Conditional Sentences

Structure :
A conditional sentence is composed of 2
parts :
If-clause + Main
Example : Clause

If it rains tomorrow, we will not come.

If-clause Main Clause

 Conditional Sentences

Types :

There are 4 types of conditional

sentences.
They are classified according to their
specific
implications.
Each type of conditional sentences uses
different tenses to show the difference
in
their implications.
 Conditional Sentences

Type 0 :

Use Talk about universal truth.

:
Tense: If + S + verb 1 (s/es), S + verb 1
Exampl (s/es)
e:
Present Tense Present Tense

If you heat water to 100C, it boils.

If you pour oil into water, it floats.
 Conditional Sentences

Type 1
Use: Talk about a present or future probable
case.
Tense: If + S + verb 1 (s/es), Present
Tense
S + will + verb 1, Future Tense
Example :
Present Tense Future Tense

If I feel sick, I will not go to school.

If it rains tomorrow, the match will be
cancelled.
 Exercise One

do not come (not come),

1. If you ___________________

will miss (miss ) the show.

You ________________

will buy
2. John __________________ (buy)a car if he

gets
_____________ (get)a job.
gets
3. Mary ________________(get) a toothache if
eats
she_________________ (eat) too many sweets.
 Conditional Sentences

Type 2 (Present Subjunctive)

Use : Talk about a present or future
improbable case. (A case that is unlikely
Tense : Ifto
+ happen)
S + verb 2, Past Tense
S + would + verb 1
Example :
Past Tense Would + verb 1

If he were a bird, he would fly across the

harbour.
If I had $200,000 now, I would buy a car.
 Conditional Sentences

Type 3 (Past Subjunctive)

Use Talk about a past, impossible case
:
Tense : If + S + had + verb 3, Past Perfect Tense
S + would + have + Verb 3.
Example :
Past Perfect Tense Would + have + verb 3

If I had had enough money, I would have bought

the camera yesterday.
If I had come home earlier, I would not have
missed the programme.
 Exercise Two

were
1. If I ________________ (be) four years old, I
would learn (learn) to play the piano.
________________
had not failed(not fail) in the
2. If I ________________
would have bought
examination, my mother_______________
(buy)
me a would
new computer.
have finished (finish) if we
3. We ________________________
had had
________________ (have) better preparation.
 Conditional Sentences

Variations: SHOULD may

replace IF in type
Type 1 1
:If you see John, ask him to come and see
me.
Should you see John, ask him to come and
see me. COULD or MIGHT may
Type 2 : replace WOULD
If I were an aeroplane, I could fly in the sky.
Were I an aeroplane, I could fly in the sky.

WERE may replace IF in type 2

 Conditional Sentences

Type 3 :
If I had come home earlier, I would not
have missed the programme.

Had I come home earlier, I would not have

missed the programme.
HAD may replace IF in
type 3
 Conditional Sentences
But for+ a noun may
Type 2 & Type 3 : replace `If it were not
for
If it were not for the rain, we would go to Shatin.
(Type 2)
But for the rain, we would go to
Shatin.

If it had not been for the traffic jam, we would

have arrived on time. (Type 3)
But for the traffic jam, we would have arrived on
time.
But for + a noun may
replace `If it had not been
for
 The Subjunctive Mood

Other sentences than the conditional may

bear the subjunctive mood.
Type 2 Type 3
a. Wish (v)
I wish I were a (But I am
king. not!)
I wish she had left last (But she
night. didnt!)
* Non-subjunctive use of wish
I wish to travel to Europe next
year
We wish you a happy birthday.
 The Subjunctive Mood

b. If only
Type
2
If only I were you! Type
2
If only he were born in the (He was not born
USA! in USA)

If only she had left last night!

(She did not leave
last night)
Type
3
 The Subjunctive Mood

b. Would rather Type 2

I would rather you came (But you

earlier. come late.)
Type 3
I would rather he had told me the (But
secret. he
* Non-subjunctive use of would didnt.
rather
A : Do you want to go fishing today? )
B : I would rather stay at home and take some
rest.
(B prefers staying at home to going fishing)
 The Subjunctive Mood

d. Lest
(Conjunction)
He put the money in the safe lest
someone should / might steal it.
Past
e. It is (high)
Tense
time
It is (high) time you studied
hard.
(You have not studied hard. Now the
examination is near, so you have to study
very hard.)
It is time for you to (non-
leave subjunctive)
END