Conditional Sentence

Conditional sentence is an effective chapter of English language to understand all clauses at advance level. With this chapter of conditional sentence students can learn all rules related to main clause and if clause. Students have to learn conditional sentence within their secondary education for mastering it with thorough practice. With the rules of conditional sentence students can understand main clause and subordinate clause completely with various usage in different examples. Students often find it difficult to follow the most effective resources for understanding conditional sentence. So, here we have provided the completely prepared study material for learning conditional sentence with detail analysis of all rules in an easy and understandable formula.

Conditional Sentence:

Conditional sentence refers to the term when two sentences are interrelated to each other for its action. It means that action of one sentence is depended on the action of other sentence which is part of single sentence. So, it is obvious that one action must have to be occurred in for occurring the action of other sentence.

Ex. you will succeed if you work hard.

Here success will occur only on the condition if the person works hard.

Some significant common words re found in all conditional sentences like if, when, provided, unless, until, as soon as, no sooner….than etc.

There will be found two parts in a single conditional sentence that are if clause and main clause.

Conditional sentences are in four types:

  1. Zero condition
  2. If clause in present tense or first condition,
  3. If clause in past tense or second condition
  4. If clause in past perfect tense or third condition

1.) Zero condition:

Zero conditional sentence refers to the situation when an action always causes another for valid reasons. For that the outcome in zero conditional sentences is always certain. If one thing occurs then the other thing will certainly occur.

Ero condition is used when the actions are habitual or constant. The first part of the zero conditional comes in simple present tense including if clause. The second part also comes in simple present tense in this zero conditional. Both ‘if’ and ‘when’ can be used to refer zero conditional sentences.

Ex.

  1. If it rains, my hair gets wet.
  2. My grandfather becomes happy when I spend time with him.
  3. I get tensed when exam comes near.
  4. If he goes for morning walk, he becomes energetic.

ii) First Condition:

First condition of conditional sentence refers to simple present tense in if clause. Though the action of one sentence is depended on another still the outcome is not certain rather it is likely to happen in most cases. In first condition if is always used not when.

Formula: if clause+ simple present, main clause+ simple future

Ex. if I get the invitation, I will attend the wedding.

a) If two actions are going to happen in near future, second action is depended on the occurring of first action then first action will be in simple present tense and second action will be in simple future tense.

Ex. i) my sister will cry if she reads the story.

ii)if the kids eat much junk food, they will become obese.

iii) Unless he becomes organised he will not manage his projects.

iv) There will be a rush in taking cloths from roof when the rain comes.

 

b) In conditional sentence shall/will are not used after when. If there is unless or until in a sentence then ‘not’ will not be used.

Ex. I will not go out to play until he comes.

c) If the sentence is in total present tense then simple present will also be used in main clause.

Ex. if the weather becomes bad, the school remains closed.

d) If possibility refers in the conditional sentence then may/ might is used in place of will in main clause.

Ex. i) if it rains, he may not come in office.

ii)if the road remains closed, they may not come in meeting.

e) If the conditional sentence is about giving permission then may will be used in place of will in main clause.

Ex. if you finish your homework, you may go out.

f) If the sentence refers to advice then should/must will be used in main clause in place of will.

Ex. i) if you want to be productive, you should wake up early in the morning.

ii)if you feel sick, you must consult doctor.

g) If a sentence refers to manners related courtesy then could/may can be used in place of will for main clause.

Ex. if you come to Delhi, could you come to meet me?

iii) Second Condition:

the second condition refers to if clause for past tense in conditional sentence. In this case, the used modal would indicates that an action is unlikely will be fulfilled according to the condition. For the conditions like wishful thinking, imagination but not impossible actions this second condition is used. For subjunctive mood subject takes be verb were in place of was for if clause in the past form.

Formula: if clause+ simple past, main clause- subject+ would+ v1

Ex. i) I would come, if he called me.

ii)if you were here, you would understand my joke.

iii) if I had money, I would buy a new laptop.

iv)if I went there, I would visit the great museum.

iv) Third Condition:

Third condition of conditional sentence refers to if clause for past perfect tense. In case of referring the already occurred actions which cannot be changed this third condition is applicable. If the conditions are true then outcome will be likely to happen. This conditional sentence means that if something would have happened then something else should be happened by following it.

Formula: if clause+ past perfect, main clause- subject+ would+ have+ v3

i) if I had known the fact, I would have not supported him.

ii) if I had visited the city, I would have met him.

iii) if I had known your problem, I would have helped you.

iv)if john had visited the church, he would have known the news.

Three important formulae to understand conditional sentence at a glance:

Formula 1: if clause+ simple present, main clause+ simple future (first condition)

Formula 2: if clause+ subject+ v2, main clause- subject+ would+ v1 (second condition)

Formula 3: if clause+ subject+ had+ v3, main clause- subject+ would+ have+ v3 (third condition)

Other rules for Conditional Sentences:

1.) In imaginary condition, referring to impossible action subjunctive mood is used for if clause. For that case, subject in first person takes plural verb. Like was is replaced by were to fulfil the condition.

2.) For imaginary conditions all subjects take plural verb in past form that is were.

3.) If clause can be used with words like as soon as, until, unless, in case, when, provided etc.

4.) If unless or until is used in a sentence then not will not come.

Structure: if clause- if+ subject+ were+ obj, main clause- subject+ would+ v1

Ex. i) if I were a bird, I would fly in the sky.

ii)if I were you, I would not go there.

iii) if I were your sister, I would guide you till last.

iv) when he comes to Kolkata, I will go to him.

Test on Conditional Sentence

Find out errors in the following sentences:

1.) If she come to me a)/ I would have given b)/ her my book c)/ no error d). 1

2.) If he will work hard a)/ he will surely b)/ pass the examination with good score c)/ no error d). 4

3.) Unless he will not come to office a)/ I will not b)/ help him in his project c)/ no error. 8

4.) If I was you a)/ I would not tolerate this b)/ insult for a moment c)/ no error d). 10

5.) If we will heat water a)/ it turns b)/ to vapour c)/ no error d). 15

6.) I will wait for you a)/ unless b)/ you come on time c)/ no error d).9

7.) If I had two copies a)/ I would have given b)/ one to you c)/ no error d).

8.) If she would have worked hard a)/ she would b)/ have got the job c)/ no error d).

9.) I shall take you for long drive a)/ after you b)/ will return from the office c)/ no error d).36

10.) When I shall meet him a)/ I shall b)/ inform him bout it c)/ no error d).

Solutions:

1.) a) if she had come to me will be used for past perfect tense.

2.) a) if he works hard will be used for simple present tense in if clause.

3.) a) Not will not be used with until as until is negative word.

4.) a) if I were you will be used for second condition of if.

5) a) if we heat water will be used as simple present tense is used in if clause.

6.) b) Until will be used in place of unless for referring time.

7.) b) I would give will be used for if clause of past tense.

8.) a) if she had worked hard will be used for being past perfect tense.

9.) c) will return will be replaced with have returned.

10.) a) when I meet him will be used in place of I shall meet him.