CONDITIONAL SENTENCES IN ENGLISH

 Conditional sentences are statements discussing known factors or hypothetical

situation and their consequences.

If you do something then something else will happen

 We use conditional sentences to explain:

1. What actually happens
2. What could happen ( so a possible and likely outcome in the future)
3. What we wish would happen (so imagining a different outcome for our present
situation
4. And what might have happened (so thinking about a different outcome that
happened in the past)

 Conditional sentences consist of independent clause (if clause) and dependent clause
(result clause).
Conditional sentences formula:
(If + clause) , (result clause) Example:  If I save enough money, I can go
to Bali.
(Result clause) ( if + clause)  My sister can have the dessert if
she finishes her homework.

 Use a comma (,) after the if clause when the if clause precedes the main clause. If the
main clause precedes the if clause, no punctuation is necessary.
 There are four types of conditional sentences:
1. Zero conditional sentences
e.g., if I get sick, I go to the doctor.
2. First conditional sentences
e.g., if I get sick, I will go to the doctor
3. Second conditional sentences
e.g., if I got sick, I would go to the doctor.
4. Third conditional sentences
e.g., if I had been sick, I would have gone to the doctor.

1) Zero conditional sentence

The zero conditional sentences express general truths. Situations in which one
thing always cause another.
o Formula: If / when (present simple), (present simple)
Example: If you don’t brush your teeth, you get cavities.
If I get sick, I go to the doctor.
o We use the zero conditional to talk about habit, fact, truth and to give instruction.
 Habit; Example: If the weather is hot, I go to the beach
 Fact; Example: If you leave milk out, it will spoil
 Truth; Example: When the sun sets, it gets dark
 Instruction; Example: IF it’s cold, light the fire.
(Zero conditional sentences can be used to give instructions, and we use
the imperative form to do that)
 o Note: the world “if and when” can be used interchangeably in these zero
condition sentences. This is because the outcomes will always be the same, so it
doesn’t matter “if “or “when” it happen.

2) First conditional sentence

First conditional sentence are use to express situations in which the outcome is likely
(but not guaranteed) to happen in the future. We used to talk about possible
condition and likely future outcomes.
o Formula: IF + Present simple, simple future ( will+ Verb infinitive (V1))
Example: If I get sick, I will go to the doctor.
If you rest, you will feel better.
(So it’s possible that in the future I’ll get sick and if that occurs, I will
probably go to the doctor.)
o We use the first conditional to talk about: Possible future result (They might
happen but they might not happen), predictions, superstitions, plans, Promises,
offers, suggestions, and warnings

Note: Use the zero conditional only when a certain result is guaranteed. If the
result is likely, use the first conditional.

 Think the most appropriate one, make sentence using zero conditional sentence
or first conditional sentence!
1. You’re a teacher. You want to warn your students that they need to do their
homework by tomorrow. Otherwise, there will be trouble.
2. You’re talking to a child explaining a fact about what happens in spring.
3. You’re talking to a friend you want to warn them to not be late to work
tomorrow.
4. You’re a politician giving a speech. You want to promise change in the future
if the people vote for you.

3) Second conditional
We use second conditional when we want to imagine that the present situation is
different. Second conditional sentences are useful for expressing outcomes that
completely unrealistic or will not likely happen in the future.

o Formula: IF + Past simple, auxiliary modal verb (would, could, should, might +
Verb infinitive)
Example: If I had much money, I would buy a boat.
If I inherited a billion dollars, I will travel to the moon.
If I owned the zoo, I might let people interact with the animals more.
o We use the second conditional in few ways:
1. To imagine life is different (Things that are impossible in the present.)
Example: If I had enough money, I would buy a house
2. To as hypothetical questions
Example: What would you do if you quit your job?
If you won a million dollars, would you travel around the world?
If you could travel to any country, where would you go?
3. To give advice
Example: If I were you, I’d talk to my boss before I quit my job
If I were her, I’d break up with him.
4. To give reasons why we can’t do something
Example: If I had the money, I’d lend it to you.
(I don’t have money so I can’t help)
If I wasn’t so busy, I’d invite you over for dinner.
(But I am really busy so I can’t invite you)
4) Third conditional
Third conditional sentences are used to explain that present circumstances would be
different if something different had happened in the past. Those sentences express a
condition that was likely enough, but did not actually happen in the past.

o Formula: IF+ past perfect (had + past participle), the modal auxiliary (would,
should, could, etc.)+ Have +past participle (V3).
Example: If you had told me you needed a ride, I would have left earlier.
If I had cleaned the house, I could have gone to the movie.
o The third conditional mood expresses a situation that could have only happened
in the past if the past condition had been met.
o We use the third conditional sentence to regret about the past, wish we could
change something in the past, and tell someone off about something they did in
the past.
Example:
1. If I had taken better care of myself, I wouldn’t have got sick
(Regret about the past)
2. If you had called me, I would have come
(I wish I could change this)
3. If she had replied to my message, I wouldn’t have been so worried
(Telling someone off)