Conditional Sentences

A conditional sentence describes the condition that is necessary for a particular result to

occur. The conjunctions if, even if, when, whenever, whether, and unless often appear in

conditional sentences. The meaning of a conditional sentence determines which verb

tenses needs to be used in the independent and subordinate clauses.

►Use conditional sentences to express a general or habitual fact. In this type

of conditional sentence, the verb tense in each clause is the same.

General fact: When I touch an ice cube, it feels cold.

Habitual fact: Whenever I touched an ice cube, it felt cold.

►Use conditional sentences make predictions about the future, or express

future intentions or possibilities. In this type of conditional sentence, the subordinate

clause contains a present-tense verb and the independent clause contains the modal

can, may, might, should, or will) plus the base form of the verb.

Prediction: If I win the lottery, I can go to Paris.

Intention: If I win the lottery, I will go to Paris.

Possibility: If I win the lottery, I might go to Paris.

►Use conditional sentences to speculate about the future result of a possible but

unlikely condition in the present. In this type of conditional sentence, the subordinate

clause contains the past tense of the verb, and the independent clause contains the

modal would, could, or might, plus the base for of the verb.

Speculation: If I won the lottery, I would go to Paris.

Unlikely present condition: If I won the lottery,

Future result: I would go to Paris.

►Use conditional sentences to speculate about the past result of a condition that did not

happen in the past. In this type of conditional sentence, the subordinate clause

contains the past perfect tense of the verb, and the independent clause contains the

modal would have, could have, or might have, plus the past participle.

Speculation: If I had won the lottery, I would have gone to Paris.

Untrue past condition: If I had won the lottery,

Untrue past result: I would have gone to Paris.

In this type of conditional sentence, you can express the conditional without using

if by reversing the order of the subject and the verb in the subordinate clause.

Speculation: Had I won the lottery, I would have gone to Paris.

►Use conditional sentences to speculate about the future result of a condition that is

not true in the present. In this type of conditional sentence, the subordinate clause

contains the past-tense verb were (never was), and the independent clause contains

the modal would, could, or might, plus the base form of the verb.

Speculation: If I were Prime Minister, I would do a great job.

Untrue condition: If I were Prime Minister

Future result: I would do a great job.

Speculation: If I were going to Paris, I would bring my passport.

Untrue condition: If I were going to Paris,

Future result: I would bring my passport

Example Type I :

1) If we travel to London, we will visit the museums.

2) If you wear sandals in the mountains, you will slip on the rocks.

3) If Rita forgets her homework, the teacher will give her a low mark.

4) If they go to the disco, they will listen to loud music.

5) If you wait a minute, I will ask my parents.

Excample Type II :

6) If they had enough money, they would buy a new car.

7) If you did a paper round, you would earn a little extra money.

8) If Michael got more pocket money, he would ask Doris out for dinner.

9) If we hurried, we would catch the bus.

10) If it rained, Nina would take an umbrella with her.