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CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
Conditional sentences (also known as conditional clauses or if clauses) are made up of two
halves. One half (the half with the word if in) is a condition, and the other half (the main clause)
states the action to occur if the condition is fulfilled.
THE TYPES OF CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

ZERO CONDITIONAL
A zero conditional is used for facts that are always true. We use a zero conditional when both
events happen and IF means WHEN
Present + present
If/When you press this switch, the television comes on. (always true/normal event/fact)

Past + past
If/When the weather was bad, we always stayed indoors. (past habit)

FIRST CONDITIONAL
First conditional is used for events/situations which are likely to happen.
IF + Present Simple, Will + Future

If I find her address, I will send her an invitation
Conditional clause Main clause
If theres a good film on TV, Ill watch it.

SECOND CONDITIONAL
Second conditional is used for unlikely or imaginary events/situations in the present or future.
IF + Past Simple, Would + Verb

If John had the money, he would buy a Ferrari.

(I know John very well and I know that he doesn't have much money, but he loves Ferraris. He
would like to own a Ferrari (in his dreams). But I think it is very unlikely that he will have the
money to buy one in the near future.)

In IF clause we usually use WERE, even if the pronoun is I/HE/SHE or IT
If I were you, I would not do this.

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WERE can start the sentence and replace IF in formal English.
Were you really ill, Id look after you, but you are perfectly OK.

THIRD CONDITIONAL
Third conditional is used for unreal or imaginary events/situations in the past. They are often
used to express regret or criticism.

IF + Past Perfect, Would have + Past Participle
If you had swallowed some of the cleaning fluid, It would have killed you.


USING COMMAS IN CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
When the condition is at the start of the sentence (like in all the examples above), it is usual to
separate it from the main clause with a comma. However, if the condition is at the back of the
sentence, it is less common to use a comma. (You can still use a comma to assist your reader if
you think it aids understanding.)

It will kill you if you swallow some of the cleaning fluid.