Conditional: Types & Use of English Conditional Sentences

Learn conditional sentences with their 4 types and usage in English. In this lesson, we’re going to provide a huge explanation of English conditional sentences, their types, and their usage. These types of sentences can be seen throughout the English language, and it is an important concept for anyone learning the language to understand.

Here we’ll discuss:

• Definition of Conditional Sentences
• Types of Conditional Sentences
• Rules of Conditional Sentences + Formation
• Example sentences and Chart

There are various different types of conditionals and each of them has its own rules and reasons for use.

Definition of English Conditionals

They describe the result of something that might happen (in the present or future) or might have happened but didn’t (in the past). They are made using different English verb tenses.

Types of Conditionals Sentences

Conditionals are sentences with two clauses, an “if” clause and the main clause, that are closely related. Generally, conditional sentences are often divided into different types.

There are four main kinds of conditionals:

1. The Zero Conditional:

(if + present simple, … present simple)
For example: if you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

2. The First Conditional:

(if + present simple, … will + infinitive)
For example: If it rains tomorrow, we’ll go to the cinema.

3. The Second Conditional:

(if + past simple, … would + infinitive)
For example: If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.

4. The Third Conditional:

(if + past perfect, … would + have + past participle)
For example: If I had gone to bed early, I would have caught the train.

1. The Zero Conditional

The zero conditional is a sentence that is used to refer to a real situation or a general truth. For example, ‘If it is sunny, make sure you bring some sunscreen.’

⇒ Zero-conditional is easy to form because all the verbs are in the present tense. You just use two clauses, one with If + simple present verb and the other with another simple present verb:

If + Present Simple, …. Present Simple.

For example:

• If you freeze water, it turns into ice.
• And, if you heat water at 100 degrees, it boils.
• If students miss an exam, the professor fails them.

⇒ You can reverse the order of the clauses. If the “if” clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the “if” clause comes second, there is no need for a comma.

For example:

• The professor fails students if they miss an exam.
• I get tired if I work too much.

⇒ We often use the imperative or the modal verb in the main clause when we give some advice or instructions.

For example:

• If I’m late for dinner, they start eating without me.

⇒ The “if” in this conditional can usually be replaced by “when” without changing the meaning.

For example:

• When people eat too much, they get fat. (If people eat too much, they get fat.)

⇒ “Unless” means the same as “if not.”

For example:

• Unless he asks you politely, refuse to do any more work on the project. (= If he doesn’t ask you politely, refuse to do any more work on the project.)

Use of Zero Conditional Sentences:

The zero conditional is used for actual facts, scientific events, and things that are always true.

For example:

• If you heat ice, it melts.
• If you cross an international date line, the time changes.
• And, if public transport is efficient, people will stop using their cars.
• If my wife has a cold, I usually catch it.
• If you mix blue and red, you get purple.
• If it rains, the grass gets wet.
• If I go to bed early, I always get up very early.
• If you want to come, call me before 5:00.
• If I make a silly mistake, I laugh.

Read more about: Zero Conditional Sentences in English

2. The First Conditional

The first conditional indicates something that may happen in the present or future. It has a two-clause structure. This includes an if clause and the main clause.

⇒ A comma usually separates the two clauses if the if clause precedes the main clause. The example below illustrates the comma necessity.

• If I win the contest, I will be rich.

⇒ When the main clause appears first, there is no need for a comma. The example below shows the lack of a comma.

• I will be rich if I win the contest.

Structure of the First Conditional Sentences:

The first conditional uses a different verb form in each clause. To construct the if clause, you would write if + subject + simple present verb tense. To construct the main clause, you would write subject + will + verb.

First Conditional Form: If + Simple Present, Subject + Will/Won’t + Verb.

⇒ You can reverse the order of the clauses. If the “if” clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the “if” clause comes second, there is no need for a comma

• I will stay at home if it rains.

First Conditional Sentences Example Sentences:

• The dog will hide if he sees a cat. (It’s possible the dog could see a cat.)
• If I visit my grandma, I will go to the park. (It’s possible I could visit my grandma.)
• If I remain in Denver, I will purchase a dog. (It’s a possibility I remain in Denver.)
• She will go to the dentist if I take her. (I may take her to the dentist.)
• I will be famous if I get a role in the film. (It’s possible that I could get a part in the film.)
• If you study hard, you will pass your exams.
• If I find your email, I will send you the picture.
• And, if Mary comes home, I will tell her about the exam.
• If you cook supper, I’ll wash the dishes.

How and When to Use the First Conditional

Conditional sentence type 1 is used to talk about things that are possible in the present or the future.

Examples of conditional sentences of type 1:

• If it rains, I will stay at home.
• If I wake up late, I will miss the bus.
• And, if it‘s sunny, we‘ll go to the park.
• If Juan leaves, Paula will be sad.

⇒ We use “may” or “might” to say that a future event is possible, but not definite.

For example:

• If you need someone to help you move, I might be able to help.
• If it’s a sunny day tomorrow, we might have a pool party.

⇒ Sometimes we use “be going to” instead of “will” in the main clause. This is done to emphasize a certain result.

For example:

• I’m going to give you twenty pounds if you fix my computer for me.
• I’m going to stay for the weekend, if you like.
• If you are not ready, I‘m going to go out without you.

Read more about: First Conditional Sentences

3. The Second Conditional

Like a first conditional, a second conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an ‘if‘ clause and the main clause. We use different verb forms in each part of a second conditional:

• If I won a million dollars, I would buy a new car.

⇒ Note that this “past simple” form is slightly different from usual in the case of the verb BE. Whatever the subject, the verb form is “were,” not “was.”

Second-conditional examples:

• If I were you, I would quit smoking.
• If I were the president, I would lower taxes.

⇒ If the “if” clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the “if” clause comes second, there is no need for a comma.

For example:

• They would stay longer if they had more time.

⇒ Sometimes it’s possible to use “should”, “could”, or “might” in place of “would”.

For example:

• If I had more free time, I could travel around the world.
• If I won a million dollars, I could stop working.

4. The Third Conditional

Like the other conditionals, a Conditional Sentences Type 3 sentence consists of two clauses, an ‘if‘ clause and the main clause. We use different verb forms in each part of a Conditional Sentences Type 3:

Third Conditional Structure: IF +Past Perfect, Subject + would/could/might + have + Past Participle.

Third-conditional examples:

• If I had gotten a gold medal, I would have been happy.
• If I had met Susan last week, I would have given her the book.
• If the weather had been good, we would have gone water-skiing.

⇒ If the ‘if‘ clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the ‘if‘ clause comes second, there is no need for a comma.

For example:

• We would have gone water-skiing if the weather had been good.

⇒ Note also that Conditional Sentences Type 3 forms can be contracted.

For example:

• Full form: If you had gotten up earlier, you would have caught the earlier train.
• Contracted form: If you‘d gotten up earlier, you would‘ve caught the earlier train.

How to Use Conditional Sentences: Type 3

Conditional Sentences Type 3 is used to talk about things that did not happen in the past. It is often used to express criticism or regret.

For example:

• If Mark had come on time, he would have met them. (Regret)
• If Charlene hadn’t been so careless, she wouldn’t have lost all her money. (Criticism)
• If you hadn’t lied, you wouldn’t have ended up in prison. (Criticism)
• If you had asked her, she would have helped you. (Regret)

Read more about: Third Conditional Sentences in English with Examples

Mixed Conditionals 1

Structure: IF + Past Perfect, Present Conditional

How to use: Present result of a past condition.

For example:

• If she hadn’t stayed up late last night, she wouldn’t be so tired now.
• If he had worked harder at school, he would be a student now.

Mixed Conditionals 2

Structure: IF + Past Simple, Present Conditional

How to use: Past result of a present or continuing condition.

For example:

• If I were you, I would have learned English earlier.

Use of Unless in English

Unless means if not. We use unless in conditional sentences instead of if not.

• We cannot use it unless in question.
• We don’t use will or would in the clause after unless.

How to Use Unless in English:

Unless + Present Tense (Type 1 Conditional)

With IF: 

• You can’t get good marks if you do not study hard.

Equivalent with Unless:

• You can’t get good marks unless you study hard.

Unless + Past Tense (Type 2 Conditional)

With IF: 

• I wouldn’t take the train if I didn’t have to. 

Equivalent with Unless:

• I wouldn’t take the train unless I had to. 

Unless + Past Perfect Tense (Type 3 Conditional)

With IF: 

• If he had not come to see me yesterday, I wouldn’t have taken him to the movies.

Equivalent with Unless:

• Unless he had come to see me yesterday, I wouldn’t have taken him to the movies.

Use of Wish in English

When we want to express a wish/desire in English for a situation to be different from what it actually is then it is very common to use the verb “to wish.”

How to Use Wish in English:

• Wish + Past Simple: I wish I ate more fruits. (but I don’t.)
• Wish + Past Continuous: I wish it weren’t raining now. (It is raining now.)
• Wish + Past Perfect: I wish I hadn’t done it. (I did it.)
• Wish + Would: I wish the lesson would end. I wish you had listened to me! 
• Wish + To Infinitive: I wish to make a complaint and would like to see the manager.

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You May Also Like:

1. Zero Conditional
2. First Conditional
3. Third Conditional
4. Second Conditional