Conditional sentences in English

Conditional sentences (if-clauses, main clauses)

Summary

Mixed
Conditionals

Type I
if I were you

Type II
will and would
in if-clauses

Type III
Replacing if Omitting if - if vs. when - in
case vs. if

Special types
and structures

Conditional sentences

The conditional sentences are sometimes confusing for

learners of English.

Watch out:

1) Which type of the conditional sentences is used?

2) Where is the if-clause (e.g. at the beginning or at the

end of the conditional sentence)?

There are three types of the if-clauses.

condition

type

condition possible to fulfill

condition in theory possible to fulfill

II

condition not possible to fulfill (too late)

III

Form

type

if clause

main clause

will-future (or Modal +

I

Simple Present

II

Simple Past

III

Past Perfect

infinitive)

would + infinitive *

would + have + past

participle *

Examples (if-clause at the beginning)

if
type

main clause

clause

If I
I

study,

I will pass the

exam.

If I
II

studied,

I would pass
the exam.

If I
III

had studied,

I would have
passed the exam.

Examples (if-clause at the end)

mai
type

n clause

I will
I

pass the exam

II

I
would pass the exam

if-clause

if I study.

if I studied.

I
III

would have passed the

exam

if I had
studied.

Examples (affirmative and negative sentences)

Examples

long
forms

short/cont
racted forms

If I study, I
will pass the exam.

If I study,
I'll pass the exam.

If I study, I
will not fail the exam.
If I do not study, I will fail the
exam.

If I study, I
won't fail the exam.
If I don't study, I'll fail the
exam.

If I
studied, I would pass the
exam.

If I studied,
I'd pass the exam.

II

If I
studied, I would not fail the
exam.
If I did not study, I would fail
the exam.

If I studied,
I wouldn't fail the exam.
If I didn't study, I'd fail the
exam.

If I had
studied, I would have passed
the exam.

If I'd
studied, I'd have passed the
exam.

If I had
studied, I would not have
failed the exam.
If I had not studied, I would
have failed the exam.

If I'd
studied, I wouldn't have failed
the exam.
If I hadn't studied, I'd have
failed the exam.

II

* We can substitute could or might for would (should,

may or must are sometimes possible, too).

I would pass the exam.

I could pass the exam.

I might pass the exam.

I may pass the exam.

I should pass the exam.

I must pass the exam.

Type I

Use

It is possible to fulfil a condition which is given in the ifclause.

Form

if clause

main clause

will-future
Simple
Present

or
infinitive
or
Modal + infinitive

Examples

If I study,

I will pass the

exams.

If you see John

tonight,

tell him to email me.

If Ben gets up
early,

he can catch
the bus.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of

the sentence.

If I study,

I will pass the

exams.

I will pass the

exams

if I study.

Type II

Use

It is theoretically possible to fulfil a condition which is

given in the if-clause.

Form

if clause

main clause

Simple Past

would +

infinitive
or
could + infinitive
or
might + infinitive

Examples

If I
studied,

I would pass the

exams.

If I
studied,

I could pass the

exams.

If I
studied,

I might pass the

exams.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of

the sentence.

If I studied,

I would pass
the exams.

I would pass
the exams

if I studied.

Type III

Use

It is impossible to fulfil a condition which is given in the

if-clause.

Form

if

main clause

clause

would + have + past

Past
Perfect

participle
or
could + have + past participle
or
might + have + past participle

Examples

If I had
studied,

I would have passed

the exams.

If I had
studied,

I could have passed

the exams.

If I had

I might have passed

studied,

the exams.

The if-clause can be at the beginning or at the end of

the sentence.

If I had studied,

I would have passed

the exams.

I would have passed

the exams

if I had studied.

Special types and structures

Structure

If-clauses can be clause-initial (1), clause-medial (2) as

well as clause-final (3).

If you like, we can catch a movie.

(1)

We, if you like, can catch a movie.

(2)

We can catch a movie if you like.

(3)

Types

Aside from the typical type I, II, III structure,

conditionals can be divided into two categories:
real and unreal conditionals.

Real Condition

If I have
money, I spend it.

Present Real
Conditional - type I

If I had money,
I spent it.

Past Real
Conditional - type I

If I have
money, I will/am going to spend
it.

Future Real
Conditional - type I

Unreal Condition

If I had had money, I

would have spent
it.

Past
unreal Conditional - type
III

If I had money, I
would spend it.

I think about
spending the
money TODAY.

If I had money, I
would spend it.

I think about
spending the
money NEXT
WEEK.

Prese
nt unreal Conditional type II

Futur
e unreal Conditional type II

Special Features

Modal verbs

Main clauses with real conditional tenses can have

modal verbs.

If I have money, I can spend it.

You can use could and might instead of would in unreal

conditional clauses.

If I had money, I could spend it.

(I would be able to spend it.)

If I had money, I might spend it.

(I would possibly spend it.)

Mixed Conditionals

Unreal conditionals (type II + III) sometimes can be

mixed, that is, the time of the if clause is different from the one of the main
clause.

Past --> Present

If I had taken an aspirin, I wouldn't have a headache

now.

Past --> Future

If I had known that you are going to come by tomorrow,

I would be in then.

Present --> Past

If she had enough money, she could have done this trip
to Hawaii.

Present --> Future

If I were you, I would be spending my vacation in

Seattle.

Future --> Past

If I weren't flying to Detroit, I would have planned a trip

to Vancouver.

Future --> Present

If I were taking this exam next week, I would be highstrung.

If I were you - if I was you - which is correct?

The word were in the phrase if I were you is special

form. It is known as the subjunctive mood (from the grammatical point of
view).

Today you also find the phrase if I was you. Here the
Simple Past form of be is used. But there are people who say that this
phrase is incorrect and would never use it (mainly Americans). Others say
that this phrase can be used.

If I were you I would phone him. - Subjunctive mood

If I was you I would phone him. - Simple Past

Will and would in if-clauses

Will in if-clauses

When the situation or action depicted in the if-clause is

a result of the main clause, the will future is used in the if-clause.

He'll pay me $10 if I'll help him do the dishes.

(Doing the dishes is the result of paying ten dollars.)

Would in if-clauses

In polite requests would is possible in if-clauses.

It would be nice if you would help me in the kitchen.

(Are you ready to help me in the kitchen?)

Replacing if - Omitting if - if vs. when - in case vs. if

Replacing if

If can be replaced by words or expressions with a

similar meaning.

The most common are:

as long as
assuming (that)
on condition (that)
on the assumption (that)
provided (that)
supposing (that)
unless
with the condition (that)

Omitting if

Had I known... (instead of If I had known...)

Were you my daughter,... (instead of: If you were my

daughter,...)

Should you need my advice,... (instead of: If you should

need my advice,...)

if vs. when

If and when are interchangeable when the statement of

the conditional clause is a fact or a general issue (also known as zero
conditional)

If you heat ice, it melts.

When you heat ice, it melts.

If is used for something that, according to the speaker,

might happen.

We can spend the afternoon on the beach if the

weather is fine.

When is used for something that, according to the

speaker, will happen.

I will clean up the kitchen right away when I'm back

from work.

in case vs. if

in case of can be used to shorten an if-clause as shown

below:

If there is a fire,
leave the room.

In case of
fire, leave the room.

While if expresses a condition (1), in case is used to

express a possibility (2).

(1

I need painkillers if I'm in severe pain.

(2

I need painkillers in case I'm in severe pain.

The expression just in case is used pretty much the

same way.

I got you a pizza just in case you were hungry.

(I don't know whether you are hungry.)