CONDITIONAL CLAUSES
Conditional is a
verb that refers a possible/ imagined situation.
Every conditional
clause has two parts i.e., The main or principal clause and the
if-clause or conditional clause.
These two parts of
a conditional sentence can be written in reverse order also, but with a change
in punctuation (usage of comma).
The following
forms are often used to introduce conditional clauses.
|
Conditional |
Example |
|
If |
If you go out,
please bring me bread |
|
Even if |
Even if you run,
you won’t catch the bus |
|
Unless |
Don’t come
unless I tell you to come |
|
In case |
In case you go
out, please bring me bread |
|
In the event
(that) |
In the event
(that) the meeting is cancelled, I’ll let you know. |
|
Provided/providing
(that) |
We shall go
provided that weather is fine. |
|
On condition
(that) |
The little girl
agrees to talk to you on condition (that) you provide her chocolates |
|
As / so long as |
As long as you
are willing to pay back the money promptly, I don’t mind lending it to you. |
|
If only |
If only you
provide her chocolates the girl will talk to you. |
|
Suppose/
supposing(that) |
Supposing I go
there, what will you do. |
|
Whether …. Or |
Whether you are
here or there, I will always remember you |
Note: The above-mentioned conditionals can be used only once in a sentence.
Don’t use more than one conditional at a time.
Conditional sentences
can be divided into four types: Type – 0, Type – 1, Type – 2 and Type – 3.
|
If conditionals |
||||||
|
type |
Name of the conditional |
Possibility |
if-clause |
main-clause |
Example |
Time |
|
0 |
Universal condition |
100% |
present simple (real condition) |
present simple (mandatory result) |
If
you heat ice, it melts. If
I don’t drink coffee, I get a headache. If
you boil water, it evaporates. (if + present simple
>> present simple)
|
Any time –
automated results- scientific facts- habitual actions- always possible |
|
I |
Open/ real/ probable condition |
>50% |
present simple (possible real condition) |
will + base verb (Future probable result) |
If
you work hard, you will get good marks. If
I win the lottery, I will buy a car. If
you play, you will win. If
you water a plant every day, it will grow. (if + present simple
>> will/shall/may/can + V1)
|
Future time -
real possibility about future situations |
|
II |
Improbable/ closed/ unreal / Doubtful condition |
<50% |
past simple (imaginary condition) |
would + base verb (Future Imaginary result) |
If
I won the lottery, I would buy a car. If
I played, I would win. If
I had a car, I could go there. If
I were a bird, I could fly (if + past simple >> would/could/should/might +
V1)
|
Present or Future time Hypothetical/
or unlikely situation-not a real possibility (like a dream), but it's still
possible. |
|
III |
Impossible / unfulfilled condition |
0% |
past perfect (expired imaginary
condition) |
would have + past participle (imagined impossible past result) |
If
I had won the lottery, I would have bought a car. If
I had met him, I could have helped him. If
he had invited me, I would have attended the party. (if + past perfect
>> would/could have+ V3)
|
Past time -no
possibility of fulfilling the condition (It is like a dream in the past). |
TYPE – 0: (universal truths/facts/habitual
actions)
Syntax: if + subject+V1 (present simple), Subject+V1 (present simple).
Ø It is used for automatic results of a future action.
Ø It is used for immediate certain results and actions.
Ø it is used with condition which always has the same result.
Ø It is used to express universal truths, scientific facts.
Ø It is also used to express habitual actions or advices.
o If you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it boils. (scientific fact)
o
If you heat ice,
it melts. (scientific fact)
o
When you heat
iron, it expands. (scientific fact)
o
If you put oil on
water, it floats. (scientific fact)
o
If you through any
object up, it comes down. (scientific fact)
o
When you smoke, your lungs are
affected.
o
The lawn gets wet when it
rains.
o
If our team win tomorrow, they
get prize
o
Babies cry when they are
hungry and sick.
o
If you don’t water the plants,
they die.
o
If you don’t exercise, you
gain weight. (advice/warning)
o
If you don’t brush your teeth,
you get cavities. (general truth)
o
If I eat seafood, I get a
rash.
o
Whenever it rains, the roads
become slippery.
o
If you exercise regularly, you
stay fit and healthy.
o
When you mix blue and yellow,
you get green.
o
As soon as the sun rises, the birds
start singing.
o
Whenever
you go to Mumbai, you visit the Gateway of India.
Ø We can use this type – 0 for present continuous also.
o
If you are
starting talking, I am going out.
Ø
Unless indicates
negative condition.
o Unless our team wins tomorrow, they don’t get prize.
o Unless you heat iron, it doesn’t expand.
o Unless you work hard, you do not pass the exam (= unless you work hard, you
fail the exam)
TYPE – 1: (open/ real (factual)/ probable/ likely
conditional)
Ø Type – 1 conditions are those that contain a condition that may or may not
be fulfilled.
Ø In a clause of this type there is no indication whether the condition is
likely to be fulfilled or not.
Ø They are known as ‘open’ or ‘factual’
conditional clauses.
Ø The simple present form refers to present or future possible or likely situations (if condition happens).
Syntax: if +
Sub+V1 (present simple) +Obj, Sub+ will/shall/can/may
+V1 (future simple) +Obj
o If I can, I will come.
o If I go, I’ll post the letter for you.
o If I don’t hurry, I’ll be later for school.
o If you rest, you will feel better.
o If you don’t hurry, you won’t catch the bus.
o If you go out tonight, you may/can wear my coat.
o If you practice hard, you’ll be able to speak English very well soon.
o Unless you work hard from now on, you will fail the exam.
o If you talk to someone about how you feel, you will feel better.
o If you are focussed, you will achieve your goal.
o If you take some medicines, you will feel better.
o If you go out now, you will get wet in the rain.
o If you like animated movies, you will like Inside out.
Ø Unless indicates negative
condition.
o Unless she has done the work to my satisfaction, I’ll not pay her.
TYPE – 2: (closed/ doubtful/ unreal
(imaginary)/ improbable/ unlikely conditional)
Ø Type – 2 conditions are those that may be theoretical, combined with
improbability or unreality.
Ø The conditions stated are not likely to be fulfilled.
Ø They are called unreal or hypothetical
conditional clauses.
Ø In such clauses the simple past form of the verb is used.
Ø The simple past form
indicates an unreal or unlikely condition in the present or
future.
Ø
Used to express one’s imagination or unreal condition
Syntax: if + Sub+ past simple(V2) +Obj, Sub+ would/should/might/could+ V1+ Obj.
o If you were a bird, you could fly.
o She would come if she had time.
o If she knew about it, she would be very angry (= she is not likely to come
to know about it)
o If you did that again, I wouldn’t speak to you any more (=you are not
likely to do it again)
o If I had enough money, I would go there. (=I don’t have enough money now)
o If I had a teleporting device, I would travel around the world in a jiffy.
o If I knew animation graphics, I would create real life animated characters.
o If I had a time travel machine, I could go back to my past and change a few
things.
o If I won the lottery, I would buy all the famous super cars.
o If I had a choice, I would never marry at all.
o If you lost it, I’d be very upset.
o If they were here, they would tell you.
o If it weren’t so late, I would telephone them.
o If I were you, I’d go there.
o If she were to see it, she’d certainly take it away.
o Even if you were a film star, I wouldn’t care for you.
Based on the
meaning, unreal conditional clauses may be divided into two types: a) unlikely
conditions, b) impossible conditions.
A. Unlikely conditional clauses, the form of the
verb indicates that the speaker or writer considers it unlikely that the
condition will be fulfilled.
o I’d tell her if I saw her.
o What would you do if it rained tomorrow?
B. In Impossible conditional clauses the hypothesis is contrary
to fact and the conditions usually refer to the present.
o Men would look odd if they had three legs.
o If all the world was paper, and all the sea was ink, and all the trees were
bread and cheese, what would we have to drink?
TYPE – 3: (unfulfilled/
impossible conditional)
Ø Type – 3 conditions are those that were not fulfilled in the past.
Ø As the time is past, the condition can’t be fulfilled.
Ø The past perfect form of the verb is used in conditional clause.
Ø The past perfect shows an unfulfilled condition in the past.
Ø Used to express unfulfilled action.
Syntax: If +Sub+had+V3 (past
perfect), Sub+ would /should/could/might +
have + V3
o If I had had enough money, I would have gone there (=I did not have enough
money at that time i.e., in the past)
o If you had tried, you would have won (= you did not try)
o If you had been there, I would have seen you (=you were not there)
o If Ashish had been with me, he would have known how to make me feel better.
o If they had taken him to hospital sooner, he would not have died.
o If you had not fought with me, everything would have been fine.
o If the teacher had informed us earlier, we could have finished it in time.
o If she had seen him, she would have been angry.
o If he hadn’t posted the letters, she would have been/wouldn’t have been
angry.
o
If I had read the
question, I should/would/could/might have answered it.
Exercise-1:
Identify the type of conditional:
1.
What would you do if you saw a zebra in your back street? (type 0/ I /II/
III)
2.
If it wasn't so chilly, I would go jogging. (type 0/ I /II/ III)
3.
If you had worked harder, you could have written a better test. (type 0/ I
/II/ III)
4.
Dinakar would have been in class if the bus had come. (type 0/ I /II/ III)
5.
If Lisa had listened to her mother, she would not have been in this
trouble. (type 0/ I /II/ III)
6.
Nitin would educate all the children in his village if he had the
money. (type 0/ I /II/ III)
7.
If i don't drink coffee, I get a headache. (type 0/ I /II/ III)
8.
If you heat iron, it expands. (type 0/ I /II/ III)
5. type-III, 6. type-ii, 7. type-0, 8. type-0)
Identify the type of conditional:
1.
If my parents had not consented to the surgery, my life would have been
different.
2.
If we let them know, they will be able to do something.
3.
If I had an invisibility cloak, I could disappear whenever I wanted to.
4.
If she had not gone home, she would have been happier.
5.
If nobody understood you, you could leave.
6.
If you do not follow the traffic rules, you will be punished.
7.
If I had magical powers, I could change the world.
8.
If you eat fast food every day, you get sick.
9.
If they stay indoors, they will not become sick.
10.
If I were a bird, I would happily fly around the world.
6. Type-I, 7. Type-II, 8. Type- 0, 9. Type-I, 10. type-II.)
Exercise-2: (Open Conditional)
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct Tenses.
1.
If you file a complaint against him, we............action. (take)
2.
I.............. you if you disturb me like this. (not help)
3.
If I............ a job, I will give you a party. (get)
4.
If you request the authorities concerned, they.............. you all the
facilities. (provide)
5. You
............ your future if you read such cheap novels. (ruin)
6.
If you ............. the meaning, you may ask your teacher. (not know)
7. I..............
you a ring if I feel lonely. (give)
8.
They ............ if you don't encourage them. (not work)
9.
If you .............(play) music in the temple, the other
devotees.........(object)
10.
I............ (cancel) your membership if you ......... the
books. (not return)
11.
The boss............. (shout) at you if
you ...........uniform. (not wear)
12.
Tell him to ring me up if you .......... him. (see)
13.
If you........(leave) your reading-room unlocked, someone.........
your books. (steal)
14.
Unless I have a quiet room, I ........... to do any work. (not be able)
15.
I .......... (give) you hundred rupees, if you ............ my
flat. (clean)
6. don't know, 7. will give, 8. will not work, 9. play, will object, 10. will cancel, don't return,
11. will shout, don't wear, 12. see, 13. leave, will steal, 14. cannot be able, 15.will give, clean)
Exercise-2: (Unreal Conditional)
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct
tenses.
1.
I am not going to give him money. If I ........... (give) him, he
............(spend) it on alcohol.
2.
If I......... his name, I would call him. (know)
3.
He could get a job easily if he ....... seriously. (try)
4.
If I ........a vacuum cleaner, I would clean the apartment. (have)
5.
He............ a lot better if he dressed well. (look)
6.
If they.......(widen) the roads, the
city.,......... (look) more attractive.
7.
They ........... (work) better if he ............... them better.
(pay)
8.
If I............. (go) to school in this dress, the boys ......... at
me. (laugh)
9.
If I were rich, I .............. a car. (buy)
10.
If it rained, I .................. at home. (stay)
11.
If I were you, I................ home immediately. (go)
12.
If you.................. (do) as I told you, you........
(succeed)
13.
There would be a famine if it. ............. (don't rain)
14.
If I...........................(have) a dog, I........... (not
mind) being alone.
15.
If he ..................more exercise, he would be healthier. (take)
(Answers:
6.widened, would look 7. would work, paid. 8.went, would laugh, 9.would buy, 10.would stay,
11.would go, 12. did, would succeed, 13. didn't rain 14.had, would not mind, 15. took )
Exercise-2: (Unfulfilled Conditional)
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses.
1. If
I had seen the movie, I .............. you the story. (tell)
2.
If I ............ (know) your number, I ............... (ring)
3.
She had been very angry with the students. Otherwise, they..........with her.
(play)
4.
If she................. (pay) the telephone bill, they
.......... the line. (not disconnect)
5.
I ............ (help) you, if you had approached me.
6.
Had they not misbehaved with her, she ........... them to enter
the auditorium. (allow)
7.
The boss ....(not ask) him to leave the office if he .....to the office in
a drunken state. (not come)
8.
The police...............him had he driven his car without getting it
registered. (arrest)
9.
He would have come if you ............. (wait)
10.
If I ........... again, I think that I would have succeeded. (try)
11.
But for the heavy rain, we .............. our destination ages ago. (reach)
12.
I............. a taxi if I had realized that it was such a long way.
(hire)
13.
They......... (force) their way into the college if I........ for
help. (not call)
14.
But for his quickness, I .............. killed. (be)
15.
If you...............(telephone), I ............. the meeting. (attend)
1.would have told, 2.had known, would have ring, 3.would have played,
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