- these are sentences consisting of a condition and an effect (result), as a rule, connected by a union if(if). In other words, conditional sentences are about the same as sentences with a verb in the subjunctive mood in Russian.

A conditional clause is one of the varieties of complex clauses, respectively, it consists of a main and a subordinate part, in which the consequence and condition are expressed.

Conditional clause = consequence + condition

For example:

If you forgive me (condition), I will never forget it (consequence). “If you will forgive me, I will never forget it.

Usually, there are three types of conditional sentences, differing in the degree of probability of action. Sometimes (especially in foreign textbooks) the zero conditional type is distinguished.

Note: conditional clauses are quite a complex topic, it is assumed that you already know well topics such as construction.

The first type of conditional clauses

Conditional sentences of the first type express realistic, feasible assumptions about the future tense:

In the condition, the verb is used in, in the corollary - in.

If you forgive me, I will never forget it. “If you will forgive me, I will never forget it.

If the movie is boring, we’ll go home. - If the film is boring, we'll go home.

If you are late again, you’ll get fired. - If you are late again, you will be fired.

The condition and effect can change places, the meaning does not change from this.

We’ll go home, if the movie is boring. - We'll go home if the movie is boring.

note that in Russian we use BOTH verbs in the future tense, and in English only the verb in the main part (consequence). Often, by mistake, both parts are put in the future tense - this is wrong.

• Not right: If you will give me a lift, I will pay
• Right: If you give me a lift, I will pay you. “If you give me a lift, I'll pay you.

The second type of conditional clauses

Conditional sentences of the second type express unlikely or improbable assumptions related to the present or future (but not to the past) tense.

In the condition, the verb is used in, in the corollary - + (without the particle to). Do not forget that the past tense is formed in a special way.

Here are some examples of unlikely assumptions.

If we won the lottery, we would buy new house. - If we won the lottery, we would buy a new house.

It means that the lottery has not been played yet, the assumption refers to the future, but the speaker considers it unlikely to win.

If we received the fuel tomorrow, we would return by Friday. - If we got fuel tomorrow, we would be back by Friday.

It is unlikely that we will receive fuel tomorrow, but if we did, we would certainly be in time back by Friday.

Examples of incredible assumptions:

If your friend had time, he would help us. - If your friend had time, he would help us.

The assumption is incredible, because the friend does not have time.

If Anna knew your email, she would forward you my message. - If Anna knew your email, she would send you my message.

But she does not know, and therefore will not forward it.

The design If I were you ...

The second type of conditional sentences is the common construction If I were you ...(If I were you…) This construction uses the subjunctive verb - were(the subjunctive mood is the same as the past tense plural were).

If I were you, I would not ask too many questions. “If I were you, I wouldn't ask too many questions.

If I were you, I would take an umbrella. - If I were you, I would take an umbrella.

The third type of conditional clauses

Conditional sentences of the third type express assumptions related to the past tense, and therefore are impracticable - these are actions that could have happened, but they did not happen.

If I had made more money, I would have bought a better house. - If I made (but I didn't) more money, I would buy a better house.

If you had been smarter, you would have chosen another college. - If you were smarter, you would have chosen another college.

I love the example from Sidney Sheldon's novel The Doomsday Conspiracy. In one episode, a nurse nurses a wounded officer, whom the doctor has already waved his hand at as hopeless. She believed that the man could still be saved, and he really came to his senses. Then the sister leaned over to him and whispered:

If you had died, I would have killed you. - If you died, I would kill you.

Zero Conditional

The zero type of conditional sentences is distinguished not in all textbooks; it is more often mentioned by foreign authors. In these sentences, there is actually no assumption (which may or may not come true), but there is a condition and a consequence.

In sentences of this type, it is said about a condition that necessarily, inevitably entails some kind of consequence. "B" follows "A" as a law of nature, a scientific regularity. Along with the conjunction if (if), clauses of this type often use the conjunction when (when).

Both the condition and the consequence use a verb in the form.

If you heat water, it boils. - If you heat the water, it will boil.

If you fall, you get hurt. - If you fall, it will hurt.

When you have headache, you need to see a doctor. - When you have a headache, you need to see a doctor.

In sentences of this type, a subjective point of view can also be expressed, and not an objective fact. In this case, the speaker emphasizes that he is confident in a causal relationship between the two facts.

When a guy gets married, he gets fat. - When a man gets married, he gets fat.

It is not at all necessary that a man gets fat by getting married, but the speaker emphasizes that, from his point of view, this is practically a law of nature.

General table of conditional sentences in English

Type of	Condition	Consequence	Meaning
Zero type			A logical consequence.
	If you win	you get the prize. you get a prize.
First type			A real, possible consequence in the future.
	If you win	you will get the prize. you will receive a prize.
Second type		+	An unlikely or impossible future consequence.
	If you won (in the upcoming competition),	you would get the prize. you would get a prize.
Third type		+	An unfulfilled assumption in the past.
	If you won (at the last competition),	you would have gotten the prize. you would get a prize.

Conditional conjunctions

In conditional clauses, the subordinate clause is most often connected with the main clause using unions if(if when(when), but other unions are used besides them, for example: unless(if not), provided that, providing that, on condition that(provided that…)

Union unless often used in colloquial speech.

I'll be off work tomorrow unless someone gets sick. - I have the day off tomorrow, if no one not get sick.

We’ll have to call police unless you pay for the broken items. - We'll have to call the police if Only you not pay for the broken goods.

Alliances provided that, providing that, on condition that typical for written speech. In oral speech, “that” is often omitted.

We can deliver the engine on Monday provided (that) we receive your order within the next two days. - We can deliver the engine on Monday, provided we receive your order within the next two days.

Video tutorials and exercises on the topic "Conditional sentences in English"

The topic "Conditional sentences in English" is well covered in the video tutorials Puzzle English. Here's an overview tutorial on this topic:

Also on Puzzle English you can watch more detailed lessons and take exercises on this topic.

There are several types of conditional sentences in English. In different teaching materials, the number of these types can vary from three to five. We distinguish four such types. In this lesson, we'll look at two types of conditional clauses. Conditional sentences in English, as in Russian, are complex-subordinate sentences. But, based on the translation into Russian, English conditional sentences differ from Russian ones.

Any conditional sentence consists of two parts - conditional and main. The conditional part, as in Russian, is usually expressed using an adverb if/if.

The first type of conditional clauses is called real, because fulfillment of the conditions in these proposals is quite feasible.

Despite the Russian translation, the conditional part of the sentence is expressed only using Present tense (usually Present Simple). And in the main part, the future tense is used.

If you finish your homework, we shall go to the cinema.

In Russian translation, both parts of the sentence will be in the future tense.

If you finish your homework, we'll go to the movies.

In addition to if, such words and phrases are used as: when, as soon as(once), before, until.

When she reads the letter, she will become nervous.
As soon as you are ready, I "ll drive you home.

The conjunction is also used in conditional sentences unless(unless / unless), which can be replaced with if + not(negation). After the union unless the predicate verb is put in the affirmative form, since the conjunction unless already contains a negation.

She will forget about it unless we remind her.
She will forget about it, unless we remind her.
She will forget about it if we don "t remind her.

A subordinate clause, which usually begins with the word if, can appear both at the beginning of a conditional clause (before the main clause) and at the end. If it is at the beginning, then a comma is placed after it. If it is at the end, then no comma is put in front of it.

If you leave now, you "ll catch the train.
You "ll catch the train if you leave now.

Note

In the conditional part, in addition to Present Simple, the following real tenses can be used: Present Continuous and Present Perfect.

If you are looking for troubles, you "ll them.

When you have finished the letter, I "ll post it.
When you finish your letter, I will send it.

In the main part, the structure can be used be going to(see the related lesson), which also indicates the commission of an action in the future; but, most often, Future Simple is used.

If I win in the lottery, I am going to buy a new car.

Negative and interrogative forms

The conditional part of the sentence can have a negative form in accordance with the grammatical tense in which it is located.

If we don "t / can" t find the money, we shall call the police.

The main part of a conditional sentence can also be negative.

When he returns home, I won "t talk to him anymore.

When a conditional sentence is a question, then only the main part of the sentence has the form of a question, while the conditional part can have either a declarative or an interrogative form.

Will you believe me, will you still feed me when I am sixty-four? (The Beatles)

Will she forgive him, if he doesn "t take his words back?

What will happen to us, if we loose?

Answers on questions

Since the questions are asked to the main part of the sentence, then the answers are formed in relation to the main part.

Will you go to the picnic next weekend if you have a chance? - Yes, I will / No, I won "t.

What will she do, if she misses the train? - She will take a bus.

We all love to dream:

“If he knew English, he would have gone to live abroad. If she had a lot of money, she would open her own store. If they lived by the sea, they would be surfing. "

In all of these sentences, we are talking about imaginary events that do not actually exist.

In English, we construct such sentences using the second type of conditional sentences.

Many English learners have trouble understanding this topic, so today we are going to take a closer look at how to build such sentences.

Type 2 conditional sentences (Second conditional) we use when talking about imaginary situations in the present and future . The events referred to in such proposals are unlikely or unrealistic.

For example:

If he won the lottery, he would buy a car. (But it is unlikely that he will win)

If it hadn't been raining, we would have gone for a walk in the park. (But it's raining, so the action is unreal)

Let's take a look at how to construct such sentences in English.

Rules for the formation of conditional sentences of type 2 in English

Type 2 conditional sentences consist of 2 parts:

• condition - events that are unreal or unlikely
• the main part is the action that would occur if the condition were met

A conditional clause can begin with both a main part and a condition.

How do you build each of these parts?

Main part

The main body contains an action that could happen in the present or in the future, but is unlikely to happen.

The main part is formed using would(this is will in the past tense). When constructing a sentence, we put would after the character, and then the verb in its initial form follows.

Also in such sentences instead of would can be used:

• should - should
• could - could / could
• might - possibly / may

I would buy it ……
I would buy it ……

He would go abroad ……
He would go abroad ... ..

He could come ... ..
He could have come ... ...

Conditional part

This part contains a condition that is unrealistic or unlikely.

In the conditional part, we use the Past Simple time (past simple).

Depending on the verb, this tense is formed like this:

• if the verb is correct, we add the ending -ed (cook - cooked)
• if the verb is not correct, we put it in the 2nd form (see - saw).

The conditional part starts with the word if, which translates as "if".

Combining the two parts, we get the following scheme for the formation of conditional sentences of type 2:

Actor + would + action + if + character + regular verb with the ending -ed or 2nd form of irregular verb

He would buy the car if he won the lottery.
He would buy a car if he won the lottery.

They would call you if they had a phone.
They would call you if they had a phone.

We can swap the two parts by putting the condition first. Education rules will remain the same. Only a comma will be added, separating the two parts of the sentence.

If + character + regular -ed or 2nd irregular verb, character + would + action

If she had enough time, she would cook dinner.
If she had time, she would cook dinner.

If we went to this club, we would dance all night.
If we went to this club, we would dance all night.

Also, in conditional sentences of the second type, the verb to be is very often used in the part with a condition. Let's take a closer look at this.

Use of the verb to be in type 2 conditional sentences in English

In English there is a special kind of verb - the verb to be. We use it when we say that someone:

• Is somewhere (He is in the park)
• Is someone (She is a nurse)
• Is somehow (cat gray)

In type 2 conditional sentences, the verb to be is usually used in the conditional part, so we put it in the past tense. Moreover, regardless of the actor, we use the form - were.

Incorrect: If she was a teacher… ..
If she were a teacher ... ..

Correct: If she were a teacher ... ...
If she were a teacher ... ...

If + character + were + place / state / phenomenon + character + would + action

If they were rich, they would travel.
If they were rich, they would travel.

If she were you, she would do it.
If she were you (if you were), she would do it.

In spoken English, this rule is not always followed. You may come across the use of was instead of were in colloquial speech. But the use of were in such sentences remains grammatically correct.

Conditional sentences of the second type with negation in English

We can use negation in such sentences. Negative ones can be:

• Main part
• Condition
• Both parts

Negation in the main part

To make the main body negative, afterwouldwe put not.

We can shorten: would + not = wouldn’ t.

The education scheme of such a proposal will be:

Actor + wouldn’t + action + if + character + regular verb with the ending -ed or 2nd form of irregular verb

Negation in a conditional part

Since this part uses Past Simple, then negation is formed with the auxiliary did and the negative particle not. In this case, we do not change the verb in any way, it stands in the initial form.

We often use an abbreviation:

did + not = didn’ t

The education scheme of such a proposal:

Actor + would + action + if + actor + didn’t + action

They would go to the cinema if they didn’t study.
They would go to the movies if they weren't studying.

She would go to bed if she didn’t work at night.
She would have gone to bed if she hadn't worked at night.

Negation with the verb to be in the conditional part

If the part with the condition contains the verb to be (were), then we simply put not after it.

We can shorten:

were + not = weren’t

If he weren’t a doctor, he would be a teacher.
If he were not a doctor, he would be a teacher.

If I weren "t sick, I would join you.
If I hadn't been sick, I would have joined you.

Negation in both parts of a conditional sentence

If there is negation in both parts, the sentence is built according to the scheme

Actor + wouldn’t + action + if + actor + didn’t (weren ”t) + action (place / state / phenomenon)

As you can see, in the first part we add not to would, in the second we put didn "t.

She wouldn’t go to his party if she didn’t know him.
She wouldn't have gone to his party if she didn't know him.

They wouldn’t help all people if they weren’t so kind.
They wouldn’t help all people if they weren’t so kind.

Now let's look at how to ask questions.

Type 2 conditional clause question in English

We ask a question to find out whether a person would do something under certain conditions or not.

When we ask a question, we only change the main part. In it, we put would first. The part containing the condition does not change.

The outline of the interrogative sentence will be as follows:

Would + character + action + if + character + regular -ed or 2nd form of an irregular verb?

Would he buy this if he had any money?
Would he buy it if he had money?

Would she stay at home if she had weekend?
Would she stay at home if she had a day off?

We give the answer to the main part, therefore:

• a positive answer will contain yes, the actor and would

Would they study English if they had enough time? Yes, they would.
Would they learn English if they had enough time? Yes, they would.

• a negative answer would contain no, the actor would + not

Would he help her if he knew about her problems? No, he wouldn’ t.
Would he help her if he knew about her problems? No, it wouldn’t help.

So, we have analyzed the theory. Now, let's put the use of Type 2 conditionals into practice.

Anchoring exercise

Translate the following sentences into English:

1. If she had told everything, he would have helped her.
2. She would wear this dress if she went to a restaurant.
3. He would buy this car if it was black.
4. They wouldn't go to school if they were on vacation.
5. If he had not lived in New York, he would have lived in Moscow.
6. Would she go to the movies if she didn't work?

Leave your answers in the comments below the article.

A conditional clause is used when it is necessary to say that an action will be performed only if a certain condition is met. For example:

If it rains, I'll take an umbrella.

If you finish the quarter without Cs, I'll buy you a new computer.

I'll be there early if I can get all the work done.

How are conditional sentences built? It is easy to remember that a conditional sentence in English consists of two parts - a condition and a result. The condition always starts with the word if (if). And the result describes what will happen if the condition is met.

There are three types of conditional sentences in English. Each type of conditional sentence has its own word order. It is the condition, or rather the probability of fulfilling the condition, that determines what type the offer will be. The condition can be:

• executable (1 type of conditional clauses)
• unlikely (type 2)
• impracticable (type 3)

Sometimes the zero type of conditional clauses is also distinguished. A clause of type zero contains a condition that is always met. Let's take a closer look at how each of these types of conditional clauses is constructed and when applied.

TYPE 1 CONDITIONAL sentences. The real condition.

Type 1 conditional sentences in English are used to say about a prediction, forecast, intention or warning... That is, in cases where there is a condition that is likely to be met and there is an action that will occur after the fulfillment of this condition.

The scheme for constructing type 1 conditional sentences is quite simple - the condition is described in the present tense Present Simple, and the result is described in the future tense Future Simple.

Let me remind you that an affirmative sentence in Future Simple time is built according to the scheme:

Subject

will

predicate

all the rest

If you feel the need to brush up on your knowledge of English times, you can read more about Present Simple, Future Simple and English sentence word order.

Now let's move on to examples of the first type of conditional:

I will have a good job if I study well.
I will find a good job if I study well.

If the weather is good, we will go for a walk in the park.
If the weather is fine, we will go for a walk in the park.

If you don "t sleep, you" ll be abble to work good.
If you don't sleep, you won't be able to work well.

Please note that in English conditional sentences, the condition can appear either before or after the result, and a comma between the condition and the result is placed only in cases where the condition comes first.

CONDITIONAL offers of 2 types. Unlikely condition.

Type 2 conditional sentences in English speak of unlikely or almost impossible event. Use a type 2 conditional clause if you do not believe that the event specified in it will happen.

In order to grammatically correctly construct an English conditional sentence of type 2, you need to do the following:

1. Put the first part of the sentence (condition) in the past tense Past Simple.
2. In the second part of the sentence (result) add the verb would before the subject. The to particle is not placed after would.

For example, we have two simple sentences:

I live in New York.
I live in New York.

I go out every night.
I go for a walk every evening.

Let's make a conditional sentence of the second type out of them. We put the first sentence in Past Simple.

I lived in New York.
I lived in New York.

Add the verb would to the second sentence.

I would go out every night.

Now we combine them, add the If union and get a conditional clause:

If I lived in New York, I would go out every night.
If I lived in New York, I would go for a walk every night.

"If I lived in New York" is an unlikely event, so here it is perfectly correct to use a conditional sentence of the second type.

Here are a few more examples, studying which will help deepen your knowledge:

If I were you, I would dress the warm jacket.
If I were you, I would wear a warm jacket.

If I were mayor, I would make the life in my city better.
If I were the mayor, I would make life in my city better.

If I won the lottery, I would buy a new car.
If I won the lottery, I would buy a new car.

3rd type of conditional sentences. Unfulfillable condition.

Probably every person at least once in his life wanted to change something in his past. But alas, no one can return time back. The third type of conditional allows us to say what would happen if we could change the past. Use 3 types of conditional sentences in English to criticize a mistake or regret a missed opportunity.

Such sentences are formed in a rather complex way:

1. We put the first part of the sentence (condition) in Past Perfect. Now there is no need to find out what Past Perfect is and in what situations it is used. It is enough to know the formula by which it is formed. Roughly speaking, to get Past Perfect Active, you need to put the verb had in front of the predicate, and add the ending -ed to the predicate itself (for regular verbs). If an irregular verb is used as a predicate, then it is necessary to use its 3rd form, which must be taken from the dictionary.
2. In the second part of the sentence (result) we add would have before the subject, and the subject itself is put in the 3rd form.

The same in schematic view:

You can describe in more detail. If regular verbs are used as subjects, then there will be such a scheme:

For irregular verbs instead of ending -ed take the third form of the verb from the dictionary.

If I had studied harder, I would have had better job.
If I did better, I would have a better job.

If you had read the manual carefully, you wouldn’t have made this mistakes.
If you had carefully read the instructions, you would not have made these mistakes.

If You had closed a window, I wouldn’t have been ill.
If you closed the window, I would not get sick.

Type 0 conditional sentences.

There are conditional sentences in which the condition is always met. What are they needed for? For example, you can say in the form of a conditional sentence about a law of nature, a scientific fact, or a statement that is obvious to everyone:

Ice melts if the temperature is above zero.
Ice melts if the temperature is above freezing.

Conditional clauses in which the condition is met 100% of the time is called a null conditional clause. Type 0 conditional sentences in English are formed according to a very simple scheme:

Both in the condition and in the result, the simplest of the English tenses is used - the present Present Simple. This scheme is very similar to the structure of the corresponding conditional sentence in Russian. Therefore, conditional sentences of the zero type usually do not cause difficulties and in many textbooks on grammar this type of sentences is not mentioned at all.

If a person eat a lot, he become fat.
If a person eats a lot, he becomes fat.

If you want to have good pay, you must have to work efficiently.
If you want to get a good salary, you have to work efficiently.

Exercises to consolidate the topic

To consolidate the knowledge gained in practice, complete several tasks in which you need to choose the appropriate answer option. After choosing the option you want, test yourself by clicking the "Show Answer" button. If any of the English words in these sentences are unfamiliar to you, double-click on it to view the translation.

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Today in this article we will take a look at conditional sentences in English. I would like to note that they are encountered as often as in Russian.

Conditional clauses- these are such sentences, in one part of which there is some condition, and in the other - its consequence. Both parts of such a sentence can apply to all times - i.e. to the present, past and future. The part of the sentence in which the condition is located is called the subordinate clause, and the part where there is the result (consequence) of this condition is called the main one.

Types of conditional clauses

In this article, we will cover only one of them - these are type 1 conditional sentences (First Conditional sentences), the condition of which is real in the future tense. The first type of conditional clauses is called real, because its condition is quite feasible.

Formation of conditional sentences Conditional 1

A clause starting with the word if, can appear both at the beginning of a complex sentence (before the main sentence), and at the end.

Important!

If if is at the beginning, then a comma is placed after it.
If if is at the end, then no comma is placed in front of it.

Examples of Conditional I sentences

If you finish on time, we’ll go to the cinema. If you finish on time, we'll go to the movies. We’ll go to the cinema if you finish on time. We'll go to the movies if you finish on time. If I know her telephone number, I will call her. If I find out her phone number, I will call her. I'll call her if I know her telephone number. I'll call her if I get her phone number.

Using the future tense when translating conditional sentences

Important!

Despite the fact that the present tense is used in the subordinate clause, all sentences are translated into Russian using the future tense.

Examples of translating conditional sentences using future tense

If you go with me, we’ll have a good time. If you come with me, we will have a good time. You’ll go to the cinema if you do your homework. You will go to the movies if you do your homework. If you buy butter and milk, we’ll make a cake. If you buy butter and milk, we'll bake a cake. If he gets excellent marks, he will go to the university. If he gets excellent grades, he will go to university.

Features of the use of verbs in conditional sentences Conditional 1

When forming conditional sentences, it is important to remember that some verbs do not form the Present Indefinite Tense according to the rules. First of all, it is the verb "to be" to be, which in the present tense has the following forms: am, is, are. It is also the verb "have" and its forms have and has. And of course the modal verbs can, may, must

Examples of the use of conditional sentences with the verb to be, to have and modal verbs

The boss will be angry if I am late for work. The boss will be angry if I'm late. If you can "t do that task in maths, I" "ll help you. If you can’t do that task in maths, I’ll help you. I'll make you a sandwich if your wife has no time. I’ll make you a sandwich, if your wife has no time. We won "t go to the park if it rains. We will not go to the park if it rains. If you must not eat sweets or sugar, I’ll give you lots of fruit. If you cannot eat sweets or sugar, then I’ll give you lots of fruit. If you don’t come in time, I won’t be able to meet you. If you don't show up on time, I won't be able to meet you.

watch video on Conditionals 1