I wouldn't do it . (In this expression, were is much more usual than was .)
The first conditional versus the second conditional
The main difference between the first and second conditional is about probability:
The first conditional is realistic, the second conditional is unrealistic.
Sometimes we can use either the first or second conditional with the following difference in meaning.
If I see him, I will tell him. (I suppose I will see him, because we go to the same school.)
If I saw him, I would tell him. (I don't think I will see him, because he is ill.)
If I need your help, I'll call you. (It is probable that I will need your help.)
If I needed your help, I'd call you. (It is not very probable that I will need your help.)
Sometimes we must use either the first or the second conditional, because it is clear that the situation is real or unreal.
If you get up late, you will miss your bus. (a real situation)
If I came from your country, I would understand your problems . (an unreal situation - I am not from your country.)
Other forms
Apart from the basic forms (if + the present simple + will and if + the past simple + would), we can use other verb forms in the first and second conditional sentences in the English language.
Type 1
If you have finished your dinner, you can ask for the bill.
If you are feeling tired, take a rest. If he is a good skier, he might make it.
If you want to be slim, you should eat less.
If you meet her, could you let me know?
Type 2
If I knew his address, I might go and see him.
If we were on holiday, we would be lying on a beach now.
Why are we watching this film? If we were watching the news, it would be more interesting.
Third conditional
The third conditional sentences always refer to the past. We speculate about situations that happened or did not happen in the past.
If I had won a million, I would have started a business of my own. (But I didn't win anything.)
If he had met her, he would have told her. (Unfortunately, he didn't meet her.)
If we hadn't practiced, we wouldn't have won the match. (But we practiced and won.)
We use the past perfect in the if clause and perfect infinitive (have + past participle) in the main clause.
Other forms
Apart from the basic form of the third conditional sentences, we can use other verb forms in English.
We didn't save any money. If we had saved some money, we might have bought the house.
She wasn't there and I wasn't sitting next to her. But if she had been there, I would have been sitting next to her.
I was looking at the trees when I fell off the bike. If I hadn't been looking at the trees, I wouldn' t have fallen off the bike.
Mixed conditionals
In the mixed conditional sentences we can combine the second and third conditional.
If he had left immediately, he would be here now. (He didn't leave immediately and isn't here.)
If I had studied hard when I was young, I wouldn't be a porter now. (I didn't study and I am a porter.)
If we hadn't told him the way while he was preparing for his journey, he would get lost now. (We told him and he isn't lost.)
Inverted conditionals
We can also make conditional sentences by changing the word order in the if clause.
Had he booked the hotel room, he wouldn't have slept at the camp . (If he had booked ... )
Were I in your position, I would accept it. (If I were ... )
This form is less common, quite formal and is mostly used in writing.
Note
If is the most frequent expression in the if clauses, but other expressions are also possible. even if, provided (that), unless, on condition (that), in case
You will leave tonight even if you don't want to.
You can have your birthday party provided that you aren't noisy.
We'll sell you the ranch on condition you pay in cash.
You should take a dictionary with you in case you forgot some words.
Unless you do something, she won't come back. (If you don't do anything, ... )
Conditional tense:
Present conditional tense
Statement: I would practice
Negative: He would not practice
Question: Would you practice?
Neg. question: Would she not practice?
Short forms: I'd practice, He wouldn't practice, Wouldn't we practice?
Use
We use the present conditional tense in English to speculate about present or future situations that could theoretically happen.
This tense is used when the action is either impossible (unreal) or when we do not think that the action will happen.
He would sign it. (But he can't. It is not possible.)
I would travel by plane. (If I wanted to go on holiday. But I do not want to go.)
In the first person singular and plural should instead of would is also possible. But it is not very common in modern English.
I should/would be really glad. (If you could help me).
We should/would send the fax. (But we do not know how to do it).
Should , however, can also express a recommendation or advice. In this respect, it is similar to ought to .
I should study tonight. I ought to study tonight. (Or I will fail the exam tomorrow.)
He should drive carefully. He ought to drive carefully. (Or he will crash one day.)
You should speak loudly. You ought to speak loudly. (I can't hear you.)
Could and might are conditional forms of can and may. They are used to speculate about the present or future.
Could indicates theoretical possibility, might indicates possibility + uncertainty.
She could come with us tomorrow. (It is possible. She will be free.)
She might come with us tomorrow. (We hope that it is possible, but we are not sure.)
Could is also the past form of can and expresses possibility, ability or permission in the past .
Possibility: She could travel in our car. (It was possible because we had a free seat for her.)
Ability: She could play again in the last match. (She was able to play because she was not ill anymore.)
Permission: She could come with us last weekend. (Her father allowed her to go.)
Perfect conditional tense
Form
Statement: I would have practiced
Negative: He would not have given
Question: Would you have practiced?
Neg. question: Would she not have written?
Short forms: I'd have practice d, He wouldn't have given, Wouldn't we have written?
We make the perfect conditional tense with would and the perfect infinitive ( have + past participle).
In the first person singular and plural should instead of would is also possible. But it is not very common in modern English.
Use
We use the perfect conditional tense in English to speculate about the past situations which were theoretically possible, but did not happen in fact.
I would have learnt it. (But I didn't learn it).
I would have told her. (But she didn't want to listen.)
She wouldn't have married me. (Because she didn't like me.)
Compare the present and perfect conditionals
Present conditional:
She would lend me some money now. (She is willing to lend me the money. I will ask her.)
Perfect conditional: She would have lent me some money last year. (She was willing to lend me the money, but I didn't ask her.)
Similarly: I would do it. Will you help me? (x)
I would have done it. But you didn't help me.
Should, could and might are used in the same way.
You should finish it soon. (x)
You should have finished it. Why did you give up?
We might have dinner. I am hungry. (x)
We might have had dinner. But we didn't eat anything.
They could fly tomorrow. (x)
They could have flown last week. But they stayed at home.
Should + perfect infinitive (should have finished ) is used to express regrets or recommendations concerning the past.
He shouldn't have refused it. It was a good offer. (It is a pity that he refused it.)
Might + perfect infinitive (might have had) and could + perfect infinitive (could have flown) are used to speculate about the past. We say that something was possible, but we know that it did not happen.
He might/could have died. But they rescued him.
He might/could have won. But he didn't buy a lottery ticket.
Compare
In English we can also speculate about the past with may + perfect infinitive (it is not the conditional tense, however).
In this case we do knot know if the action really happened or not.
He may have died. (It is possible that he died. But maybe he is still alive.)
He may have won. (It is possible that he won. But maybe he lost.)