O and A Level English Language
Kawkab Ms 01918499060
Conditional Sentences
A Conditional Sentence contains two clauses:
• The dependent clause (also called the “if clause”) expresses the condition.
• The main clause expresses the consequence or result.
Conditional sentences are also known as “if clauses.”
Types of Conditional Sentences
There are four types of Conditionals:
1. Zero Conditional
2. First Conditional
3. Second Conditional
4. Third Conditional
1. Zero Conditional
• A Zero Conditional sentence uses two present simple tenses (one in the if-clause and the other in the main
clause).
• It expresses general truths, facts, or habits.
• It is also used when the result is always true.
Structure:
If + present simple, ... present simple.
Examples:
• If it rains, water rises in the pond.
• If you heat water, it boils.
• If you push the button, it lights up.
2. First Conditional
• The First Conditional uses present simple after “if,” and the future simple (will + base verb) in the main clause.
• It is used to talk about possible events in the future.
Structure:
If + present simple, ... will + infinitive.
Examples:
• If it rains today, I will not go to the market.
• If I have enough money, I will help the poor.
• If you don’t leave soon, you will miss the train.
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O and A Level English Language
Kawkab Ms 01918499060
3. Second Conditional
• The Second Conditional uses past simple after “if,” and would + infinitive in the main clause.
• With “I/he/she,” formal English uses were instead of was (e.g., If I were you).
Uses:
1. To talk about unlikely or imaginary situations in the future.
2. To talk about impossible or unreal situations in the present.
Structure:
If + past simple, ... would + infinitive.
Examples (Future Imagination):
• If I won the lottery, I would help the poor.
• If I met the prime minister, I would hug her.
• If he worked hard, he would shine in life.
Examples (Present Unreal):
• If I had his address, I would go to meet him.
• If I were you, I would never go out with him.
• If I had a plane, I would travel the whole world.
4. Third Conditional
• The Third Conditional uses past perfect after “if,” and would have + past participle in the main clause.
• It talks about the past, especially situations that did not happen, and imagines the result of those situations.
Structure:
If + past perfect, ... would have + past participle.
Examples:
• If I had been in your position, I would not have gone there.
• If you had driven fast, you wouldn’t have missed the meeting.
• If he had left the place, he would have bought the palace.
O and A Level English Language
Kawkab Ms 01918499060
Exercises
Part A – Find & Correct the Wrong Conditional Sentences
Each sentence is written as a conditional. Some are correct, some are wrong. If it’s wrong, rewrite it correctly.
1. If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.
2. If I will see him tomorrow, I will tell him about the meeting.
3. If you mixed red and blue, you get purple.
4. If it rains tomorrow, we will go to the park.
5. If she studied harder, she will pass the exam.
6. If we don’t water the plants, they die.
7. If I were you, I would not take that risk.
8. If you had told me earlier, I will help you.
9. If the weather was warmer, we could go swimming.
10. If they had worked harder, they would have finished the project on time.
Part B – Change the Conditional Type
Rewrite each sentence into the given conditional type. Change tense and structure as needed.
1. (Zero → First)
If you press the red button, the machine stops.
2. (First → Third)
If she studies well, she will pass the test.
3. (Third → Zero)
If I had slept well, I would have felt better.
4. (Second → First)
If I had a lot of free time, I would travel around the world.
5. (First → Second)
If he calls me, I will answer.
