Conditional Sentences Rules & Types

Conditional sentences rules

Conditional sentences rules are very important in the English language and help you to know various conditional sentences in the expression of hypothetical situations, different possibilities, and ultimate consequences. These are mostly when there is a need for a condition for the possible outcomes. Here, today we will learn about “conditional sentences” and their types, rules, examples, and exercises.

What are Conditional Sentences?

 Conditional sentences are those sentences in English which often introduced by the word “if”. These sentences consist of two main clauses:

• If Clause: The “if clause” contains a condition.
• Main Clause: The “main clause” describes the results, possibilities, or consequences.

A conditional sentence is very useful to express circumstances that are imaginary, hypothetical, supposed, proposed, assumed, probable, or impossible.

Conditional Sentence Types

Conditional sentences type 0: Zero Conditional  

Zero conditional sentences are the sentences that are used to express universal truths, scientific facts, laws, and activities that are always true by the provision of certain conditions.

Examples: “If you heat water to 100⁰ C, it boils.”

Structure of sentence:

Clauses	If Clause	Main clause
Structure	If + Present Simple	Present Simple
Example	If you heat water to 1000 C	It boils
Explanation	Condition: heating of water to 1000 C	Result (water boiling)

Conditional sentences type 1: First Conditional

First conational sentences are the sentences that are used to express real and possible situations. These sentences characteristically involve a condition that is likely to happen in the future.

Examples: “If it rains, I will not go to school”

Structure of sentence:

Clauses	If Clause	Main clause
Structure	If + Present Simple	Will + base form of the verb
Example	If it rains	I will not go to school
Explanation	Condition: rain	Result (not go to school)

Conditional sentences type 2: Second Conditional

Second conditional sentences are the sentences that are used to explain hypothetical, unreal, and imaginary situations in the present or future. They propose that the conditions are improbable or unlikely to happen.

Examples: “If I won the prize, I would buy a new mobile”.

Clauses	If Clause	Main clause
Structure	If + Past simple	Would + base form of the verb
Example	If I won the prize	I would buy a new mobile
Explanation	Condition: winning the prize	Hypothetical result (buying a new mobile)

Conditional sentences type 3: Third Condition

Third conditional sentences are the sentences that are used to explain hypothetical, unreal, or imaginary situations in the past. They assume that the condition did not happen, so the results are also make-believe.

Example: “If Wilson had worked harder, he would have passed the entry test”

Clauses	If Clause	Main clause
Structure	If + Past Perfect	Would Have + Past Participle
Example	If Wilson had worked harder,	he would have passed the entry test
Explanation	Condition: worked harder	Result (Passing the entry test)

Conditional sentences type 4: Mixed conditional

Mixed conditional sentences are sentences in which a combination of different conditional types are used to express complex situations. This involves conditions in one part and results in the other. These may be,

• Past – present
• Past – future
• Present – past
• Any combination

Example: If I had free time, I could help you.

Clauses	If Clause	Main clause
Structure	If + Past	Present/Future
Example	If I had free time	I could help you
Explanation	Condition:  had free time	Result (help you)

Conclusion:

Knowing about the various types of conditional sentences makes your English essence in communication. By understanding the sentence structure of conditional sentence types, you can easily deliver a wide range of ideas and messages. So, next, hopefully, you are quite good at using “if” conditional sentences.