CONDITIONAL CLAUSES

TYPE IF-CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE USES EXAMPLES

(Subordinate Clause)
Zero Conditional Present Simple
Present Simple . Cause – Effect: To talk about - If my friend has a problem, I always
things that are always or generally listen.
true as a result of an action or - If you put butter near the fire, it melts.
situation.

Present Simple Future Simple . To talk about possible actions in - I’ll buy a drink if I’m thirsty.
First Conditional Present Continuous Imperative the future. - If you take your phone to school, you
(POSSIBLE & PROBABLE Modals (may, can) may lose it.
CONDITION) - If you’re hungry, have a sandwich.

Past Simple Conditional Simple .To talk about unlikely present or - If I won the lottery, I could buy a house.
Second Conditional Past Continuous (would + INFINITIVE WITHOUT future situations. - What would you do if you were alone on
(POSSIBLE BUT ‘TO’) . To talk about imaginary a desert island?
IMPROBABLE CONDITION) * If I were you… (ADVICE) Modals (might, could): situations. - If I were you, I’d save my pocket
might, could + INF. without ‘TO’ .To give advice (If I were you,…) money.

Past Perfect Conditional Perfect .To talk about unreal situations: - If they hadn’t drunk lots of water, they
Third Conditional Past Perfect Continuous (would + HAVE + Past Participle) possible events in the past that did might have died in the desert.
(IMPOSSIBLE CONDITION) Modals (might, could): not happen. - If I had known about the piranhas, I
Might, could + HAVE + Past Part. wouldn’t have swum in the river.

CONDITIONAL CLAUSES CONNECTORS: IF, WHETHER, UNLESS.

* IF = WHETHER
- IF is more common than WHETHER.

* UNLESS = if … not (mainly in 1st and 2nd Conditionals)

Unless you put on some suntan lotion, you’ll get sunburnt. = If you don’t put on some suntan lotion, you’ll get sunburnt.
I wouldn’t go to the party unless you went too. = I wouldn’t go to the party if you didn’t go, too.
CONDITIONAL TENSES: Examples.

Eat- ate – eaten :: Conditional Simple: I would eat = I’d eat Conditional Perfect: I would have eaten = I’d have eaten

Drive -drove- driven: You would drive= You’d drive You would have driven= You’d have driven

Feel- felt- felt: I would feel= I’d feel I would have felt= I’d have felt

SHORT FORMS: ‘d = would or had

➢ WOULD = ‘d + INFINITIVE
➢ HAD = ‘d + Past Participle (3rd)

For example:

1. She’d be late. → Conditional Simple (= would be)

2. She’d been late → Past Perfect (= had been)
3. She’d have been late. → Conditional Perfect (= would have been)
4. She’d come late. → Past Perfect (= had come) & Conditional Simple (= would come) COME-CAME-COME