Universidade Licungo

Faculty of Education

Honour Degree in Physical Education and Sport

Bell Almeida da Fonseca

Fausia Daudo Aboo Assamo

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES:

ZERO CONDITIONAL

FIRST CONDITIONAL

SECOND CONDITIONAL

THIRD CONDITIONAL

MIXED CONDITIONAL

Quelimane

2025
 Bell Almeida da Fonseca

Fausia Daudo Aboo Assamo

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES:

ZERO CONDITIONAL

FIRST CONDITIONAL

SECOND CONDITIONAL

THIRD CONDITIONAL

MIXED CONDITIONAL

An assignment submitted in the

Faculty of Education for evaluative
purpose in the subject of English, 2nd
ear, 7th group, lectured by:

Lecturer: Lino Fernando Nhaliveu

Quelimane

2025
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Contents pag.

1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 4

1.1 Objectives ............................................................................................................................ 4

1.1.1 General objective .............................................................................................................. 4

1.1.2 Specific objectives ............................................................................................................. 4

1.2 Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 4

2 Conditional Sentences ............................................................................................................. 5

2.1 Zero conditional ................................................................................................................... 5

2.2 First conditional ................................................................................................................... 6

2.3 Second conditional ............................................................................................................... 7

2.4 Third conditional .................................................................................................................. 7

2.5 Mixed conditional ................................................................................................................ 8

3 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 9

4 List of reference .................................................................................................................... 10

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1 Introduction

This present assignment has as topic: Conditional sentence. In the development of the
topic, the group will bring indispensable contents related to if clauses, whereby, the group
presents descriptively about the zero, first, second and third conditional sentences, as a result
of a deep research, the group will bring an extra-essential conditional sentence, known by
mixed conditional.

1.1 Objectives

1.1.1 General objective

 Comprehend the conditional sentences.

1.1.2 Specific objectives

 Define conditional sentence;

 Describe the conditional sentences;
 Indicate the usage, structure and functions of conditional sentences.

1.2 Methodology

This study is based on a bibliographical research, are central to the theoretical

framework. Classroom observations and video-recorded teaching sessions from existing
research are also analyzed to illustrate real-life application of conditional sentences. Primary
sources include academic journals, books, and case studies focusing on classroom discourse.

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2 Conditional Sentences

Conditionals are sentences with two clauses – an ‘if clause’ and a main clause – which
are closely connected. Conditional structures are often used to talk about the result of a
possible or imaginary situation. (Swan, 2005, p. 257)

Swan (2005) explains that "a conditional sentence is one which says that one thing
depends on another. They often use the conjunction if and describe real or unreal situations
and their results."

Conditional sentences have two parts: the 'if-clause' and the 'main clause.' The if-
clause states a condition, and the main clause states the result. There are several types of
conditional sentences. Some express real conditions, others express unreal or contrary-to-fact
conditions. (Azar, 1999, p. 352)

According to Farlex International (2016), the conditional sentences are sentences that
have two parts or clauses that give a condition in the dependent clause and a result in the
independent clause. The condition clause usually contains an if statement. There are several
different forms of conditional sentences that allow the writer to express various meanings
using different tenses.

There are four main types of if sentences in English, often called conditional
sentences. These sentences are in two halves (clauses):

 The if part (if clause), the other part where you can use words such as can, will, may,
might, could and would (main clause);
 Condition (if) clause + result clause.

2.1 Zero conditional

Zero conditional is a structure used for talking about general truths things which
always happen under certain conditions (note that most zero conditional sentences will mean
the same thing if "when" is used instead of "if"), (Farlex International, 2016). In other words
the zero conditional is used to talk about things which are always true, scientific facts,
general truths, and so on.

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 if clause main clause
If + Present Simple Present Simple.
If you run 1 kilometer, you get tired. You get tired.

The zero conditional uses the present tense in both clauses and is used to talk about
something that is always or generally true. The present tense signifies that these actions are
both possible and typical.

Form: If + simple present, simple present

 Example 1: If it rains, I take an umbrella with me to work.

 Example 2: If I wake up early, I always read in bed.

2.2 First conditional

Swan (2005) explains types: "First conditional sentences are used to talk about real
and possible situations. Second conditional sentences refer to imaginary or unlikely
situations. Third conditional sentences describe imaginary past situations."

First conditional is a structure used for talking about possibilities in the present or in
the future. The first conditional is used to talk about things which are possible in the present
or the future, things which may happen. (Farlex International, 2016)

The first conditional uses the present tense in the if clause and the future tense in the
result clause. This form is used to talk about something that is a probable future result of a
condition.

Form: If + simple present, will + base verb

 Example 1: If you excise today, I will join you.

 Example 2: If I don’t exercise with you, I won’t be able to learn.

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2.3 Second conditional

The second conditional is used to talk about an unreal or hypothetical present or

future. The use of the simple past in the if-clause and 'would' in the main clause indicates that
the speaker is imagining the opposite of the true situation. Second conditional is a structure
used for talking about unreal situations in the present or in the future. The second conditional
is used to talk about things which are unreal (not true or not possible) in the present or the
future things which don't or won't happen.

The second conditional uses the past tense in the if clause and a modal and base verb
in the result clause. This form is used to talk about a hypothetical situation that cannot happen
or is unlikely to happen.

Form: If + simple past, modal + base verb

 Example 1: If I had a million dollars, I would buy a football club.

 Example 2: If I were you, I wouldn’t miss any physical exercise.

The condition and the result are not taking place in the past, but the past tense is used to
indicate the unreal nature of the situation.

2.4 Third conditional

Conditional sentences are usually of the form 'if + present tense, future tense' for real
possibilities, and 'if + past tense, would + infinitive' for improbable or imaginary situations.
They are used to express that the action in the main clause can only take place if a certain
condition is fulfilled." (Thomson & Martinet, 1986, p. 197)

The third conditional expresses a situation that did not happen in the past. It is formed
with 'if + past perfect' and 'would have + past participle'. It refers to an impossible past
condition and its probable past result."

Third conditional is a structure used for talking about unreal situations in the past. The
third conditional is used to talk about things which did not happen in the past. If your native
language does not have a similar construction, you may find this a little strange, but it can be
very useful. It is often used to express criticism or regret.

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 The third conditional uses the past perfect in the if clause and a modal and present
perfect in the result clause. This form is used to talk about a hypothetical situation in the past
that did not happen, typically with an outcome that did not happen and is perhaps the
opposite of what did happen.

Form: If + past perfect, modal + present perfect

 Example 1: If it had rained last week, the plants would not have died.
 Example 2: If I had finished university, I would have become a teacher.

2.5 Mixed conditional

Mixed conditionals combine the second and third conditionals to present both an
unreal condition either in the past or the present and an unreal result either in the past or the
present. The first form presents an unreal condition in the past that changes an unreal
outcome in the present (the past changes the present).

Form 1: If + past perfect, modal + base

 Example 1: If I had finished university, I would be a doctor now.

 Example 2: If it had rained last week, the plants would be alive now.

The second form presents an unreal condition in the present that changes an unreal
outcome in the past (the present changes the past).

Form 2: If + simple past, would/could + present perfect

 Example 1: If I spoke louder, you would have heard me before.

 Example 2: If you were nicer, you could have had more friends when you were
younger.

According to Farlex International (2016) in the book ‘‘Complete English grammar

rules’’, there are a few aspects of conditionals that should be noted in order to make their use
easier and clearer. Conditionals can be categorized as real and unreal. You can think of this as
meaning possible or impossible. Zero and first conditionals are possible as they deal with
things that are generally true or that could be true in the future. Second, third, and mixed
conditionals are impossible because they are either hypothetical or concerned with events in
the past that we cannot change.

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3 Conclusion

Conditional sentences are an essential aspect of language structure, used to express

situations that depend on specific conditions or hypothetical scenarios. These sentences
provide a framework for understanding cause-and-effect relationships, and they are
commonly employed to make predictions, give advice, discuss possibilities, or express
hypothetical outcomes. In English, conditional sentences are typically divided into several
types based on the level of possibility or likelihood of the event occurring. The first type,
known as the zero conditional, is used for general truths or facts that are always true under
certain conditions. The first conditional refers to situations that are likely to happen in the
future based on a present condition. The second conditional is used for hypothetical or
unlikely situations in the present or future. It expresses an event that is not based on reality
but rather on imagination or possibility. Finally, the third conditional deals with past
hypothetical situations, specifically things that did not happen. It expresses regret, criticism,
or an alternative past scenario. Furthermore, mixed conditionals combine elements of
different conditional types to express situations where the time in the if-clause differs from
the time in the main clause.

Conditional sentences are not just limited to purely grammatical structures; they also
offer significant insight into how people think about their world, form predictions, offer
solutions, and imagine different outcomes. In summary, conditional sentences provide a
structured way to express dependencies between actions or events, whether real or imagined.
Through the different types, speakers can articulate possibilities, consequences, and
unrealized outcomes, demonstrating the richness and versatility of language in conveying
complex thoughts and scenarios.

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4 List of reference

Azar, B. S. (1999). Understanding and using English grammar (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Prentice Hall Regents.

Farlex International. (2016). The Farlex grammar book: Complete English grammar rules
(Vol. 1). Additional online resources can be found at www.madonna.edu/owl

Murphy, R. (2012). English grammar in use (4th ed.). Cambridge, England: Cambridge
University Press.

Palmer, F. R. (1979). Modality and the English modals. London, England: Longman.

Swan, M. (2005). Practical English usage (3rd ed.). Oxford, England: Oxford University
Press.

Thomson, A. J., & Martinet, A. V. (1986). A practical English grammar (4th ed.). Oxford,
England: Oxford University Press.

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