Conditional Sentences

All of us use conditional sentences frequently in daily life. Here's one:

If you don't read this article, you'll have no understanding of conditional sentences!

What are conditional sentences?

Here are some examples:

• If we lived in Spain, we could sunbathe all day long.
• When water reaches 100°C, it boils.
• If Jane doesn't eat, she will go hungry.
• If you want to go out tonight, you must clean your room.
• When John drinks, he vomits.

You can see that each sentence has three parts - the 'if' clause, the 'consequence' clause, and the conditional conjunction (eg. if, as long as, when, therefore etc.).

An example of a conditional sentence, freepik.com

We can reverse the order of a conditional sentence, so that the consequence comes first.

For example:

• Will you be ready if I swing round at 7pm?
• Are you going to be upset if Michael leaves early?
• Mum says she won't be coming if Dad is there.

The biggest indicator that a sentence is a conditional sentence is that it contains the word If. The conditional clause is called the if-clause for this reason. However, there are conditional sentences that do not require the word if.

The biggest indicator of a conditional sentence, flaticon.com

Types of conditional sentence

In English, there are three types of basic conditional sentence. These different types reflect the level of probability. They are the first, second, and third conditionals. There are two other types of conditionals, which we'll look at at the end of this article: zero conditionals and mixed conditionals.

The first conditional

The first conditional is formed by combining If + verb + comma + will + verb. It is used to indicate a mid to high level of probability. In day to day use, it is used to make promises, predictions, and threats.

Here, the conditional clause remains in the simple present tense, but the consequence clause is in the future tense (will+ verb).

The second conditional

The second conditional is used for either 'unlikely' or 'improbable' events in the future. Events such as winning the lottery or meeting an A-list celebrity at the corner shop are extremely unlikely. The second conditional is used to express unlikely outcomes, fantasies, hyperboles.

The conditional clause is in the simple past tense (eg. you met, if Adam broke up, if I had , if I won ). The consequence clause uses a modal auxiliary (would / could / might) plus a main verb.

If I were you...

It is important to note that in second conditional sentences, we use the subjunctive mood. This means we use the subjunctive form of the verb 'to be' rather than the past tense. Have a look at these examples:

Notice the use of 'were' after each pronoun rather than 'was' - this is the correct use of the subjunctive mood. To say 'If I was you I wouldn't care' is a non-standard form.

Third Conditional Sentences

Third conditional sentences are used when the event has passed and therefore the consequence cannot occur.

Uses: Reflections on past, regrets ...

The conditional clause is now in the past perfect (eg. had told, have reconsidered, had arrived, have invited). The consequence clause is a modal + perfect tense (modal auxiliary verb + have + past participle). This can be seen in the examples: would have brought, could have reconsidered etc ...

Mixed conditionals

There are instances where conditional sentences are mixed. For example:

• If I had learned to speak French as a child, I would be a French speaker today.

This is different from a third conditional sentence, because although it has a conditional clause in the past perfect tense, the consequence clause is in the present conditional tense not the past tense.

• If you typed out the report yesterday, I will be ready to review it by tomorrow

The conditional clause is in the simple past tense, like in second conditional sentences, but the consequence clause is in the future tense, like in first conditional sentences.

Zero Conditional Sentences

Zero Conditional Sentences are used to discuss truths. This can range from scientific facts to general truths. In these conditional sentences, the conditional is either 100% likely or extremely likely.

Uses: Habits, Scientific Facts, Rules, General Truths...

In Zero Conditional Sentences, If andWhen are used interchangeably because there is 100% certainty that the consequence will occur.

The conditional clause and the consequence clause are always in simple present tense , which is the tense used in English language to describe a continual event.

Therefore, it is: If you do not drink, you are dehydrated.

NOT: If you do not drink, you will be dehydrated.