1. Conditional
Sentences
De Guzman, Mia Milagros T.
II-17 BSE ENGLISH
STRUCTURES OF ENGLISH

2. What are Conditions?
• "Conditions deal with imagined situations:
some are possible, some are unlikely, some
are impossible. The speaker/writer imagines
that something can or cannot happen or have
happened, and then compares that situation
with possible consequences or outcomes, or
offers further logical conclusions about the
situation."
(R. Carter, Cambridge Grammar of English.
Cambridge Univ. Press, 2006)

3. Then…
WHAT ARE CONDITIONAL
SENTENCES/IF-CLAUSES?

4. What are Conditional Sentences?
• Definition
– A type of adverbial clause that states a
hypothesis or condition, real or imagined.
– A conditional clause may be introduced by
the subordinating conjunction if or another
conjunction, such as unless, provided that,
or in case of.
– Like other adverbial clauses, a conditional
clause can come either before or after
the clause on which it states a condition

5. • The conditional sentences are
sometimes confusing for learners of
English.
–Watch out:
• 1) Which type of the conditional
sentences is used?
• 2) Where is the if-clause (e.g. at the
beginning or at the end of the conditional
sentence)?

6. There are three types of the ifclauses.
type
condition
I
condition possible to fulfill
II
condition in theory possible to
fulfill
III
condition not possible to fulfill
(too late)

7. Forms:
typ
if clause
e
I
II
III
Simple
Present
Simple
Past
Past
Perfect
main clause
will-future (or
Modal +
infinitive)
would +
infinitive *
would + have +
past participle *

8. Types of Conditional Clauses
There are six main types of conditional sentence:
(John Seely, Grammar for Teachers. Oxpecker, 2007)
• For example, the equilibrium
between liquid and vapor is
upset if the temperature is
increased.
(General rule, or law of nature: it
always happens.)
• If you start thinking about this
game, it will drive you crazy.
(Open future condition: it may or
may not happen.)
• But if you really wanted to be on
Malibu Beach, you'd be there.
(Unlikely future condition: it
probably won't happen.)
• If I were you, I would go to the
conference center itself and ask to see
someone in security.
(Impossible future condition: it could
never happen.)
• "I would have resigned if they had made
the decision themselves," she said.
(Impossible past condition: it didn't
happen.)
• If he had been working for three days
and three nights then it was in the suit
he was wearing now.
(Unknown past condition: we don't
know the facts.)

9. Type I
Use
It is possible to fulfill a condition which is
given in the if-clause.
if clause
main clause
Simple Present
will-future
or
infinitive
or
Modal + infinitive

10. Example
Type I
If I study,
I will pass the exams.
If you see John tonight,
tell him to e-mail me.
If Ben gets up early,
he can catch the bus.
The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence.
If I study,
I will pass the exams.
I will pass the exams
if I study.

11. Type II
Use
It is theoretically possible to fulfil
a condition which is given in the if-clause.
if clause
main clause
Simple Past
would + infinitive
or
could + infinitive
or
might + infinitive

12. Example
Type II
If I studied,
I would pass the exams.
If I studied,
I could pass the exams.
If I studied,
I might pass the exams.
The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence.
If I studied,
I would pass the exams.
I would pass the exams
if I studied.

13. Type III
Use
It is impossible to fulfil a condition which is
given in the if-clause.
if clause
main clause
Past Perfect
would + have + past participle
or
could + have + past participle
or
might + have + past participle

14. Example
Type III
If I had studied,
I would have passed the
exams.
If I had studied,
I could have passed the exams.
If I had studied,
I might have passed the exams.
The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence.
If I had studied,
I would have passed the
exams.
I would have passed the exams
if I had studied.

15. 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.

16. Your Test
A) Finish the sentences. Use the
correct phrases.
1) You would have slept much
better
2) If we had seen the film,
3) If you drove from Paris to
Lisbon,
4) I would go to the party
5) If you wait a minute,
6) If he studied the new words,
7) The teacher will not be
happy
8) My uncle would stay longer
in York
9) If Amy does the washing up,
10) If I were you,

17. Possible Answers:
• 1) You would have slept much better if you had taken your
medicine.
2) If we had seen the film, we would not have bought the DVD.
3) If you drove from Paris to Lisbon, which way would you go?
4) I would go to the party if you came with me.
5) If you wait a minute, I'll go with you.
6) If he studied the new words, he could get a good mark in the
test.
7) The teacher will not be happy if we forget our homework
again.
8) My uncle would stay longer in York if he had more time.
9) If Amy does the washing up, her brother will clear the table.
10) If I were you, I would not play hockey.

18. References:
Englisch-Hilfen.de. Retrived on March 09, 2014 from
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/if.htm
About.com. Grammar and Composition. Retrieved
on March 09, 2014 from
http://grammar.about.com/od/c/g/conditionalclauset
erm.htm

19. The End…
Thanks for listening!!! 