The first part of a conditional sentence contains (If), and the second is related to the condition. A conditional sentence is used with all tenses and has many uses. We will explain more in this lesson about the types of conditional sentences.
Conditional sentences types
1- Zero conditional
2- First conditional
3- Second conditional
4- Third conditional
Zero conditional
It is used to talk about scientific facts, laws, truths, general information, and ordinary things which always happen under particular situations.
Form: If + simple present, + simple present
Examples:
If I don’t eat, I get hungry.
The water boils if the temperature is 100 c.
Note: We can use (when) instead of (if) in zero conditional.
First conditional
It is used to talk about a possible situation that will happen in the present or future if a certain circumstance is fulfilled. It is very likely to occur.
Form:
If + simple present, + simple future
Examples:
- If it rains, I won’t leave my house.
- I will pass the exam if I study.
Second conditional
It is used to talk about an improbable situation and shows a fictional result. It is unlikely to occur.
Form:
If + simple past, + would + infinitive
Examples:
- If I were rich, I would buy my dream house.
- They would travel more if they had the chance.
Note: We can use the verb (were) instead of (was) with the pronouns (I - she - he - it) in this case, but still (was) is grammatically correct.
Third conditional
It is used to talk about a situation that is impossible to happen because it refers to the past, but we imagine the result if it happened. It is impossible to occur.
Form:
If + past perfect, + would have + verb 3
Example:
- If you had studied harder, you would have passed your exam.
Note: We can begin with the main clause of a conditional sentence, but we don’t put a comma after it in this case.
Example: I will send him a message if I have his phone number.
That was all about the four types of conditional sentences and their uses. If you have any questions or suggestions, you can share them in the comments section below.
Exercise
Put the verb between the brackets in the right form in the blank.
1- If you … now, you will arrive by 7 o’clock. (leave)
2- If I … there, I would help you. (be)
3- He gets full marks if he … hard. (study)
4- If we … slowly, we wouldn’t have had an accident. (drive)
Answers
1- leave
2- were
3- studies
4- had driven