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 (Future-Possible)

A conditional sentence has two clauses, a dependent clause beginning with if and a main clause.

In a future possible conditional sentence, the dependent clause is in the present tense and the main clause is in the future tense.

            if + Simple Present, will-Future  

            If you study, you will pass your exam.

The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a comma.

Example : You will pass your exam if you study

The Point :     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 he tries hard, he will find a job somewhere.

Fact :               It is possible that later he will tries hard to find a job.

2.                   Conditional Sentence Type 2 (Present-Unreal)

In a presenr-unreal conditional sentence, the dependent clause in in the past tense and the main clause uses wuld, should, could, or might.

if + Simple Past, main clause with Conditional 1

If you studied, you would pass your exam.

Dependent clauses of present-unreal conditional sentences use the past tense of all verb except to be. To be uses were in all persons in these clauses.

            Example :        I were                          We were

                                    You were                    You were

                                    He were

                                    She were                     They were

                                    It were

                                   

If I were you, I would study

The Point:      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 he attended class regularly, he would make good progress.

Fact :              He don’t attend class regularly, so he will not make a good progress.

3.                   Conditional Sentence Type 3 (Pasr-Unreal)

In a past-unreal conditional sentence, the dependent clause is in the past perfect tense and the main clause uses would have, sould have, could have, or might have.

            if + Past Perfect, main clause with Conditional II

            Example : If you had studied, you would have passed your exam.

The Point :     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 had your address, I would have wrote to you.

Fact :               He didn’t have your address, so he didn’t write to you.