Conditional Clause and Main Clause

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

First, Second, and Third Conditional

1. First conditional: If I have enough money, I will go to Japan. 2. Second conditional: If I had enough money, I would go to Japan. 3. Third conditional: If I had had enough money, I would have gone to Japan.

Conditional clause
1. If + Present Tense

Main clause
will + inf / present tense / imperative

a. If you help me with the dishes (if + pres), I will help you with your homework. (will + inf) b. If the sum of the digits of a number is divisible by three, the number is divisible by three (Pres. tense) c. If you see Mr Fox tonight, tell him I am ill. (imperative). 2. If + Past Tense 3. If + Past Perfect Tense would + inf would have + past participle

We do not normally use will or would in the conditional clause, only in the main clause.

Uses of the Conditional

1. First conditional a. Nature: Open condition, what is said in the condition is possible. b. Time: This condition refers either to present or to future time. e.g. If he is late, we will have to go without him. If my mother knows about this, we are in serious trouble.

2. Second conditional a. Nature: unreal (impossible) or improbable situations. b. Time: present; the TENSE is past, but we are talking about the present, now. e.g. If I knew her name, I would tell you. If I were you, I would tell my father. Compare: If I become president, I will change the social security system. (Said by a presidential candidate) If I became president, I would change the social security system. (Said by a schoolboy: improbable) If we win this match, we are qualified for the semifinals. If I won a million pounds, I would stop teaching. (improbable)

3. Third conditional a. Nature: unreal b. Time: Past (so we are talking about a situation that was not so in the past.) e.g. If you had warned me, I would not have told your father about that party.(But you didn't, and I have).

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 ifclauses. 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].

IF Clause Type 1
Form if + Simple Present, will-Future Example: If I find her address, I will send her an invitation. The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a comma. Example: I will send her an invitation if I find her address. Note: Main clause and / or if clause might be negative. See Simple Present und will-Future on how to form negative sentences. Example: If I dont see him this afternoon, I will phone him in the evening. Use 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 I find her address, Ill send her an invitation. I want to send an invitation to a friend. I just have to find her address. I am quite sure, however, that I will find it. Example: If John has the money, he will buy a Ferrari. I know John very well and I know that he earns a lot of money and that he loves Ferraris. So I think it is very likely that sooner or later he will have the money to buy a Ferrari.

IF Clause Type 2 Form if + Simple Past, main clause with Conditional I (= would + Infinitive) Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation. The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a comma. Example: I would send her an invitation if I found her address. Note: Main clause and / or if clause might be negative. See Simple Past und Conditional I on how to form negative sentences. Example: If I had a lot of money, I wouldnt stay here. Were instead of Was In IF Clauses Type II, we usually use were even if the pronoun is I, he, she or it . Example: If I were you, I would not do this. Use 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 I found her address, I would send her an invitation. I would like to send an invitation to a friend. I have looked everywhere for her address, but I cannot find it. So now I think it is rather unlikely that I will eventually find her address. Example: If John had the money, he would buy a Ferrari. I know John very well and I know that he doesn't have much money, but he loves Ferraris. He would like to own a Ferrari (in his dreams). But I think it is very unlikely that he will have the money to buy one in the near future.

IF Clause Type 3

Form
if + Past Perfect, main clause with Conditional II Example: If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation. The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a comma. Example: I would have sent her an invitation if I had found her address. Note: Main clause and / or if clause might be negative. See Past Perfect and Conditional II on how to form negative sentences. Example: If I hadnt studied, I wouldnt have passed my exams.

Use
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 found her address, I would have sent her an invitation. Sometime in the past, I wanted to send an invitation to a friend. I didn't find her address, however. So in the end I didn't send her an invitation. Example: If John had had the money, he would have bought a Ferrari. I knew John very well and I know that he never had much money, but he loved Ferraris. He would have loved to own a Ferrari, but he never had the money to buy one.

Type I

Type I.

if-clause
If / Unless / If .......not + present tense

+ main clause + future I + shall / will / can / may / might + verb

Form

If I learn my vocabulary,

I'll get a good mark

or the other way round: main clause + if-clause shall / will / can / may / might + verb + present simple present tense

I'll get a good mark. Function

if I learn my vocabulary

open condition: Probable action/result in the future according to a real condition You'll catch the train if you leave before ten. Lehrplan: Type I and II in form 7 and 8 if vs. when

Curriculum Lehrbuch:
previously done: future I present tense

1. form: if - plays, - main clause -future I if - unless

2. function

Difficulties

open conditions What's condition - what's consequence?

3. interlingual interferences No future tense in if-clauses if vs. when unless

4. other difficulties position of the if-clause operating instructions making appointments warnings or possible rewards suggestions

Situations

Type II

Type II: if-clause

If / Unless / If .......not past tense,

+ main clause
+ conditional I:+ should / would / could / 'd / might + verb

If I learnt my vocabulary, Form

or the other way round: main clause

I'd get a good mark.

+ if-clause

I'd get a good mark

if I learnt my vocabulary

If-clauses in front position are more emphatic. If-clauses in front position get a comma. Hypothetical statements Possible action/result according to a less probable condition in the future

Function

We'd have enough money for a new car if you found a good job. Fantasized result or action according to an unreal (untrue) condition in the present

We'd buy a Rolls Royce if we were rich. Lehrplan: Type II in form 7 or 8 if I were you,

Curriculum

Lehrbuch: previously done:

past tense if-clause type I

1. form: if - played, - conditional I if - unless

2. function Possible action/result according to a less probable condition in the future Fantasized result or action according to an unreal (untrue) condition in the present: "virtual reality" no time indicated by past tense = today or tomorrow

Difficulties
3. interlingual interferences No conditional tense in if-clauses if vs. when unless

4. other difficulties 'were' instead of 'was' (rest of old conjunctive) position of the if-clause dreams and nightmares mock examinations: testing a person exaggerated timidity (But if the bridge fell down....) reproaches

Situations

Type III

Type III: if-clause Form

If / Unless / If .......not + past perfect, If I had + -ed or 3rd form,

+ main clause
+ conditional II + should / would/ could / might + have + verb+ed or 3rd form

If I had learnt my vocabulary,

I would have got a good mark.

or the other way round: main clause should / would/ could / might + have + verb -ed or 3rd form

.
+ if-clause if I had + -ed or 3rd form

I would have got a good mark

if I had learnt my vocabulary

If- clause: unreal condition: the condition can't be fulfilled any longer, because it should have happened in the past, but didn't. main clause: the consequence can't take place any more, because the condition couldn't be fulfilled. Function If I had learnt more (but I didn't learn=unreal condition), I would have got a better mark. (So I didn't get a better mark= impossible consequence) or the other way round: I would have got a better mark (So I didn't get a better mark= impossible consequence) if I had learnt more (but I didn't learn=unreal condition) Lehrplan: form 9 + 10 (repetition) Curriculum Lehrbuch: Type I and II in form 7 and 8 if vs. when 1. interlingual interferences No conditional tense in if-clauses if vs. when unless 2. other difficulties position of the if-clause dreams and nightmares about the past castles in the air in the past reproaches self-blaming

Difficulties

Situations

'IF' SENTENCES AND THE 'UNREAL' PAST In this section you will find information on sentences containing the word 'if', the use of conditional tenses, and the 'unreal past', that is, when we use a past tense but we are not actually referring to past time. IF AND THE CONDITIONAL There are four main types of 'if' sentences in English: 1. The 'zero' conditional, where the tense in both parts of the sentence is the simple present: 'IF' CLAUSE If + simple present If you heat ice If it rains MAIN CLAUSE simple present it melts. you get wet

In these sentences, the time is now or always and the situation is real and possible. They are often used to refer to general truths. 2. The Type 1 conditional, where the tense in the 'if clause is the simple present, and the tense in the main clause is the simple future 'IF' CLAUSE If + simple present If it rains If you don't hurry MAIN CLAUSE Simple future you will get wet we will miss the train.

In these sentences, the time is the present or future and the situation is real. They refer to a possible condition and its probable result. 3. The Type 2 conditional, where the tense in the 'if' clause is the simple past, and the tense in the main clause is the present conditional: 'IF' CLAUSE If + simple past If it rained If you went to bed earlier MAIN CLAUSE Present conditional you would get wet you wouldn't be so tired.

In these sentences, the time is now or any time, and the situation is unreal. They are not based on fact, and they refer to an unlikely or hypothetical condition and its probable result.

4. The Type 3 conditional, where the tense in the 'if' clause is the past perfect, and the tense in the main clause is the perfect conditional: 'IF' CLAUSE If + past perfect If it had rained If you had worked harder MAIN CLAUSE Perfect conditional you would have got wet you would have passed the exam.

In these sentences, the time is past, and the situation is contrary to reality. The facts they are based on are the opposite of what is expressed, and they refer to an unreal past condition and its probable past result. A further type if 'if' sentence exists, where Type 2 and Type 3 are mixed. The tense in the 'if' clause is the past perfect, and the tense in the main clause is the present conditional: 'IF' CLAUSE If + past perfect If I had worked harder at school If we had looked at the map MAIN CLAUSE Present conditional I would have a better job now. we wouldn't be lost.

In these sentences, the time is past in the 'if' clause, and present in the main clause. They refer to an unreal past condition and its probable result in the present.

Conditionals: Verb Tense in "If" Clauses

What this handout is about

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.

Using this handout

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.

Zero conditional: "Real condition"

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. (facthappens every time)

When the situation is completely likely, use present tense in both clauses. top

First conditional: "Unreal, but likely"

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. top

Second conditional: "Unreal and unlikely"

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. top

Third conditional: "Unreal condition"

This conditional deals with situations in the *past* that are unrealthey 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. top

Mixing time references

In the examples of the third conditional (unreal and in the past), both the conditional clause and the main clause refer to past time: If you had done this in the past, you would have experienced this in the past. It is also possible to mix time referencesto talk about a condition in the past and the consequences in the present. For example:

If you had stuck your fingers into the fire last night, you would be in a lot of pain right now. If you hadn't stuck your fingers into the fire last night, you wouldn't be wearing bandages today.

English Conditionals
There are several structures in English that are called conditionals. "Condition" means "situation or circumstance". If a particular condition is true, then a particular result happens.

If y = 10 then 2y = 20 If y = 3 then 2y = 6

There are three basic conditionals that we use very often. There are some more conditionals that we do not use so often. In this lesson, we will look at the three basic conditionals as well as the so-called zero conditional. We'll finish with a quiz to check your understanding.

First Conditional: real possibility

We are talking about the future. We are thinking about a particular condition or situation in the future, and the result of this condition. There is a real possibility that this condition will happen. For example, it is morning. You are at home. You plan to play tennis this afternoon. But there are some clouds in the sky. Imagine that it rains. What will you do?
IF condition present simple If it rains result WILL + base verb I will stay at home.

Notice that we are thinking about a future condition. It is not raining yet. But the sky is cloudy and you think that it could rain. We use the present simple tense to talk about the possible future condition. We use WILL + base verb to talk about the possible future result. The important thing about the first conditional is that there is a real possibility that the condition will happen. Here are some more examples (do you remember the two basic structures: [IF condition result] and [result IF condition]?):
IF condition present simple result WILL + base verb

If If If If If

I see Mary Tara is free tomorrow they do not pass their exam it rains tomorrow it rains tomorrow

I will tell her. he will invite her. their teacher will be sad. will you stay at home? what will you do?

result WILL + base verb I will tell Mary He will invite Tara Their teacher will be sad Will you stay at home What will you do

IF

condition present simple

if if if if if

I see her. she is free tomorrow. they do not pass their exam. it rains tomorrow? it rains tomorrow?

Sometimes, we use shall, can, or may instead of will, for example: If you are good today, you can watch TV tonight.

Second Conditional: unreal possibility or dream

The second conditional is like the first conditional. We are still thinking about the future. We are thinking about a particular condition in the future, and the result of this condition. But there is not a real possibility that this condition will happen. For example, you do not have a lottery ticket. Is it possible to win? No! No lottery ticket, no win! But maybe you will buy a lottery

ticket in the future. So you can think about winning in the future, like a dream. It's not very real, but it's still possible.
IF condition past simple If I won the lottery result WOULD + base verb I would buy a car.

Notice that we are thinking about a future condition. We use the past simple tense to talk about the future condition. We use WOULD + base verb to talk about the future result. The important thing about the second conditional is that there is an unreal possibility that the condition will happen. Here are some more examples:
IF condition past simple If If If If I married Mary Ram became rich it snowed next July it snowed next July result WOULD + base verb I would be happy. she would marry him. would you be surprised? what would you do?

result WOULD + base verb I would be happy

IF

condition past simple

if

I married Mary.

She would marry Ram Would you be surprised What would you do

if if if

he became rich. it snowed next July? it snowed next July?

Sometimes, we use should, could or might instead of would, for example: If I won a million dollars, I could stop working.

Third Conditional: no possibility

The first conditional and second conditionals talk about the future. With the third conditional we talk about the past. We talk about a condition in the past that did not happen. That is why there is no possibility for this condition. The third conditional is also like a dream, but with no possibility of the dream coming true. Last week you bought a lottery ticket. But you did not win. :-(
condition Past Perfect If I had won the lottery result WOULD HAVE + Past Participle I would have bought a car.

Notice that we are thinking about an impossible past condition. You did not win the lottery. So the condition was not true, and that particular condition can never be true because it is finished. We use the past perfect tense to talk about the impossible past condition. We use WOULD HAVE + past participle to talk about the impossible past result. The important thing about the third conditional is that both the condition and result are impossible now.
Sometimes, we use should have, could have, might have instead of would have, for example: If you had bought a lottery ticket, you might have won.

Look at some more examples in the tables below:

IF condition result

past perfect If If If If If I had seen Mary Tara had been free yesterday they had not passed their exam it had rained yesterday it had rained yesterday

WOULD HAVE + past participle I would have told her. I would have invited her. their teacher would have been sad. would you have stayed at home? what would you have done?

result WOULD HAVE + past participle I would have told Mary I would have invited Tara Their teacher would have been sad Would you have stayed at home What would you have done

IF

condition past perfect

if if if if if

I had seen her. she had been free yesterday. they had not passed their exam. it had rained yesterday? it had rained yesterday?

Zero Conditional: certainty

We use the so-called zero conditional when the result of the condition is always true, like a scientific fact. Take some ice. Put it in a saucepan. Heat the saucepan. What happens? The ice melts (it becomes water). You would be surprised if it did not.

IF

condition present simple

result present simple it melts.

If

you heat ice

Notice that we are thinking about a result that is always true for this condition. The result of the condition is an absolute certainty. We are not thinking about the future or the past, or even the present. We are thinking about a simple fact. We use the present simple tense to talk about the condition. We also use the present simple tense to talk about the result. The important thing about the zero conditional is that the condition always has the same result.
We can also use when instead of if, for example: When I get up late I miss my bus.

Look at some more examples in the tables below:

IF condition present simple If If If If I miss the 8 o'clock bus I am late for work people don't eat you heat ice result present simple I am late for work. my boss gets angry. they get hungry. does it melt?

result present simple I am late for work

IF

condition present simple

if

I miss the 8 o'clock bus.

My boss gets angry People get hungry Does ice melt

if if if

I am late for work. they don't eat. you heat it?

Structure of Conditional Sentences

The structure of most conditionals is very simple. There are two basic possibilities. Of course, we add many words and can use various tenses, but the basic structure is usually like this:
IF IF condition y = 10 result 2y = 20

or like this:
result 2y = 20 IF IF condition y = 10

Conditionals: Summary
Here is a chart to help you to visualize the basic English conditionals. Do not take the 50% and 10% figures too literally. They are just to help you.
probability conditional example time any time future

100%

zero conditional

If you heat ice, it melts.

50%

first conditional

If it rains, I will stay at home.

10%

second conditional

If I won the lottery, I would buy a car.

future

0%

third conditional

If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a car.

past