Conditional

There are 4 types of conditional sentences in English:

1.  The 0 (zero) conditional is the easiest to understand! It is also called the real or factual conditional because it is used to talk about facts, or something that is alwaystrue.

If I eat too much, I get sick.

The result [I get sick] is always true of the condition [if I eat too much]. It is a fact! There is a fixed connection between the two events.

The zero conditional form:

If + simple present, simple present

This conditional is easy because you don’t have to remember which clause goes where or which verb tense is used, you just have to remember:

   facts, habits, daily routines, rules, general truths = present simple

Every day I take the train to work. If I miss the train, I drive to work.

Example sentences:

Ice melts if you heat it.

If I drink, I never drive.

It’s bad luck if the groom sees the bride before the wedding!

If the banana is yellow, it is ripe and ready to eat!

If you’re happy, I’m happy!

I always ask for directions if I get lost.

I don’t let a cold stop me! I still go to work if I get sick.

If I don’t sleep well, I am really cranky in the morning.

You can also use modals in the result clause:

I can’t drive if I don’t have my glasses.

If you want to go to university, you must study hard.

If you want to lose weight, you should eat less and exercise more.

You can’t drive a car if you don’t have a license.

You can also use the imperative in the result clause

If you drink, don’t drive.

Please don’t disturb me if I am asleep!

If you’re hungry, eat something!

When can be used instead of if:

When I cook fish, the house always smells.

I always smoke when I drink.

When I go to the movies, I eat a bag of popcorn.

When it rains, it pours! [English proverb]

When I’m sad, I go shopping.

I listen to my ipod when I jog.

Unless can also be used instead of if not:

I can’t drive unless I have my glasses.

[I can't drive if I don't have my glasses.]

You can’t drive a car unless you have a license.

[You can't drive a car if you don't have a license.]

You can also think of the zero conditional this way:

If + present tense, simple present

In the if clause, you can use the present continuous tense:

If I am driving, I never answer my cell phone.

When I’m reading, my cat sits on my lap.

I listen to my ipod when I’m jogging.

Please don’t disturb me if I am sleeping!

2. The 1st (first) conditional sentence is also called the future possible/real conditional.

If I eat too much, I will get fat.

It is used to talk about a result [I'll get fat] that is likely to happen or is almost certain to happen in the future IF the condition in the if clause [if I eat too much] occurs.

Generally, in the 1st conditional structure the if clause has a 50% or better chance of happening. If I eat too much, it’s possible that I will get fat. I may not get fat, but it’s more than likely that I will get fat if I eat too much.

The 1st conditional form:

If + simple present, will + verb

*Even though this sentence structure is used to talk about the future, the condition clause [If I eat too much] uses the simple present tense.

Uses of the sentence structure

1. Possibilities

You’ll miss the train if you don’t hurry!

If I miss the train today, I’ll drive to work.

I will pass my math exam if I study hard.

If it rains, we won’t have our picnic.

If you stay out in the rain too long, you’ll get sick!

My mom will be angry if I’m late tonight!

2. Superstitions

If you see a penny on the ground and pick it up, it will bring you good luck!

If you break a mirror, you will have 7 years of bad luck!

If you rub a rabbit’s foot, it will bring you good luck!

If you walk under a ladder, you will have bad luck!

You will have bad luck if you open an umbrella indoors.

3. Future plans

If you’re going shopping today, I’ll come with you!

If you can get me a ticket, I’ll go to the concert with you!

If you see Ken later today, will you tell him to call me?

4. Warnings and threats

If you don’t come to my birthday party, I’ll never speak to you again.

If you eat too much ice cream, you’ll make yourself sick!<

If you say that again, I will hurt you!

Variations of this sentence structure

1. The imperative can be used in the result clause.

If you call your mother tonight, tell her I said “hello”!

Remember to buy some bananas if you go to the supermarket.

If anyone calls for me, tell them I’m not home!

2. Modals can be used in the result clause, particularly foroffers and suggestions.

If you get a new job, you should really buy nicer clothes!

I can get you a ticket to the Madonna concert if you want to go!

If you need someone to help you move, I might be able to help.

be going to

I’m going to buy a new car next year if I have enough money.

If you don’t give me back my sweater right now, I’m going to scream!

She’s going to take a vacation next week if she gets time off work.

3. Conjunctions can be used to talk about the future.

The 1st conditional sentence structure can also be used to talk about the future. You can use conjunctions of time [when, before, after, as soon as, until] instead of if in the condition / dependent clause. They are always followed by the present simple tense.

When

I’ll wash the dishes when my TV show is over.

I’ll come inside when it gets dark.

He’s going to be a policeman when he’s older!

Before

I’ll finish this report before I leave tonight.

Please take the garbage out before you go to work today.

He’ll call you before he goes out tonight.

After

I’ll eat dinner after I finish my homework

After she graduates from university she’ll need to find a job!

He’ll look for a place to live after he finds a job.

Until

I’ll sit outside until it gets dark.

I will keep looking for my car keys until I find them!

We’ll wait until the rain stops, then we’ll go outside.

As soon as

I’ll wash the dishes as soon as this TV show is over.

Call me as soon as you get in.

We’ll start the meeting as soon as the CEO arrives.

The band will start playing as soon as everyone arrives.

4. The present perfect can be used with the 1st conditional

The present perfect can be used in the result clause with when and after.

There is no change in the meaning of the sentence when the present perfect is used withafter:

Tell me what you think of the movie after you see it!

Tell me what you think of the movie after you’ve seen it.

After I find a job, I’ll look for a place to live.

After I’ve found a job, I’ll look for a place to live.

I’ll finish my homework after I eat dinner.

I’ll finish my homework after I’ve eaten dinner.

When means that the event/action must happen before a future event/action occurs:

When I have saved enough money, I’ll buy a car!

When I have saved enough money, I’m going to buy a car!

When I find a job, I’ll look for a place to live.

When I’ve found a job, I’ll look for a place to live.

3. The 2nd conditional sentence is also called the present unreal conditional or hypothetical conditional. This sentence structure is used to imaginea different present reality, or a situation that is unlikely in the present. It can also be used to express a wish that the present was different, or to describe something unlikely or impossible.

If I were fat, I wouldn’t be able to dance very well.

The 2nd conditional form:

If + simple past, would + verb

NOTES:

- When using the verb be in the if clause, were is used for everyone; it is not wrong to use was, it is just more informal.

- Subject + would is often contracted in spoken English: I’d, You’d, She’d, He’d, We’d, They’d.

Example Sentences:

If my grandmother were alive today, she would be 107!

(Is my grandmother alive? No. I am just imagining how old she’d be IF she were alive!)

If I were president, I would cut taxes.

(Am I the president? No. Can I cut taxes? No. I am imagining what I would do IF I were the president!)

If I lived near a train station, I wouldn’t need a car. It would be so much cheaper!

(Do I live near a train station? No. Do I need a car? Yes. It’s very expensive. I would save money if lived near a train station.)

If I lived in Canada, I would speak English fluently.

(Do I live in Canada? No. Can I speak English fluently? No. Things would be different if I lived in Canada!)

Children would be healthier if they exercised more and didn’t spend so much time playing videos games!

He would have more time to spend with his kids if he didn’t work so much!

She wouldn’t be fat if she didn’t eat so much!

Peter would be healthier if he didn’t smoke.

If I had an extra sandwich, I would give you one! Unfortunately, I don’t.

If I lived in a big city, like London, I would go every night!

He wouldn’t know what to do with himself if he retired early.

Uses of this Sentence Structure

To Give Advice

If I were you…

If I were you, I wouldn’t drive the car until a mechanic checked it out.

If I were you, I wouldn’t tell anybody about this.

If you were me, what would you do? [asking for advice]

A continuous tense can be used in the if clause…

If I were working now, I’d have more money.

If you were looking for a cheap computer, where would you shop?

If you were walking down the street at night and you saw him, you would be scared!

…and in the result clause!

If I had a better job, I wouldn’t be living with my parents.

We wouldn’t be doing this if we didn’t care about you!

If I didn’t work a German company, I wouldn’t be learning German.

Could (=ability) can be used in the if clause (= ‘were able to’)…

If I could go back in time and give myself advice, I’d tell myself not to worry so much about what other people think.

It would be great if you could help us paint the house this weekend!

(= a polite way to ask for help)

I would if I could but I can’t!

If I could make the pain go away, I would do whatever it took.

If I could read her mind, I would know exactly what to buy her for Christmas!

…or in the result clause (= ‘would be able to’)

If I had a map, I could easily find their house.

If we had more money, we could renovate the entire house.

If I had my own house, I could have as many pets as I wanted!

Might can be used in the result clause (= unlikely but possible)

If I knew how to swim, I might compete in a triathlon.

If I won the lottery, I might donate some of it to charity.

If you attended more meetings at work, you might know what’s going on!

A funny use of the 2nd conditional:

I’ve lost my shoe! I can’t find it anywhere. If I were a shoe, where would I be?

(I can find my shoe. I am trying to think of all the places where my shoe could be!)

4.The 3rd conditional sentence is also called the past unreal conditional orpast hypothetical conditional. It is used to imagine a different past than the one that happened.

If I hadn’t eaten so much, I wouldn’t have gotten* so fat.

The if clause is unreal. It did not happen. The result is what would have happened IF theif clause were real:

If I hadn’t eaten so much,

Did I eat a lot? Yes, I did. However, I’m imagining what would have happened if I hadn’t eaten so much.

What would have happened if I hadn’t eaten so much? The result:

…I wouldn’t have gotten* so fat.

Am I fat now? Yes. I would not be fat now if hadn’t eaten so much in the past. If I ate well in the past, I would not be fat now.

*In American English, ‘gotten’ is used at the past participle of ‘got.’ In British English, ‘gotten’ is not used.

[I'm not fat in real life! I am just using this as an example sentence!]

The 3rd conditional form:

If + past perfect, would have + past participle

NOTES:

*the past perfect tense = had + past participle

*in spoken English, subject + would AND subject + had are usually contracted:

I’d, you’d, she’d, he’d, we’d, they’d

*Because you are imagining the past, you can ONLY use if. In this sentence structure, you cannot use when, after, or any other time conjunction

Common uses of this sentence structure:

1.What would you have done if … ?

What would you have done if you hadn’t been accepted at any university?

What would you have done if we hadn’t been there to help?

What would you have done differently if you had known you would never speak to him again?

2. If I had known…

If I had known that you needed help, I would have come!

If we had known you were sick, we would have gone to visit you in the hospital.

We wouldn’t have driven all this way if we had known the museum was closed.

If I had known that you needed a ride to school, I would have driven you.

I really wanted to see that movie! If I had known you were going, I would have gone with you!

3. You can use this sentence structure to express regret about something in the past, and to wish the past had happened differently.

If we had known the movie was so awful, we wouldn’t have wasted our money on it.

If I had finished high school and gone to university, I would have gotten a better job.

4. You can use this structure to criticize someone/something or point out mistakes:

If you hadn’t stayed out so late last night, you wouldn’t have slept in and been late for work!

It would have been quicker if we had taken a taxi to the park instead of walking.

More example sentences:

If I hadn’t gone to the party, I would have never met my husband.

We would have gone out last night if we hadn’t been so tired.

If his brother hadn’t reminded him, Dan would have forgotten his wife’s birthday.

If she had seen the ice on the road, she would have slowed down and she wouldn’t have gotten in an accident.

Other modal verbs can be used in the result clause:

might have + past participle = maybe

If I had known you would be at the party, I might have gone.

If I had known about his police record, I might not have dated him.

If he had finished high school, he might have had a better life.

If she had been wearing her seatbelt, she might have survived the car accident.

could have + past participle = possibility or ability

I could have been a world-class swimmer if I had practiced more when I was younger.

If I had known you didn’t have a car, I could have driven you to the meeting.

If my parents hadn’t lent me money, I could never have afforded university.

If you had told me the TV was broken, I could have fixed it for you!

It is possible to use the past perfect continuous in the ifclause…

If you had been watching where you were going, you wouldn’t have hit your head!

If she had been paying attention in class yesterday, she would have heard that we have a quiz today.

…OR  would + present perfect continuous in the result clause…

If you had been at the party, you would have been laughing at his outrageous outfit too!

If you had told me that you weren’t coming, I wouldn’t have been standing there like a fool waiting for you!

…but NOT both at the same time!