REAL AND UNREAL CONDITIONAL 9A-B-C

Conditional Sentences

---

Conditional Sentence Type 0

Conditional type zero is used to talk about general truths, scientific facts or things which always happen under certain conditions.

Form:

If + Simple Present, + Simple Present

Use:

The zero conditional is used to talk about things which are always true, scientific facts, general truths:

Examples:

If you cross an international date line, the time changes.
Phosphorus burns if you expose it to air.
If I wake up early, I go jogging.

NOTE: you can use "when" instead of "if".

Conditional Sentence Type 1

Often called the "real" conditional because it is used for real or possible situations. These situations take place if a certain condition is met. It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled.

Form:

If + Simple Present, + Simple Future

Use

Conditional Sentences Type 1 refer to the future. An action in the future will only happen if a certain condition is fulfilled by that time. We don't know for sure whether the condition actually will be fulfilled or not, but the conditions seems rather realistic – so we think it is likely to happen.

Example:

If I have enough time, I'll watch the football match.

I may have time to watch the match but I'm not sure about it.

Conditional Sentence Type 2

Often called the "unreal" conditional because it is used for unreal impossible or improbable situations. This conditional provides an imaginary result for a given situation. It is very unlikelythat the condition will be fulfilled.

Form:

if + Simple Past, + would + base verb

Were / Was

In conditional type 2, we usually use in the if clause "were" instead of "was" even if the pronoun is I, he, she or it. "were" here is a subjunctiveform.

NOTE "was" is also a possible form.

Example:

If I were a millionaire, I would buy a castle.

Use

Conditional Sentences Type 2 refer to an action in the present that could happen if the present situation were different. I don't really expect the situation to change because it is very unlikely.

Example:

If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.

Conditional Sentence Type 3

It is impossible that the condition will be met because it refers to the past.

Form:

if + Past Perfect, + would + have + Past Participle

Use

Conditional Sentences Type 3 refer to situations in the past. They express hypothetical results to past given situations.

Example:

If he had been careful, he wouldn't have had that terrible accident.

Sometimes in the past, he was careless. He drove so fast. So he had a terrible accident

Things to remember

1. The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a comma.

Examples:

"Phosphorus burns if you expose it to air."
" I will send her an invitation if I find her address."
" I would travel around the world if I had a million dollars."
"He wouldn't have had that terrible accident if he had been careful."

2. Main clause and/or if clause might be negative.

Example:

If I don’t see him this afternoon, I will phone him in the evening.
If he had been careful, he wouldn't have had an accident.

Grammar Exercises - Conditional sentences

Principio del formulario

Match the numbers with the letters to form conditional sentences:

1.       a b c  If I were a millionaire, 2.       a b c  She wouldn't have  had an accident 3.         a b c  I’ll watch the film,

a. if I finish early. b. I would buy a beautiful car. c. if she had driven carefully.

Decide which of the sentences below is conditional type 1, 2 & 3 :

1. If I were rich, I would travel around the world.                                                                      Conditional1 Conditional2 Conditional3
2. She wouldn't have missed the train if she had woken up earlier.                                                                      Conditional1 Conditional2 Conditional3
3. I’ll call you if I come back early.                                                                      Conditional1 Conditional2 Conditional3  

Put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense (conditional 1):

1. If I (finish)  early, I will call you.
2. I (catch)  the 9:00 train if I hurry up .
3. She will know the answer, if she (try)  to understand.

Put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense (conditional 2):

1. If I (be)  a star, I would help the needy.
2. He (buy)  a house if he had a job.
3. She (be)  happy, if she married him .

Put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense (conditional 3):

1. If he (be)  careful, he would not have had that terrible accident.
2. I (pass)  the exam if I had worked hard .
3. Her father would not have died, if he (go)  to the doctor.

Choose the correct answer:

1. If I (wake up)                                                                                                                            wake up will wake up woke up had woken up would wake up would have woken up  early, I’ll go jogging.
2. He (visit)                                                                                                          will visit visited had visited would visit would have visited  his uncle, if he finishes early.
3. If she had taken care of her son, he (not/become)                                                                                                                            does not become did not become will not become had not become would not become would not have become  a criminal.
4. If I were a star, I (help)                                                                                                          will help helped had helped would help would have helped  the poor.
5. She would have been top of her class if she (work)                                                                                                                            works worked had worked will work would work would have worked  hard.

Final del formulario