Conditional Sentences In English (Real and Unreal Conditionals – If Clauses)

4 Types Conditional Sentences In English

Introduction:

Understanding conditional sentences is crucial for effective communication in English. This guide will explore the intricacies of four types of conditional sentences: Type 0, Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3. By the end, you’ll have a solid grasp of when and how to use each type.

Conditional Sentences In English

What are Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentences are structures in English that express a relationship between a condition and its potential consequence. They are used to discuss hypothetical or real situations, and the outcome depends on whether the stated condition is met.

Examples:

  1. Situation Always True (Scientific Fact): If you mix blue and yellow, you get green.
  2. Hypothetical Situation in the Past: If she had studied harder, she would have passed the exam.
  3. Real Condition: If it rains, we will stay indoors.
  4. Hypothetical Situation: If I were rich, I would buy a yacht.

These sentences often consist of an “if” clause (the condition) and a main clause (the consequence), and they come in various types, each serving a specific purpose in conveying different levels of possibility or certainty.

Conditional Sentence Type 0: General Truths and Scientific Facts

Conditional type zero is used to discuss general truths, scientific facts, or situations that consistently occur under certain conditions.

Form

The structure is as follows:

Form: If + Simple Present, + Simple Present

Usage

This type is utilized to express things that are always true or scientific facts. The following examples illustrate this:

  • If you cross an international dateline, the time changes.
  • Phosphorus burns if exposed to air.
  • When I wake up early, I go jogging.

Note: “When” can be used instead of “if.”

Conditional Sentence Type 1: Real and Possible Situations

Referred to as the “real” conditional, Conditional Type 1 is used for situations that are real or possible. These events occur if a specific condition is met.

Form

The structure is as follows:

Form: If + Simple Present, + Simple Future

Usage

Type 1 is future-oriented. An action will happen in the future if a certain condition is fulfilled. While not certain, the condition is likely to happen:

  • If I have enough time, I’ll watch a football match.

This implies that there’s a possibility I may have time to watch the match, but it’s uncertain.

Conditional Sentence Type 2: Unreal and Improbable Situations

Known as the “unreal” conditional, Conditional Type 2 is used for situations that are impossible or improbable. This type provides an imaginary result for a given situation, and it’s very unlikely that the condition will be fulfilled.

Form

The structure is as follows:

Form: If + Simple Past, + Would + Base Verb

Usage

Conditional Type 2 refers to an action in the present that could happen if the present situation were different:

  • If I were a millionaire, I would buy a castle.
  • If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.

Conditional Sentence Type 3: Hypothetical Results to Past Situations

Conditional Type 3 deals with situations in the past. It expresses hypothetical results based on given past situations.

Form

The structure is as follows:

Form: If + Past Perfect, + Would + Have + Past Participle

Usage

Type 3 is used to discuss situations that were impossible or unlikely to happen in the past:

  • If he had been careful, he wouldn’t have had that terrible accident.

This implies that in the past, due to his carelessness, he had a terrible accident.

Real vs. Unreal Conditionals: Understanding the Difference

Conditional sentences can sometimes be referred to as real and unreal conditionals. The distinction lies in the nature of the situations they describe and the likelihood of the conditions being met.

  1. Real Conditionals:
    • Definition: Real conditionals depict situations that are either factual or have a high probability of occurring.
    • Structure: In real conditionals, the “if” clause presents a condition in the present, and the main clause outlines the likely consequence in the future.
    • Example: “If it rains, we will stay at home.” Here, the condition (rain) is realistic, and the consequence (staying at home) is a probable outcome.
  2. Unreal Conditionals:
    • Definition: Unreal conditionals describe situations that are hypothetical, imaginary, or unlikely to happen.
    • Structure: In unreal conditionals, the “if” clause presents a condition that is contrary to reality, often in the past tense, and the main clause outlines a hypothetical or unreal consequence (would + verb.)
    • Example: “If I were a bird, I would fly to exotic places.” In this case, the condition (being a bird) is unreal, and the consequence (flying to exotic places) is an imaginary result.

Key Differences:

  • Certainty: Real conditionals express situations with a degree of certainty or high probability. Unreal conditionals, on the other hand, deal with hypothetical or unlikely scenarios.
  • Tense Usage: Real conditionals predominantly use present or future tenses in the “if” clause, while unreal conditionals often involve past tenses, emphasizing the unreal or hypothetical nature of the condition.
  • Likelihood of Fulfillment: Real conditionals suggest conditions that are likely to be fulfilled, whereas unreal conditionals present conditions that are improbable or impossible.

Note: Understanding Unreal Conditional Sentences

In English grammar, real and unreal conditional sentences help us describe different types of situations and their outcomes. Real conditional sentences refer to likely or possible situations. For example, the present real conditional uses “if” with the present simple tense to describe predictable or possible outcomes (e.g., “If it rains, the ground gets wet”).

Unreal conditional sentences, on the other hand, describe hypothetical or imagined scenarios—outcomes that are not real or unlikely to happen. For present unreal conditional sentences, we use “if” with the past simple tense to talk about unlikely situations in the present (e.g., “If I were rich, I would travel the world”). In past unreal conditional sentences, we use “if” with the past perfect to imagine different outcomes for past events that didn’t happen (e.g., “If I had known about the event, I would have attended”).

These conditional clauses highlight the difference between likely real conditionals and imagined unreal conditionals, making it easier to express both realistic and hypothetical situations..

12 More Examples Of Conditional Sentences

Conditional Sentence Type 0:

  1. If you heat ice, it melts.
  2. If the sun sets, it gets dark.
  3. When you mix red and blue, you get purple.

Conditional Sentence Type 1:

  1. If it rains, we will stay at home.
  2. If she studies hard, she will pass the exam.
  3. When the bus arrives, we’ll leave for the party.

Conditional Sentence Type 2:

  1. If I were a bird, I would fly to exotic places.
  2. If I had a magic wand, I would make all your dreams come true.
  3. When pigs fly, I’ll believe that story.

Conditional Sentence Type 3:

  1. If they had invited me, I would have attended the event.
  2. If he had saved money, he wouldn’t be in debt now.
  3. When she had finished her presentation, everyone applauded.

Practice Exercise: Mixed Conditional Sentences

Mixed Conditionals Exercise:

Complete each sentence with the correct verb form.

  1. If water ______ (freeze) at 0°C, it ______ (turn) to ice.
  2. If you ______ (invite) her yesterday, she ______ (come) to the party.
  3. If I ______ (have) more free time, I ______ (start) learning a new language.
  4. If it ______ (rain) tomorrow, we ______ (cancel) the picnic.
  5. If they ______ (study) harder, they ______ (pass) their exams last month.
  6. If you ______ (eat) well and exercise, you ______ (feel) healthier.
  7. If he ______ (know) her phone number, he ______ (call) her. He missed her so much.
  8. If I ______ (not be) allergic to cats, I ______ (adopt) one.
  9. If she ______ (tell) me about the meeting earlier, I ______ (attend).
  10. If you ______ (practice) more often, you ______ (be) a great musician by now.

1. → If water freezes at 0°C, it turns to ice.
2. → If you had invited her yesterday, she would have come to the party.
3. →If I had more free time, I would start learning a new language.
4. → If it rains tomorrow, we will cancel the picnic.
5. → If they had studied harder, they would have passed their exams last month.
6. → If you eat well and exercise, you feel healthier.
7. → If he knew her phone number, he would call her. He missed her so much.
8. → If I weren’t allergic to cats, I would adopt one.
9. → If she had told me about the meeting earlier, I would have attended.
10. → If you had practiced more often, you would be a great musician by now.

Summary

Conditional TypeStructureUsageExample
Type 0If + Simple Present, + Simple PresentGeneral truths, scientific factsIf you heat ice, it melts.
If the sun sets, it gets dark.
When you mix red and blue, you get purple.
Type 1If + Simple Present, + Simple FutureReal or possible situations, future-orientedIf it rains, we will stay at home.
If she studies hard, she will pass the exam.
When the bus arrives, we’ll leave for the party.
Type 2If + Simple Past, + Would + Base VerbUnreal or improbable situations, imaginary results for present situationsIf I were a bird, I would fly to exotic places.
If I had a magic wand, I would make all your dreams come true.
When pigs fly, I’ll believe that story.
Type 3If + Past Perfect, + Would + Have + Past ParticipleHypothetical results to past situationsIf they had invited me, I would have attended the event.
If he had saved money, he wouldn’t be in debt now.
When she had finished her presentation, everyone applauded.

More about real and unreal conditionals here.

Things to Remember:

  1. The main clause can be at the beginning of the sentence without a comma.
    • “Phosphorus burns if exposed to air.”
  2. Main and/or if clauses might be negative.
    • “If I don’t see him this afternoon, I will phone him in the evening.”
    • “If he had been careful, he wouldn’t have had an accident.”

Related Materials:

Tags: Advanced Grammar ConceptsConditional SentencesConditional Tenses
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