ENGLISH GRAMMAR
CONDITIONAL STRUCTURE of VERBS
How and when to use the four basic conditional structures.
Conditionals are sentences with two clauses: an ‘if' clause and a main clause.
The 'if' clause introduces a condition and the main clause describes the
consequence or result.
We can switch the order of the clauses without changing the meaning.
"If I finish work early, I will come." or: "I will come if I finish work early."
Four basic conditional structures are used in English:
- Zero Conditional
- First Conditional
- Second Conditional
- Third Conditional
| ZERO CONDITIONAL: | What is always true or usually happens, or what is advised in the present situation. | |
|---|---|---|
| IF | + Present Simple | + Present Simple |
| If | you have a ticket | you go straight in. |
| If | you freeze water | it becomes solid. |
| If | you see an accident | call an ambulance. |
| If | you move that vase | be careful not to drop it. |
| Note : In zero conditional sentences, the 'if' can usually be replaced by 'when' without changing the meaning. |
||
| FIRST CONDITIONAL: | Something that will possibly happen in the future. | |
| IF | + Present Simple | + will + infinitive |
| If | I see an accident | I will call an ambulance. |
| If | it rains tomorrow | the picnic will be cancelled. |
| If | you make spaghetti | the boys will be happy. |
| If | you promise to be careful | I will lend you my bike. |
| Note : In the first conditional, we sometimes use: - can to express possibility "If there is no food left, we can order a pizza." - may or might when the consequence is not certain. "If the shops are open, I may do some shopping." "If the strawberries are not too expensive, I might buy some." |
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| SECOND CONDITIONAL: | Imaginary events that are probably not going to happen. | |
| If | + Past Simple | +would + infinitive |
| If | I had the time | I would learn to play the piano. |
| If | he had more money | he would buy a car. |
| If | she worked harder | her results would improve. |
| If | I lived near the sea | I would swim more often. |
| Note : In the second conditional: - we can use could or might instead of 'would'. For example: "If we invited the author, he might come." "If we ordered a larger quantity, we could ask for a reduction." - we can use were instead of 'was' with 'I' and 'he/she/it'. "If I were you, I would accept the offer." "If Sam were here, he would be glad to help." |
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| THIRD CONDITIONAL: | Something that did not happen, and the reaction or result you imagine if it really had happened. |
|
| IF | + Past Perfect | +would + have + past participle |
| If | I had seen the accident | I would have called a doctor. |
| If | he had read the instructions | he would have assembled it faster. |
| If | she had stayed in Paris | she would have improved her French. |
| If | Dad had lent me his car | I would have arrived earlier. |
CONDITIONAL STRUCTURES WITH INVERSION :
In conditional sentences we can sometimes replace the 'if' with an inversion:- First conditional:
- If you are tired you can remain seated.
With inversion: → Should you be tired, you can remain seated. - If she needs assistance at the airport, we will be happy to help.
→Should she need assistance at the airport, we will be happy to help.
Second conditional:
- If they sold their house today, they would get a better price.
→Were they to sell their house today, they would get a better price. - If he won money, he would buy a new car.
→Were he to win money, he would buy a new car.
Third conditional:
- If I had known it would be so difficult, I would never have enrolled.
→ Had I known it would be so difficult, I would never have enrolled. - If they had arrived earlier, they wouldn’t have missed the train.
→ Had they arrived earlier, they wouldn’t have missed the train.
More on inversion here.