Conditional Sentences
Conditional Clause and Main Clause
If I have enough money, conditional clause
I will go to Japan, main clause
I will go to Japan. main clause
if I have enough money conditional clause
First, Second, and Third Conditional
1. First conditional:
If I have enough money, I will go to Japan.
2. Second conditional:
If I had enough money, I would go to Japan.
3. Third conditional:
If I had had enough money, I would have gone to Japan.
First conditional
Formulation
Conditional clause
If + Present Tense
Main clause
- If you help me with the dishes (if + present), I will help you with your homework. (will + infinitive)
- If the sum of the digits of a number is divisible by three, the number is divisible by three (Pres. tense)
- If you see Mr. Fox tonight, tell him I am ill. (imperative).
will + inf. / present tense / imperative
Second conditional
Formulation
Conditional clause
If + Past Tense
Main clause
a. If we were in London today, we would be able to go to the concert in Hyde Park.
would + inf.
b. If I had millions dollars, I'd give a lot to charity.
c. If there were no hungry people in this world, it would be a much better place.
Third conditional
Formulation
Conditional clause
If + Past Perfect Tense
Main clause
a. If I had worked harder at school, I would have got better grades.
would have + past participle
b. If I had had time, I would have gone to see him. But I didn't have time.
c. If we had bought that house, we would have had to rebuild the kitchen.
Uses of the conditional
First conditional
- Nature: Open condition, what is said in the condition is possible. Time: This condition refers either to present or to future time.
- Nature: Open condition, what is said in the condition is possible.
- Time: This condition refers either to present or to future time.
e.g. If he is late, we will have to go without him. If my mother knows about this, we are in serious trouble.
Uses of the conditional
Second conditional
- Nature: unreal (impossible) or improbable situations. Time: present; the TENSE is past, but we are talking about the present, now.
- Nature: unreal (impossible) or improbable situations.
- Time: present; the TENSE is past, but we are talking about the present, now.
e.g. If I knew her name, I would tell you. If I were you, I would tell my father. If I became president, I would change the social security system. (Said by a schoolboy: improbable)
Uses of the conditional
Third conditional
- Nature: unreal Time: Past (so we are talking about a situation that was not so in the past.)
- Nature: unreal
- Time: Past (so we are talking about a situation that was not so in the past.)
e.g. If you had warned me, I would not have told your father about that party.(But you didn't, and I have).