Conditionals I, II, and III

Abirami.V.
KCT
• Conditional sentences have at least two clauses:
• IF clause which expresses condition
• A main clause that expresses the consequence

Examples:
If I go into town tomorrow, I will see a movie.
If he spoke Chinese, he would work as a guide in
China.
If they had been faster, they would have won the race.
 IF Clauses (the condition)
• IF clauses present the condition.

• Examples:
If I go into town tomorrow…
If he spoke Chinese…
If they had been faster…
 Main Clause (the results)
• Main clause presents the results.

• Examples:
…I will see a movie.
….he would work as a guide in China.
… they would have won the race
 Remember:
• The four words that NEVER (well, almost
never) appear in the IF clause are:

will, won’t, would, wouldn’t

• Example:
If we will see it, we will be angry.
 Conditional I
(Open / Probable conditional)
When something is possible
now or in the future.
Example:
1. If she studies, she will pass
the geography test. (It is
possible !!)
2. If you heat ice, it melt.
NOTE
Tense in if clause: Spl Present
Tense in main clause: Spl Present / Spl Future
 Conditional II
(Improbable conditional)
When an imaginary condition that
is not likely to happen
Example:
If he spoke Chinese, he would
work as a guide in China.
(Fact: He doesn’t speak
Chinese).
NOTE
Tense in if clause: Past tense
Tense in main clause: should or would
 Conditional III
(Impossible Conditional)
A condition that did not happen
Example:
If we had studied, we would have passed the
exam. (Fact: We didn’t study and we didn’t
pass the exam.)
NOTE
Tense in if clause: Past perfect tense
Tense in main clause: would or should have + past participle
The End
Exercises
Complete the following blanks
1. If the tsunami strikes again ------------------
2. If the leak had been noticed earlier ------------
3. If there is a power failure ---------------------
4. If the museum is locked ----------------
5. If I had known of the short-cut --------------------
6. If I were the Prime Minister of India ------------
7. If the suicide-bomber is caught ----------------
8. If you swim for an hour -------------------
9. If you do shopping ---------------------
10. If I had a better job ------------------
Exercises
Complete the following blanks
1. If the city -------- (expand) the parking lot space
downtown, we would not have to park so far
away from the theatre.
2. Whenever my roommate ----------- (snore)
loudly, I cannot sleep.
3. Children may be disappointed if they ---------
(not receive) good grades.
4 . If we -------- (not take) an exam on the
conditional, we might not have learned it.
5. Maya --------(not pass) her driving test unless
she calms down.