A conditional clause expresses a condition – something which must happen first so that something else can happen. Conditional clauses are usually introduced by the conjunction if or unless.
There are mainly four types of conditional clauses in English.
Zero conditional
The zero conditional is used to talk about situations that are always true. Here we use a simple present tense in the if-clause and main clause.
- If you heat ice, it melts.
- If you pour oil on water, it floats.
Type 1 conditional
The type 1 conditional is used to talk about real and possible situations. Here we use a simple present tense in the if-clause and will / can / may + first form of the verb in the main clause.
- If you are free we can go for a drive.
- If she arrives now, we will go with her.
- If I know his name, I will tell you.
Type 2 conditional
Type 2 conditional is used to talk about situations that are unlikely to be true or possible. Here we use a simple past tense in the if-clause and would / could / might + first form of the verb in the main clause.
- If I were / was you, I would not miss this opportunity. (This is an unreal situation because it is not possible for me to be you.)
- If she found out, we would be in trouble.
In type 2 conditional, it is common to use the auxiliary were instead of was.
Type 3 conditional
Type 3 conditional is used to talk about purely hypothetical situations that cannot be true. Here we use a past perfect tense in the if-clause and would / could / might + have + past participle in the main clause.
- If you had listened to me, you would not have lost your money.
- If she had received proper treatment, she could have survived.
Worksheet 1
Fill in the blanks with an appropriate conditional verb form.
1. If a dog …………………… after you, what will you do? (runs / ran / had run)
2. If you get the first prize, how ………………………. you react? (will / would / could)
3. If you revise your lessons regularly, your grades ……………………… (will improve / would improve / would have improved)
4. If you study law at university, you ………………………… an attorney. (can become / could become / could have become)
5. If you are always late for work, you ………………………. your job. (will lose /would lose / would have lost)
6. If you ………………….. rules, you will be in trouble. (break / broke / had broken)
7. If you …………………….. the glass, it will break. (drop / dropped / had dropped)
8. If you do a good job, you ………………………… promoted. (will be / would be / would have been)
9. If the mirror …………………… talking to me, I will be excited. (starts / started / had started)
10. Will you scream if you …………………… a ghost? (see / saw / have seen)
Answers
1. runs, 2. will, 3. will improve, 4. can become, 5. will lose, 6. break, 7. drop, 8. will be, 9. starts, 10. see
Worksheet 2
Fill in the blanks with an appropriate verb form.
1. What will you do if you ……………………….. the election? (lose / lost / had lost)
2. If you spoke a second language, you …………………………… a better job. (can get / could get / could have got)
3. If she had not recognised you, you ………………………………… in trouble. (will be / would be / would have been)
4. If they ………………………… about our plans, they might object. (learn / learned / had learned)
5. If you ………………………….. martial arts, you can protect yourself. (learn / learned / had learned)
6. You would feel better if you …………………………….. something. (eat / ate / had eaten)
7. If you ……………………………… you would not have missed the train. (do not oversleep / did not oversleep / had not overslept)
8. If you …………………………. early, you would not be late. (start / started / had started)
9. You ………………………….. your lost form if you practice more. (will regain / would regain / would have regained)
10. If they treated him well, he ………………………………. angry. (will not get / would not get / would not have got)
Answers
1. lose, 2. could get, 3. would have been, 4. learned, 5. learn, 6. ate, 7. had not overslept, 8. started, 9. will regain, 10. would not get
See also
Conditional sentences exercise
