CONDITIONAL SENTENCE/IF CLAUSE

I.       Theoritical Review

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.  

Conditional tenses are also used to speculate about what could happen, what might have happened, and what we wish would happen. In English, most sentences using the conditional contain the word if. Many conditional forms in English are used in sentences that include verbs in one of the past tenses. This usage is referred to as "the unreal past" because we use a past tense but we are not actually referring to something that happened in the past. There are five main ways of constructing conditional sentences in English. In all cases, these sentences are made up of an if clause and a main clause. In many negative conditional sentences, there is an equivalent sentence construction using "unless" instead of "if".

There are many different ways to express “conditional” or “hypothetical” meaning in English. One of them is to use the word “if” in the clause that expresses the condition. For example, “If it rains, we’ll cancel the picnic. If it doesn’t rain, we won’t.” This handout explains how different verb tenses indicate different meanings when you are speaking hypothetically and should help you choose the right verb tense for the meaning you want to convey.

Most explanations of the conditional don’t use one consistent example, so it’s difficult to see how different verb tenses convey different meanings. This handout uses the same basic activity in each example (sticking your fingers into the fire) to show how the situation influences the choice of verb tense. The critical factor is the *likelihood* of the situation being real. Pay attention to the situation described before each example and notice how the verb changes as the situation becomes more and more likely.

II.      The Types of If Clause

         A. Zero Conditional

This conditional deals with “real” conditions. We don’t call it “real” because it has already happened: we call it real because it *always* happens this way. We use this to describe a condition with an absolutely predictable result—in other words, to state a fact. If you stick your fingers in the fire, they get burned. (fact—happens every time) When the situation is completely likely, use present tense in both clause.

          B. First Conditional

This conditional deals with “unreal, but likely” situations in the present or future. We call it “unreal” because situation we are describing hasn’t happened yet, and “likely” because we can easily imagine it happening. We use the first conditional to describe these situations.

For example, a 3 year old child is reaching toward the fire. She hasn’t put her fingers into the fire yet, but we know that small children don’t understand fire, so we can easily imagine her touching it. We would say:  If you stick your fingers into the fire, you will burn yourself. (Same idea as   above, but rather than stating a general fact, you are talking about a specific  incident.

If you stick your fingers into the fire, you will be crying all day.

Notice that the verb “stick” is in the present tense. Using the present tense verb shows two things:

1. it hasn’t happened yet (it’s unreal)

2. you believe it could happen (it’s likely)

Also notice that the main clause verbs (will burn, will be crying) can be in simple form or -ing form. It depends on whether you want to emphasize a single moment in time (simple form) or the an  extended period of time (-ing form). In either case, use will + verb in the main clause.

When the situation is unreal, but likely, use present tense in the conditional clause and will + verb in the main clause.

           C. Second Conditional

This conditional deals with situations in the present and future that are both unreal and unlikely. The situation we are describing hasn’t happened yet, and we really can’t imagine it happening very easily, except in a freak accident or a moment of great stupidity.

For example, a 25 year old is joking about reaching into the fire. He hasn’t put his fingers into the fire yet, and we don’t think he’s serious about doing it, but we want to warn him about the consequences just in case. We would say:

•   If you stuck your fingers into the fire, you would need medical attention.
•   If you stuck your fingers into the fire, you would be screaming in pain all day.

Notice that the verb “stuck” is in the past tense. Using the past tense verb shows two things:

1. It hasn’t happened yet (it’s unreal)

2. You don’t really believe it will happen (it’s unlikely)

Also notice that the main clause verbs (would need, would be screaming) can be in simple form or -ing form. It depends on whether you want to emphasize a single moment in time (simple form) or the an extended period of time (-ing form). In either case, use would + verb in the main clause.

When the situation is unreal and unlikely, use past tense in the conditional clause and would + verb in the main clause.

               D. Unreal Conditional

This conditional deals with situations in the *past* that are unreal—they didn’t happen. We can still imagine what the consequences would have been.For example, the 25 year old was joking about reaching into the fire, but he didn’t actually do it. We would say:

 If you had stuck your hand into the fire, you would have needed medical attention.

  If you had stuck your hand into the fire, you would have been screaming in pain.

In the next two examples, the 25 year old actually did stick his hand into the fire. The “unreal” situation is the opposite:

• If you hadn’t stuck your hand into the fire, you wouldn’t have spent the evening in the  emergency room.
• If you hadn’t stuck your hand into the fire, you wouldn’t have blistered it so badly.

When the situation is unreal and in the past, use past perfect (had + -ed) in the conditional clause and would have + verb in the main clause.

III.     Conditional Clause and Main Clause

Chart 1                              

If I have enough money, (conditional clause)	I will go to Japan.     (main clause)
I will go to Japan, (main clause)	if I have enough money     (conditional clause)

Chart 2

Conditional sentence type	Usage	If clause verb tense	Main clause verb tense
Zero	General truths	Simple present	Simple present
Type 1	A possible condition and its probable result	Simple present	Simple future
Type 2	A hypothetical condition and its probable result	Simple past	Present conditional or Present continuous conditional
Type 3	An unreal past condition and its probable result in the past	Past perfect	Perfect conditional
Mixed type	An unreal past condition and its probable result in the present	Past perfect	Present contditional

IV.     The Form

       

          A. Zero Conditional

The zero conditional is used for when the time being referred to is now or always and the situation is real and possible. The zero conditional is often used to refer to general truths. The tense in both parts of the sentence is the simple present. In zero conditional sentences, the word "if" can usually be replaced by the word "when" without changing the meaning.

If Clause	Main clause
If + simple present	simple present
If this thing happens	that thing happens.
If you heat ice	it melts.
If it rains	the grass gets wet.

              B. First Conditional

Nature: Open condition, what is said in the condition is possible

 Time: This condition refers either to present or to future time.

If-Clause	Main Clause
Simple Present If + S +v1 If + S+ do / does not +v1 If + S + Vbe	S+ will/won’t-future or (Modal + infinitive)

Examples:

No.	If Clause	Main Clause
1.	If I study	I will pass the exam
2.	If you don’t hurry	You will miss the bus
3.	If we are punctual very early	We won’t be late

             C. Second Conditional

Nature: unreal (impossible) or improbable situations.

Time: present; the TENSE is past, but we are talking about the present, now.

If-Clause	Main Clause
Simple Past If +S+V2 If + S+ were If+ S + didn’t +v1	S+ would/could/not + infinitive *

Examples:

No.	If Clause	Main Clause
1.	If I studied,	I would pass the exam. (fact : I don’t study, so I don’t pass the exam
2.	If I were taller,	I would buy this dress (fact: I am shrort and I won’y buy this dress
3.	If you didn’t  love me	You would not marry me (fact:  you love me, so you want to marry me)

        

 The main difference between the first conditional and the second conditional is about probability: the first conditional is realistic, the second conditional is unrealistic.

Sometimes we can use both with the following difference in meaning.

• If I see him, I will tell him. (I suppose I will see him, because we go to the same school.)
• If I saw him, I would tell him. (I don't think I will see him, because he is ill.)
• If I need your help, I'll call you. (It is probable that I will need your help.)
• If I needed your help, I'd call you. (It is not very probable that I will need your help.)

Sometimes we must use either the first conditional or the second conditional to make it clear that the situation is real or unreal.

• If you get up late, you will miss your bus. (A real situation.)
• If I came from your country, I would understand your problems. (An unreal situation - I am not from your country.

              D. Third Conditional

Nature: unreal

Time: Past (so we are talking about a situation that was not so in the past.)

If-Clause	Main Clause
Past Perfect S+ had + v3 S + had + been S+ had + not +v3	S + would / not+ have + past participle *

Examples:

No	Main Clause	If-Clause
1.	If I had studied	I would have passed the exam (fact: I didn’t study, so I didn’t pass the exam)
2.	If I had been in Italy	I would have visited Pisa (fact: I was not in Italy, so I didn’t visit visa)
3.	If I had not lived in England	I wouldn’t have been fluent in English (fact: I lived in England, so I was fluent in English)

          

          E.         Examples (if-clause at the beginning)

Type	If clause	Main Clause
I	If I study,	I will pass the exam.
II	If I studied,	I would pass the exam.
III	If I had studied,	I would have passed the exam.

            F.         (if-clause at the end)

Type	Main Clause	If-clause
I	I will pass the exam	if I study.
II	I would pass the exam	if I studied.
III	I would have passed the exam	if I had studied.

* We can substitute could or might for would (should, may or must are sometimes possible, too).

•  I would pass the exam.
•   I could pass the exam.
•   I might pass the exam.
•  I may pass the exam.
• I should pass the exam.
• I must pass the exam.

IV.     Mixed Type Conditional

The mixed type conditional is used to refer to a time that is in the past, and a situation that is ongoing into the present. The facts they are based on are the opposite of what is expressed. The mixed type conditional is used to refer to an unreal past condition and its probable result in the present. In mixed type conditional sentences, the if clause uses the past perfect, and the main clause uses the present conditional.

If clause	Main clause
If + past perfect or simple past	present conditional or perfect conditional
If this thing had happened	that thing would happen. (but this thing didn't  happen so that thing isn't happening)
If I had worked harder at school	I would have a better job now.
If we had looked at the map	we wouldn't be lost.
If you weren't afraid of spiders	you would have picked it up and put it outside.

V.      IF + PRESENT SIMPLE, ...+ IMPERATIVE

We use the imperative to give instructions of advice.

• If you see John, tell him he needs to come to my office.
• If you travel abroad, remember your passport.
• If you go to Australia, send me a postcard.
• If you go to the supermarket, bring back some milk.
• If Mike comes, call me.
• If you drink, don't drive.

The highlighted words are in the imperative. These sentences are similar to saying: If the first condition happens, you must do this (in the second/imperative clause).

VI.     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].

VII.    If Clause Summary

            

VIII. Exercises

A. Choose the correct answer!

1. If I had had enough money, I ________that     radio
    a. bought   b. would buy    c. would have bought    d. had bought

 2. If it rains, you ______ wet
     a. will get  b. would get    c. get     d. had got

3. She would go to the Job Centre if she ______ a job
    a. had wanted   b. will want   c. wanted   d. wants

4. The dog ________ you if it hadn´t been tied up. 
     a. would bite  b. will bite    c. would have bitten   d. bites

5. It _______ easy  to paint pictures if you  knew how to.
    a. would be   b. had been   c. would have been    d. be

B. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense!

6. If he (be) ________ careful, he would not have had that terrible accident.

7. If I were a star, I (help)  _______ the poor.

8. She will know the answer, if she (try) _______ to understand.

9. He (buy) ________ a house if he had a job.
10. Her father would not have been sick, if  he (go) _______ the doctor. 

C. Decide which of the sentences below is conditional type 1, 2 & 3 !

1. If I were rich, I would travel around the world. (_____)

2. She wouldn't have missed the train if she had woken up earlier. (______)             

3. I’ll call you if I come back early.  (_____)

Answers:

1. C

2. A

3. C

4. C

5. A

6. had been

7. would help                                                     

8. tries

9. would buy

10. had gone

11. 2

12. 3

13. 1

Sources:

www.first-english.org

www.grammar.cl

www.e-grammar.org

www.edufind.com

www.grammarly.com

www.ego4u.com

www.english-hilfen.de

www.writingcenter.unc.edu

www.english.lingolia.com