Conditional Sentences
Structure :
A conditional sentence is composed of 2 parts :
If-clause
+
Main Clause
Example :
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 : Present tense in both clauses
Example :
Present Tense
Present Tense
If you heat water to 100°C, 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-clause ~ Present Tense
Main Clause ~ 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
1. If you ___________________
(not come),
will miss
You ________________
(miss ) the show.
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 to happen)
Tense : If-clause ~ Past Tense
Main Clause ~ would + an infinitive
Example :
Would + infinitive
Past Tense
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-clause ~ Past Perfect Tense
Main Clause ~ Would + Present Perfect Form
Example :
Past Perfect Tense
Would + Present Perfect Form
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
2. If I ________________
(not fail) in the
would have bought (buy)
examination, my mother_______________
me a new computer.
would have finished
3. We ________________________
(finish) if we
had had
________________
(have) better preparation.
Conditional Sentences
Variations:
SHOULD may
replace IF in type 1
Type 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 an inversion
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 an
inversion
Conditional Sentences
Type 2 & Type 3 :
But for+ a noun may
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.
a. Wish (v)
Type 2
Type 3
I wish I were a king. (But I am not!)
I wish she had left last night. (But she didn’t!)
* 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 USA! (He was not born
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 earlier. (But you come
late.)
Type 3
I would rather he had told me the secret. (But he
didn’t.)
* Non-subjunctive use of would 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.
e. It is (high) time
Past Tense
 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 leave (non-subjunctive)
END