"If" Conditional Sentences
Generally, there are three types of "If" sentences. They are:
First Conditionals
First conditionals show possibilities and real situations that will most probably happen in the present or future.
First conditionals involve the simple future tense (shall/will + infinitives/present tense verbs and the simple present tense) Note that the simple future tense must not be used in the "If" part of the sentence. Use the simple future tense in the other part of the sentence and the simple present tense in the "If" part of the sentence like this:
If we place an order in large quantity, our supplier will give us a bigger discount. ("place" - simple present tense)
("will + give" - simple future tense) (note that the comma (,) is needed)
The "If" part of the sentence can come after the other part of the sentence like this:
Our supplier will give us a bigger discount if we place an order in large quantity. (note that the comma is not needed)
If we shall (X) place an order in large quantity, our supplier will give us a bigger discount. (incorrect to use the simple future tense in the "If" part of the sentence)
More example sentences
If you sign the application form, I will do the rest for you.
If Sharon doesn't turn up for the meeting tomorrow, she will be reprimanded by the personnel officer.
If you save one thousand dollars a month, you will get a total amount of twelve thousand dollars by the end of the year.
Second Conditionals
Second conditionals show unreal situations and they are not likely to come true. Use the simple past tense in the "if" part of the sentence and would/would not + infinitive/present tense verbs in the other part of the sentence like this:
If I had a lot of money, I would travel round the world. OR
I would travel round the world if I had a lot of money.
("had" - simple past tense)
(It means I don't have a lot of money. I can't travel round the world.)
The past tense verb "were" can be used in second conditionals like this:
If I were a millionaire, I would buy a big house. OR
I would buy a big house if I were a millionaire.
(It means I am not a millionaire. I can't buy a big house.)
If I were you, I would obey the school rules. (would obey - positive)
If I were you, I would not disobey the school rules. (would not disobey - negative)
Third Conditionals
Third conditionals show situations that did or did not happen. The past perfect tense is used in the "If" part of the sentence. would/would not + have + past participles is used in the other part of the sentence. A comma (,) is needed when the sentence begins with the "If" part. Comma (,) is not needed when the "If" part comes later.
Example sentences:
If you had informed me about the meeting, I would have attended it. ("had informed" - past perfect tense) (comma (,) is needed)
I would have attended the meeting if you had informed me about it.
("If" part comes later/comma (,) is not needed)
(It means you did not inform me about the meeting. Therefore, I did not know about the meeting and did not attend it.)
If Mrs Hardy had kept an eye on her baby boy, he would not have fallen off the chair. ("had kept" - past perfect tense)
Mrs Hardy's baby boy would not have fallen off the chair if she had kept an eye on him.
(It means Mrs Hardy did not keep an eye on her baby boy. Her baby boy fell off the chair.)
Note that third conditionals may show possibilities not in the "If" part but in the other part of the sentence. Note that "could + have + been + past participles" is used in the other part of the sentence.
Example sentences:
If the canteen roof had collapsed during lunch break, many people could have been injured.
(It means the canteen roof really did collapse but it did not collapse during lunch break, and not many people were injured.)
If the truck had gained speed, the little boy could have been run over by it.
(It means the truck did not gain speed and the little boy was safe.)
Note that first, second and third conditionals involve the simple future tense, simple present tense, simple past tense, past perfect tense.
Click on "References" to view the different tenses.
First Conditionals
First conditionals show possibilities and real situations that will most probably happen in the present or future.
First conditionals involve the simple future tense (shall/will + infinitives/present tense verbs and the simple present tense) Note that the simple future tense must not be used in the "If" part of the sentence. Use the simple future tense in the other part of the sentence and the simple present tense in the "If" part of the sentence like this:
If we place an order in large quantity, our supplier will give us a bigger discount. ("place" - simple present tense)
("will + give" - simple future tense) (note that the comma (,) is needed)
The "If" part of the sentence can come after the other part of the sentence like this:
Our supplier will give us a bigger discount if we place an order in large quantity. (note that the comma is not needed)
If we shall (X) place an order in large quantity, our supplier will give us a bigger discount. (incorrect to use the simple future tense in the "If" part of the sentence)
More example sentences
If you sign the application form, I will do the rest for you.
If Sharon doesn't turn up for the meeting tomorrow, she will be reprimanded by the personnel officer.
If you save one thousand dollars a month, you will get a total amount of twelve thousand dollars by the end of the year.
Second Conditionals
Second conditionals show unreal situations and they are not likely to come true. Use the simple past tense in the "if" part of the sentence and would/would not + infinitive/present tense verbs in the other part of the sentence like this:
If I had a lot of money, I would travel round the world. OR
I would travel round the world if I had a lot of money.
("had" - simple past tense)
(It means I don't have a lot of money. I can't travel round the world.)
The past tense verb "were" can be used in second conditionals like this:
If I were a millionaire, I would buy a big house. OR
I would buy a big house if I were a millionaire.
(It means I am not a millionaire. I can't buy a big house.)
If I were you, I would obey the school rules. (would obey - positive)
If I were you, I would not disobey the school rules. (would not disobey - negative)
Third Conditionals
Third conditionals show situations that did or did not happen. The past perfect tense is used in the "If" part of the sentence. would/would not + have + past participles is used in the other part of the sentence. A comma (,) is needed when the sentence begins with the "If" part. Comma (,) is not needed when the "If" part comes later.
Example sentences:
If you had informed me about the meeting, I would have attended it. ("had informed" - past perfect tense) (comma (,) is needed)
I would have attended the meeting if you had informed me about it.
("If" part comes later/comma (,) is not needed)
(It means you did not inform me about the meeting. Therefore, I did not know about the meeting and did not attend it.)
If Mrs Hardy had kept an eye on her baby boy, he would not have fallen off the chair. ("had kept" - past perfect tense)
Mrs Hardy's baby boy would not have fallen off the chair if she had kept an eye on him.
(It means Mrs Hardy did not keep an eye on her baby boy. Her baby boy fell off the chair.)
Note that third conditionals may show possibilities not in the "If" part but in the other part of the sentence. Note that "could + have + been + past participles" is used in the other part of the sentence.
Example sentences:
If the canteen roof had collapsed during lunch break, many people could have been injured.
(It means the canteen roof really did collapse but it did not collapse during lunch break, and not many people were injured.)
If the truck had gained speed, the little boy could have been run over by it.
(It means the truck did not gain speed and the little boy was safe.)
Note that first, second and third conditionals involve the simple future tense, simple present tense, simple past tense, past perfect tense.
Click on "References" to view the different tenses.
By Susan L
On 1/26/2010 06:34:00 AM
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View More Articles... On 1/26/2010 06:34:00 AM
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