Index

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 2
Conditional Sentence .......................................................................................................................... 3
The first conditional............................................................................................................................ 3
Composition of the first conditional ............................................................................................... 3
Modal Verbs ................................................................................................................................... 4
When, as soon as, before, after, until.................................................................................................. 5
Similar to first conditional .............................................................................................................. 5
The second conditional ....................................................................................................................... 6
The third conditional .......................................................................................................................... 7
Form.................................................................................................................................................... 7
Present conditional passive voice ..................................................................................................... 12
Functions of the passive voice ...................................................................................................... 12
Conditional Clauses .......................................................................................................................... 13
Other conjunctions:........................................................................................................................... 13
Reported Speech ............................................................................................................................... 13
Other words that change in reported speech: .................................................................................... 14
Subjunctive ....................................................................................................................................... 14
Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 15
Bibliography ..................................................................................................................................... 16

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Introduction
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".

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Conditional Sentence

Conditional sentences have two parts or clauses that give a condition in the dependent clause and a
result in the independent clause. The condition clause usually contains an if statement. There are
several different forms of conditional sentences that allow the writer to express various meanings
using different tenses.

 Condition (if) clause + result clause.

The first conditional

The First Conditional is used to express actions or situations that are likely to happen in the future.
When we use it we are thinking about a situation or condition in the future that will be responsible
for a result. In the First Conditional there is a real possibility that the condition, action or situation
in matter will happen.

The first conditional exemplifies future actions that have a chance of being implemented, that is,
real possibilities of some result. These conditional clauses are usually based on true events and,
therefore, serve as arguments for criticism or comments of a personal or collective nature.

Composition of the first conditional

Sentences in the first conditional are formed by If Clauses + Main Clauses, that is:

If (se) + verb in Simple Present + modal verbs in Simple Future (will or going to) + infinitive

The structure does not follow fixed patterns, as sentences can appear in reverse order. However, it
is just another form of writing, which does not change the meaning. The only change is in the use
of the comma.

When the term “(If)” is placed at the beginning of sentences, a comma is needed. Already in the
inversion it is withdrawn.

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Examples:

- If I go to Salvador, I will see the Fonte Nova stadium

- I will see the Fonte Nova stadium if I go to Salvador

- If you work a lot today, you will feel tired tomorrow

- You will feel tired tomorrow if you work a lot today

- If you are free tonight, she will invite you to dinner

- She will invite you to dinner if you are free tonight

Modal Verbs

In addition to the will and going to tense markers , modal verbs also make up first conditional
sentences. Are they:

 Can/could: express the idea of possibility, ability or permission.

 May/Might: used in possibilities or permissions.
 Should/ shall: used in hints.
 Would: to make unreal requests, wishes or situations.
 Must: conveys the idea of proving a truth.

Remember that modals complete or change the meaning of the main verb and, therefore, their use
directly interferes with the meaning of sentences. In the first conditional, they can indicate
uncertainty, a desire with little chance of fulfillment.

Examples:

- If you buy my clothes, I will be able to go to the party.

- If he comes, we can talk about it with him (If he comes, we can talk about it with him).

- If I have time this night, I might wash my car (If I have time this night, I might wash my car.

- If they invite you to the birthday, you should go (If they invite you to the birthday, you should
go).

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When, as soon as, before, after, until

When we use a verb after when, as soon as, before, after or until to talk about the future, we have
to use this verb in present tense (NOT future). We use the future in the other part of the sentence.

 I’ll retire when I’m 70. (NOT: when I’ll be)

 I won’t call you until I arrive. (NOT: until I will arrive.)

Similar to first conditional

Future time clauses are similar to the first conditional. There’s a main clause and a when/after/etc.
clause. We use the verbs in these clauses like in the first conditional.

We use a comma when the when/after/etc. clause is at the beginning of the sentence. But we don’t
use a comma if the when/after… clause is at the end of the sentence.

 I’ll retire when I’m 70.

 When I’m 70, I’ll retire.

We use present in the when/after/etc. clause and we use future in the main clause.

 Before you go to sleep, daddy will tell you a story.

In the main clause, we can also use may, might, can, must, should or an imperative instead
of will.

 As soon as you finish, you can leave.

 After you arrive, call me.

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The second conditional

The second conditional uses the past simple after if, then 'would' and the infinitive:

if + past simple, ...would + infinitive

(We can use 'were' instead of 'was' with 'I' and 'he/she/it'. This is mostly done in formal writing). It
has two uses:

First, we can use it to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be true. Maybe
I'm imagining some dream for example.

 If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house. (I probably won't win the lottery)
 If I met the Queen of England, I would say hello.
 She would travel all over the world if she were rich.
 She would pass the exam if she ever studied. (She never studies, so this won't happen)

Second, we can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because it's not
true. Examples:

 If I had his number, I would call him. (I don't have his number now, so it's impossible for
me to call him).
 If I were you, I wouldn't go out with that man.

How is this different from the first conditional?

This kind of conditional sentence is different from the first conditional because this is a lot more
unlikely.

For example, (second conditional): If I had enough money I would buy a house with twenty
bedrooms and a swimming pool (I'm probably not going to have this much money, it's just a dream,
not very real)
But (first conditional): If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes (It's much more likely that
I'll have enough money to buy some shoes)

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The third conditional
The third conditional uses the past perfect in the if clause and a modal and present perfect in the
result clause. This form is used to talk about a hypothetical situation in the past that did not happen
– typically with an outcome that did not happen and is perhaps the opposite of what did happen.

Form: If + past perfect, modal + present perfect

Example 1: If it had rained last week, the plants would not have died.

Example 2: If I had finished college, I would have become a doctor.

Form
In a third conditional sentence, the tense in the "if" clause is the past perfect, and the tense in the
main clause is the perfect conditional or the perfect continuous conditional.

If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + past perfect perfect conditional or perfect continuous conditional

If this thing had happened that thing would have happened.

As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. may have to rearrange the
pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is
identical.

Examples:

 If it had rained, you would have gotten wet.

 You would have gotten wet if it had rained.

 I would have believed you if you hadn't lied to me before.

 If you hadn't lied to me before, I would have believed you.

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The third conditional refers to an impossible condition in the past and its probable result in the past.
These sentences are truly hypothetical and unreal, because it is now too late for the condition or its
result to exist. There is always some implication of regret with third conditional sentences. The
reality is the opposite of, or contrary to, what the sentence expresses. In third conditional sentences,
the time is the past and the situation is hypothetical.

Examples:

 If I had worked harder, I would have passed the exam. (But I didn't work hard, and I didn't
pass the exam.)

 If I had known, you were coming I would have baked a cake. (But I didn't know and I didn't
bake a cake.)

 I would have been happy if you had called me on my birthday. (But you didn't call me and I
am not happy.)

In third conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of "would" to
express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the outcome.

Examples:

 If I had worked harder I might have passed the exam.

 You could have been on time if you had caught the bus.
 If he called you, you could go.
 If you bought my school supplies for me, I might be able to go to the park.

Contractions

Both would and had can be contracted to 'd', Remember 2 rules:

1. would never appears in the if-clause so if 'd appears in the if clause, it must be
abbreviating had.
2. had never appears before have so if 'd appears on a pronoun just before have, it must be
abbreviating would.

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Form

In third conditional sentence, the tense in the "if" clause is the past perfect, and the tense in the
main clause is the perfect conditional or the perfect continuous conditional.

If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + past perfect perfect conditional or perfect continuous conditional

If this thing had happened that thing would have happened.

As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange the
pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is
identical.

Examples

 If it had rained, you would have gotten wet.

 You would have gotten wet if it had rained.

 You would have passed your exam if you had worked harder.

 If you had worked harder, you would have passed your exam.

 I would have believed you if you hadn't lied to me before.

 If you hadn't lied to me before, I would have believed you.

Function

The third conditional refers to an impossible condition in the past and its probable result in the past.
These sentences are truly hypothetical and unreal, because it is now too late for the condition or its
result to exist. There is always some implication of regret with type 3 conditional sentences.

The reality is the opposite of, or contrary to, what the sentence expresses. In type 3 conditional
sentences, the time is the past and the situation is hypothetical.

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Examples

 If I had worked harder I would have passed the exam. (But I didn't work hard, and I didn't
pass the exam.)

 If I had known you were coming I would have baked a cake. (But I didn't know and I didn't
bake a cake.)

 I would have been happy if you had called me on my birthday. (But you didn't call me and I
am not happy.)

In type 3 conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of "would" to
express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the outcome.

Examples

 If I had worked harder I might have passed the exam.

 You could have been on time if you had caught the bus.

 If he called you, you could go.

 If you bought my school supplies for me, I might be able to go to the park.

Contractions

Both would and had can be contracted to 'd, which can be confusing if you are not confident with
type 3 conditional sentences. Remember 2 rules:
1. would never appears in the if-clause so if 'd appears in the if clause, it must be
abbreviating had.
2. had never appears before have so if 'd appears on a pronoun just before have, it must be
abbreviating would.

Examples:

 If I'd known you were in hospital, I'd have visited you.

 If I had known you were in hospital, I would have visited you.

 If you'd given me your e-mail, I'd have written to you.

 If you had given me your e-mail, I would have written to you.

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The perfect conditional tense

The perfect conditional of any verb is composed of three elements:

would + have + past participle
Have followed by the past participle is used in other constructions as well. it is called the "perfect
infinitive".

Subject + would + have + past participle

He would have gone

They would have stayed

perfect conditional

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative negative

I would have gone I wouldn't have gone Would I have gone? Wouldn't I have gone?

You would have You wouldn't have Would you have Wouldn't you have
gone gone gone? gone?

He would have gone He wouldn't have Would he have gone? Wouldn't he have
gone gone?

She would have She wouldn't have Would she have Wouldn't she have
gone gone gone? gone?

We would have We wouldn't have Would we have Wouldn't we have

gone gone gone? gone?

They would have They wouldn't have Would they have Wouldn't they have
gone gone gone? gone?

Test your knowledge

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Present conditional passive voice

Functions of the passive voice

The passive voice is used to show interest in the person or object that experiences an action rather
than the person or object that performs the action. In other words, the most important thing or
person becomes the subject of the sentence.

Examples:

 The passive voice is used frequently. (= we are interested in the passive voice, not in who
uses it.)
 The house was built in 1654. (= we are interested in the house, not in who built it.)
 The road is being repaired. (= we are interested in the road, not in the people who are doing
the repairs.)

Sometimes we use the passive voice because we don't know or do not want to express who
performed the action.

Examples:

 I noticed that a window had been left open.

 Every year thousands of people are killed on our roads.
 All the cookies have been eaten.
 My car has been stolen!

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Conditional Clauses
If clause is a subordinate clause in a complex sentence. If clause states the condition that must
be fulfilled before main clause may be true. Classification is based on:
- Time

- The possibility of fulfillment of the condition

Type I refers to present or future, condition can be fulfilled (If we catch the train, we will get
there on time. If you have not tried it, you cannot imagine how it is.).
Type II refers to present or future, condition more or less cannot be fulfilled (If we caught
the train, we would get there on time. – it is still possible; If I came into a fortune, I would give
up working. – imaginary; If I were you, I would tell her. – contrary to a fact – I am not you.).
Type III refers to past, condition cannot be fulfilled (If we had caught the train, we would
have gotten there on time. – contrary to a past fact, they never were able to catch the train).
Other conjunctions:
 A child can learn fast, provided he is not pressured.
 He would not have come unless you had invited him.
 He would have married her even if she had been poor.
 You can come with us, as long as you keep quiet.
 Suppose you told him the truth, what would he do about it?
 You can borrow it on condition/provided that you return it tomorrow.
Reported Speech
If a reporting word is in one of the PAST tenses (said, told, whispered, shouted, mentioned),
reported verbs undergo a backshift (go back “in time” – change to a corresponding past tense).
Past perfect, subjunctive, and Type 2 conditionals do not change.
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Present (Simple & Continuous) Past (Simple & Continuous)
Past (Simple & Continuous) Past Perfect (Simple & Continuous)
Present Perfect (Simple & Continuous) Past Perfect (Simple & Continuous)
Future (Simple & Continuous) Would + bare infinitive
Future Perfect (Simple & Continuous) Would have + bare infinitive

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Other words that change in reported speech:
 can and may to could and might;
 could, when it implies possibility, changes to had been able to;
 must, when implying obligation, changes to had to;
 this => that; these => those; yesterday => the day before, the previous day;
tomorrow =>the next day/the following day; next week => the next/following
week; ago => before.

Subjunctive

Several different phrases can be used to introduce a fanciful/unfulfilled wish: if only,

I wish, itis about time, I would rather.

 They are used with PAST tense (was/were) to express a wish unfulfilled in
the PRESENT. (I wish you were here. (now); If only she were working in the
office next door.; It is about time you stopped doing that.; It is about time I went
home. (It is time forme to go.); I would rather you dealt with the matter. I would
rather she came back than stayed in New York.)

 PAST PERFECT is used for unfulfilled wishes relating to the PAST. (I wish
she had not gone to Minneapolis yesterday. If only she had stayed here. (but she
did not); I wouldrather you had gone away last week.)

 For wishes that we hope will be fulfilled in the FUTURE (often related to
somethingyou find irritating or unsatisfactory, and would like to change in the
future) we use present conditional – would + infinitive (If only she would
come back. I wish my friends would not call me when I am asleep.)

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Conclusion
Conditional sentences have two parts or clauses that give a condition in the dependent
clause and a result in the independent clause. The condition clause usually contains an if
statement. There are several different forms of conditional sentences that allow the
writer to express various meanings using different tenses.

1- The first conditional is used to talk about things which are possible in the present or
the future — things which may happen: Example. Explanation. If it's sunny, we'll go to
the park. Maybe it will be sunny — that's possible.

2- The second conditional is used to imagine present or future situations that are
impossible or unlikely in reality. If we had a garden, we could have a cat. If I won a lot
of money, I'd buy a big house in the country. I wouldn't worry if I were you. The
structure is usually: if + past simple >> + would + infinitive.

3- The third conditional is used (if + past perfect, would + have + past participle) to
talk about something in the past that did not happen. How is the third conditional
different from the other conditionals? This is the way we imagine how things could
have been different in the past.

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Bibliography
- A. J. Thomson and A.V. Martinet, A Practical English Grammar, Oxford University
Press, 1986
- V. Evans, Round-Up (English Grammar Practice), Longman, 1995
- M. Carling and S. Jervis, Grammar Time 4, Longman, 2003
- S. Jervis, Grammar Time 5, Longman, 2003 - M. Carling, Grammar Time 6,
Longman, 2003

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