Kinds of Conditionals on English Grammar

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Kinds of Conditionals on English Grammar

Rabu, 11 Januari 2017 0 comments

1) ZERO CONDITIONAL

We zero conditional to express general truths and facts (often things based on scientific fact) and we use with the simple present tense.

Formation

If + Present Tense,	Present Tense
If you heat water to 100�C,	it boils.
Present Tense	if + Present Tense
Water boils	if you heat it to 100�C.

Example:

- If you drop an apple, it falls. = An apple falls if you drop it. (This is an absolute truth based on scientific fact - gravity).

- If you don't do your homework, I am disappointed. = I am disappointed if you don't do your homework. (This is a general truth based on previous knowledge - you know that I am disappointed if people don't do their homework).

NOTE: Most zero conditional sentences mean the same thing if "when" is used instead of "if".

2) FIRST CONDITIONAL

We use first conditional to express situations based on fact in the present or future (things which may happen) and we use with the simple future tense with �will�.

Formation

If + Present Tense,	Future �will�
If I go there,	I will see our teacher.
Future �will�	if + Present Tense
I will see our teacher	if I go there.

NOTE:

- We never use will or won't in the �if clause�.

- We often use unless which means �if ... not�.

Example:

- If I have time today, I will phone my friend. = I will phone my friend if I have time today. (It is possible that I will have time � therefore the condition is real).

- If I go to England, I will buy some Cheddar cheese. = I will buy some Cheddar cheese if I go to England. (It is possible that I will go to England - therefore the condition is real).

3) SECOND CONDITIONAL

We use second conditional to express unreal situations in the present or future. It is often used to express a wish with the simple past tense and �would�.

Formation

If + Past Simple,	Past Future �would�
If I were you,	I would marry her.
Past Future �would�	if + Past Simple
I would marry her	if I were you.

NOTE: We never use would or wouldn't in the �if clause�.
Example:
- If I were you, I wouldn't do that. = I wouldn't do that if I were you. (I am not you - therefore the condition is unreal).
- If I had more time, I would do more on my websites. = I would do more on my websites if I had more time. (I don't have more time - therefore the condition is unreal).

4) THIRD CONDITIONAL
We use third conditional to express conditions in the past that did not happen. It is often used to express criticism or regret with would have, could have or should have and we use third conditional with the past perfect tense.
Formation

If + Past Perfect,	Past Future Perfect
If I had met her,	I would have told her about my heart.
If I had met her,	I could have told her about my heart.
If I had met her,	I should have told her about my heart.
Past Future Perfect	if + Past Perfect
I would have told her about my heart	if I had met her.
I could have told her about my heart	if I had met her.
I should have told her about my heart	if I had met her.

NOTE: We never use would have, or wouldn't have etc in the �if clause�.
Example:
- If I hadn't helped you, you would have failed. = You would have failed if I hadn't helped you. (I helped you so you didn't fail).
- If it had been sunny, we could have gone out. = We could have gone out if it had been sunny. (We didn't go out because it wasn't sunny).

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