What are Conditional Sentences and How to Use them Correctly?

by | Nov 25, 2024 | English Grammar

What are conditional sentences in English and how to use them?

In this article you will learn what are the conditional sentences in English, What are their types, and how to properly used in English communications.

What are conditional Sentences?

Conditional sentences are statements discussing known factors or hypothetical situation and their consequences. We use them to communicate that something is true or happens only if something else is true of happens – that is, only under a certain condition. Complete conditional sentences contain a condition clause (often referred to as the if clause) and the consequence. Consider the following sentences:

For examples;

  • If a certain condition is true, then a particular result happens.
  • I would travel around the world if I won the letter.
  • When the water reaches 100 degrees, it boils.
  • If he stays at home, I can go to work.
  • If she had informed us, I could have helped her.

Types of Conditional Sentences

There are four different types of conditioanl sentences in English. Each expresses a different degree of probability that a situation will occur or would have occurred under certain circumstance.

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  • Zero conditional sentences
  • First conditional sentences
  • Second conditional sentences
  • Third conditional sentence

Let’s look at each of these types of conditional sentences in more detail.

1. Zero Conditional Sentences

Zero conditional sentences express general truths – a situation in which one thing always causes another.

For example:

  • If you don’t brush your teeth, you get cavities.
  • When people smoke cigarettes, their health suffers

How to use zero conditional sentences

1. When you use a zero conditional, you are talking about a general truth rather than specific instance of something. Consider the following examples:

  • If you don’t brush your teeth, you get cavities.
  • When people smoke cigarettes, their health suffers

2. When using the zero conditonal, the correct tense in both clauses is the simple present tense. 

  • If you don’t brush your teeth, you get cavities.
  • When people smoke cigarettes, their health suffers

3. The words if and when can be used interchangeably in these zero conditional sentences. This is because the outcome will be the same any time the condition is in place; there is no difference in meaning for if and when to communicate.

  • If you don’t brush your teeth, you get cavities.
  • When people smoke cigarettes, their health suffers

Examples of zero conditional setences

  • If you don’t brush your teeth, you get cavities. 
  • When people smoke cigarettes, their health suffers.

2. First Conditional Sentences

First conditional sentences describe real and possible situations. these situations could happen in the future time. for example

if itrains, we will cancel the picnic. 

The structural formula to make first contiditional sentences is:

if + present simple, will + base verb

For example:

If it rains, we will cancel the picnic.

For example: 

  • If it rains, we will cancel the picnic. 

here in this sentence, rain is a possible situtiaton or condition that could happen in the future. and cancelling the picnic is the result of that condition if it occurs.

How to use first conditional sentences

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Examples of first conditional sentences

  • If you rest, you will feel better.
  • If you set your mind to a goal, you’ll eventually achieve it.

3. Second Conditional Sentences

Second conditional sentences are used to talk about hypothetical situations that are unlikely to happen. These types of conditional sentences often describe wishes, dreams or such scenarios that are imaginative not real. 

To structure a sentence using second conditional of English grammar, we start sentence with If

If + past simple, would + base verb.

Example:

  • If I had a million dollars, I would travel the world.

In the above sentence, the situation is not real. Rather, it expresses a wish or dream that is hypothetical which may or may not happen.

How to use second conditional sentences

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Examples of second conditional sentences

  • If I inherited a billion dollars, I would travel to the moon. 
  • If I owned a zoo, I might let people interact with the animals more.

4. Third Conditional Sentences

Third conditional sentences are used to describe things in the past that could have occurred but did not. These are the situation in the past that are imaginative because they did not happened. let’s take a look at one example:

  • If I had studied harder, I would have pass the test. 

This sentences tells us that I did not studied hard in the past and that is why I failed the test. The is an imagination that a person think that if he has done one thing, the other thing would have happened but in reality it did not happend.

For example:

  • If I had studied harder, I would have passed the test. 

 

How to use third conditional sentences

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Examples of third conditional sentences

  • If you had told me you needed a ride, I would have left earlier.
  • If I had cleaned the house, I could have gone to the movies.

5. Mixed Conditionals

Mixed conditional sentences are type of conditionals that describe things by combining different times frames. For example, the condition could be in the past, but the result of that condition is in the present time. for example;

  • If I had woken up earlier, I wouldn’t be late now. 

In this sentence, the condition is in the past i.e., waking up earlier. However, the result of the condition is in the present i.e., being late.

Punctuating Conditional Sentences

Despite the complex nature of conditional sentences, punctuating them properly is really simple! 

Here is how it words:

1. Use a comma after the if-clause when the if-clause precedes the main clause.

Example:

  • If I’d had time, I would have cleaned the house.

2. If the main clause precedes the if-clause, no punctuation is necessary.

Example:

  • I would have cleaned the house if I’d had time.

How to Use Conditional Sentences in Everyday Communication

Conditional sentences are incredibly useful in daily English conversation. We use conditional sentences in our daily communication while making wishes and promises. We also use these sentences when we give advice to someone or when we discuss possibilities. Let’s take a look at some common situations where conditional sentences are frequently used.

Making Promises:

  • If you finish your homework, I will buy you ice cream.

Giving Advice:

  • If I were you, I would call her and apologize.

Discussing Possibilities:

  • If we leave now, we might catch the train.

Common Mistakes When Using Conditional Sentence

Conditional sentences are very useful and help us to convey our message correctly. However, if we use incorrect tense in such type of sentences, the message will be unclear and will not convert the meaning that we would like to convey. here are some of the examples of the sceanorios when we use conditional sentence and make mistake.

Mixing tenses:

  • If I will see her, I will tell her. [incorrect]
  • If I see her, I will tell her. [correct]

Forgetting the comma

  • If it rains we will stay inside. [incorrect]
  • If it rains, we will stay inside. [correct]

Using “was” instead of “were” in second conditionals:

  • If I was rich, I would buy a car. [incorrect]
  • If I were rich, I would by a car. [correct]

More Examples of Conditional Sentences

Conclusion

Conditional sentences are a powerful tool to express ideas clearly and logically in English. By learning conditional sentences, their types, and use, you can improve your speaking and writing skills. The key to mastering conditional sentences is a consistent and regular practice. 

Conditional Sentences – FAQS

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about conditional sentences.

Examples of zero conditional setences

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Examples of zero conditional setences

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Examples of zero conditional setences

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Examples of zero conditional setences

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I hope this article helped you learn about conditional sentences, their types and how to properly use them in English. If you liked it, please share it and subscribe to our newsletter for updates, language learning tips, and the latest blog posts.

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