Conditional Sentence

First, Second,
& Third Conditional
This analysis of conditional verb forms was written by Rob De Decker, who teaches English
at a Flemish grammar school (equivalent to an American high school) in Schellebelle,
Belgium. It is used here with his permission.
Conditional Clause and Main Clause

If I have enough money, I will go to Japan.
conditional clause/IF CLAUSE main clause
I will go to Japan, if I have enough money
main clause conditional clause
First, Second, and Third Conditional

If she HAS enough money, she will go to Japan.
1. First conditional: SIMPLE PRESENT SIMPLE FUTURE
(S+V1) (S+will/CAN/SHALL/MAY+V1)
If I had enough money, I would go to Japan.
2. Second SIMPLE PAST S+WOULD/COULD/SHOULD/MIGHT +
conditional: V1
(S + V2)
If I had had enough money, I would have gone to Japan.

PAST PERFECT (S + WOULD HAVE + V3)
3. Third conditional: (S + HAD + V3)
IRREGULAR VERB LIST GO  WENT  GONE

REGULAR VERB LIST  STUDY  STUDIED  STUDIED
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 + infinitive (V1)

3. If + Past Perfect Tense would have + past participle (V3)
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].
Exercises on Conditional Sentences Type 1
1. If Caroline and Sue prepare the salad, Phil will decorate the house.
2. If Sue cuts the onions for the salad, Caroline will peel the mushrooms.
3. Jane will hoover the sitting room if Aaron and Tim move the furniture.
4. If Bob tidies up the kitchen, Anita will clean the toilet.
5. Elaine will buy the drinks if somebody helps her carry the bottles.
6. If Alan and Rebecca organise the food, Mary and Conor will make the sandwiches.
7. If Bob looks after the barbecue, Sue will let the guests in.
8. Frank will play the DJ if the others bring along their CDs.
9. Alan will mix the drinks if Jane gives him some of her cocktail recipes.
10. If they all do their best, the party will be great.
Great, all answers are correct!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH3ThwR99LM
Exercises on Conditional Sentences Type 1
1. If Caroline and Sue ………. (prepares, prepare, will prepare) the salad, Phil …….
(decorates, will decorate, decorate) the house.
2. If Sue …….. (cuts, will cut, cut) the onions for the salad, Caroline …… (peels, will peel,
peel) the mushrooms.
3. Jane …… (hover, hovers, will hoover) the sitting room if Aaron and Tim (will move,
moves, move) the furniture.
4. If Bob….. (tidy, tidies, will tidy) up the kitchen, Anita …… (cleans, will clean, clean)
the toilet.
5. Elaine ….. (will buy, buy, buys) the drinks if somebody …. (helps, will help, help) her
carry the bottles.
6. If Alan and Rebecca …… (will organise, organises, organise) the food, Mary and Conor
…… (make, makes, will make) the sandwiches.
7. If Bob …….. (will look, looks, look) after the barbecue, Sue ……. (lets, will let, let) the
guests in.
8. Frank …… (plays, will play, play) the DJ if the others ……. (brings, bring, will bring)
along their CDs.
9. Alan …… (will mix, mixes, mix) the drinks if Jane …… (will give, give, gives) him
some of her cocktail recipes.
10. If they all …… (do, will do, does) their best, the party …… (be, will be, is) great.

Conditional Sentence

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Conditional Sentence

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Conditional Sentence

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

First, Second,

& Third Conditional

Conditional Clause and Main Clause

First, Second, and Third Conditional

If I had had enough money, I would have gone to Japan.

IRREGULAR VERB LIST GO  WENT  GONE

Conditional clause Main clause

2. If + Past Tense would + infinitive (V1)

only in the main clause.

Uses of the Conditional

Great, all answers are correct!

You might also like