EL121/2016

CONDITIONAL
Conditional tenses are used to speculate about what could happen, what might
have happened, and what we wish would happen. In English, most sentences
using the conditional contain the word if. Many conditional forms in English are
used in sentences that include verbs in one of the past tenses. This usage is
referred to as "the unreal past" because we use a past tense but we are not
actually referring to something that happened in the past. There are five main
ways of constructing conditional sentences in English. In all cases, these sentences
are made up of an if clause and a main clause. In many negative conditional
sentences, there is an equivalent sentence construction using "unless" instead of
"if".
Conditional
sentence
type

Usage

If clause
Main clause verb
verb tense tense

Zero

General truths

Simple
present

Simple present

Type 1

A possible condition and its

probable result

Simple
present

Simple future

Type 2

A hypothetical condition and Simple

its probable result
past

Present conditional or
Present continuous
conditional

Type 3

An unreal past condition and Past

its probable result in the
perfect
past

Perfect conditional

1
Prepared by Randhula Gunawardhana

EL121/2016

Conditional
sentence
type

Usage

If clause
Main clause verb
verb tense tense

Mixed type

An unreal past condition and Past

its probable result in the
perfect
present

Present conditional

THE ZERO CONDITIONAL

The zero conditional is used for when the time being referred to is now or
always and the situation is real and possible. The zero conditional is often used to
refer to general truths. The tense in both parts of the sentence is the simple
present. In zero conditional sentences, the word "if" can usually be replaced by
the word "when" without changing the meaning.
If clause,

Main clause

If + simple present,

simple present

If this thing happens,

that thing happens.

If you heat ice,

it melts.

If it rains,

the grass gets wet.

2
Prepared by Randhula Gunawardhana

EL121/2016

TYPE 1 CONDITIONAL
The type 1 conditional is used to refer to the present or future where
the situation is real. The type 1 conditional refers to a possible condition and its
probable result. In these sentences the if clause is in the simple present, and the
main clause is in the simple future.
If clause,

Main clause

If + simple present,

simple future

If this thing happens,

that thing will happen.

If you don't hurry,

you will miss the train.

If it rains today,

you will get wet.

TYPE 2 CONDITIONAL
The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a time that is now or any time, and a
situation that is unreal. These sentences are not based on fact. The type 2
conditional is used to refer to a hypothetical condition and its probable result. In
type 2 conditional sentences, the if clause uses the simple past, and the main
clause uses the present conditional.
If clause,

Main clause

If + simple past,

present conditional or present continuous conditional

3
Prepared by Randhula Gunawardhana

EL121/2016

If clause,

Main clause

If this thing
happened,

that thing would happen. (but I'm not sure this thing
will happen) OR
that thing would be happening.

If you went to bed

earlier,

you would not be so tired.

If it rained,

you would get wet.

If I spoke Italian,

I would be working in Italy.

TYPE 3 CONDITIONAL
The type 3 conditional is used to refer to a time that is in the past, and a situation
that is contrary to reality. The facts they are based on are the opposite of what is
expressed. The type 3 conditional is used to refer to an unreal past condition and
its probable past result. In type 3 conditional sentences, the if clause uses the past
perfect, and the main clause uses the perfect conditional.
If clause,

Main clause

If + past perfect,

perfect conditional or perfect continuous

conditional

If this thing had happened,

that thing would have happened. (but neither

of those things really happened) OR
that thing would have been happening.

4
Prepared by Randhula Gunawardhana

EL121/2016

If clause,

Main clause

If you had studied harder,

you would have passed the exam.

If it had rained,

you would have gotten wet.

If I had accepted that

promotion,

I would have been working in Milan.

MIXED TYPE CONDITIONAL

The mixed type conditional is used to refer to a time that is in the past, and a
situation that is ongoing into the present. The facts they are based on are the
opposite of what is expressed. The mixed type conditional is used to refer to an
unreal past condition and its probable result in the present. In mixed type
conditional sentences, the if clause uses the past perfect, and the main clause
uses the present conditional.
If clause,

Main clause

If + past perfect or simple

past,

present conditional or perfect conditional

If this thing had happened,

that thing would happen. (but this thing didn't

happen so that thing isn't happening)

If I had worked harder at

school,

I would have a better job now.

If we had looked at the map,

we wouldn't be lost.

5
Prepared by Randhula Gunawardhana

EL121/2016

If clause,

Main clause

If you weren't afraid of

spiders,

you would have picked it up and put it outside.

If clauses type 1- exercises

If clause type 1: Situations that can really happen at present or in future
(real).
If clause type
If the game is good,
1

I will play it.

If clause type
I will play the game
1

if it is good.

If clause type 1: Fill in the correct form of the verb.

1. If Tharaka goes to the cinema, he

his friends. (see)

2. If the classroom door is open, the pupils

3. If air

warmer, it will rise. (get)

4. She will come to your party if you

5. She
6. You
If it
7. What
8. If you

in. (go)

her. (invite)

you the ticket if you give her the money. (give)

the train if you
fine, I
you

earlier. (catch/leave)

for a swim. (be/go)

if you

Janaka? (do/meet)

your homework, the teacher

happy. (do/be)
6
Prepared by Randhula Gunawardhana

EL121/2016

9. If the reporter
10.The girl

him for them. (take/ask)

an umbrella if it

11.If we

the photocopy, it

12.The train
13.

photos, she

you

fast if you

. (take/rain)
quicker. (take/be)
so much time. (be/not have)

the presentation if I

14. If Sanjeevan

time, he

you a CD? (copy/give)

the invitations. (have/write)

If clauses type 2
Situations will probably never happen at present or in future
(unreal).

Type 2:
Example:

If clause - Simple
Past
If I lived in
Australia,

Main clause: would+infinitive

I would be a sheep farmer.

If clauses type 2: Fill in the correct form of the verb (simple

past).
1. The streets would be wet if it
2. If Bhanuka and Malani

. (rain)
late, they would send a text

message. (be)
3. I would be very sad if I

my mobile. (lose)

4. The teacher would help me if she

5. If he

time. (have)

in the river, he would swim. (fall)

7
Prepared by Randhula Gunawardhana

EL121/2016

If clauses type 2: Fill in the correct form of the verbs. (Where

possible fill in more verbs in one gap.)

1. If you

me your mobile, I

2. I

for a new house if I

3. If I

him, I

4. It

nice if you

5. If you

him for you. (give/call)

a new job. (look/get)

at the Job Centre. (be/ask)

cricket on Monday (be/play).0

an umbrella, you

wet. (take/not get)

(short form)

If clauses type 3 - exercises

Situations that did not happen in the past.
If clause
Main clause
Past Perfect
would + have + Past Participle
If I had had nothing to do, I would have come.
If clauses type 3: Fill in the correct form of the verb.
1. If you

a taxi, you would have caught the train. (take)

2. I would have come if I

3. The pupils

nothing to do. (have)

the bus if they hadnt left early. (miss)
8
Prepared by Randhula Gunawardhana

EL121/2016

4. If the friends

to the cafe, they would have eaten pizzas.

(go)
5. If I

enough money, I would have bought that mobile.

(have)

If clauses type 3: Fill in the correct form of the verb.

(Where possible fill in more verbs in one gap.)

1. If you
2.
3. If Jake
4. If we

the party, you

you

home. (enjoy/not go)

him the truth if you

the film, he

to? (tell/have)
the DVD. (like/buy)

to the survey camp, we

in a restaurant. (go/not

stay)
5. If I

him, he

never

. (not tell/know)

Test mixed bag - Multiple Choice

type

If clause

main clause

type 1

If the game is good,

I will play it.

type 2

If the game was good,

I would play it.

type 3

If the game had

been good,

I would have played it.

What is the correct answer?

9
Prepared by Randhula Gunawardhana

EL121/2016

1. If I had had enough money, I

that radio.

a. bought b. would buy c. would have bought d. had bought

2. If it rains, you

t wet.

a. will get b. would get c. get d. had got

3. She would go to the Job Centre if she

a job.

a. had wanted b. will want c. wanted d. wants

4. The dog

you if it hadnt been tied up.

a. would bite b. will bite c. would have bitten d. bites

5. It

easy to paint pictures if you knew how to.

a. would be b. had been c. would have been d. be

6. If I come, I

you.

a. saw b. would see c. will see d. sees

7. She

pleased if you came.

a. would be b. would have been c. would has been d. was

8. If it

I would stay at home.

a. rains b. rained c. has rained d. had rained

9. You will catch the train if you

earlier

a. left b. leaves c. leave d. would leave

10. If he

thirsty, he would have drunk some water.

a. was b. had been c. is d. would drink

10
Prepared by Randhula Gunawardhana