What Is Conditional?
A conditional sentence is
a sentence that expresses a condition. A condition is something that can only
happen IF something else occurs.
1. What is a zero conditional sentence? A zero conditional sentence is a sentence that
expresses a fact or simple implication.
The dependent clause
of the zero conditional begins with “if” or “when.” The independent clause of
the zero conditional begins with the simple present verb tense or the imperative verb tense. Zero conditional
statements express conditions that are always true and the conclusions of which
can be drawn from their premises. Examples of zero conditional:
- If it rains, things get wet.
- If you stare at the sun, your
eyes damage.
- If you touch a flame, you burn yourself.
2. What is a first conditional sentence? A first conditional sentence is a sentence that
expresses an idea that might happen at some point in the future. It is
something that is possible, but its certainty is unknown because it depends on
another event.
The dependent clause
of the first conditional begins with “if” and uses the simple present tense.
The independent clause of the first conditional uses “will” plus the base form
of a verb.
Examples of first conditional:
- If it rains, I will not play
outside.
- If I am out to lunch, Maria
will answer calls.
- I will wrap his present if he
leaves.
First conditional
sentences can refer to either present of future time.
3. What is a second conditional sentence? A second conditional sentence is a sentence
that can express two ideas. First, it might
express things in the future that are unlikely to happen. Second, it is used to
express an idea that is not true because it is impossible.
The dependent clause
of the second conditional begins with “if” and uses the past simple tense. The
independent clause of the second conditional uses “would” plus the base form of
a verb. Examples of second conditional:
- If I knew the answer, I would
tell you.
- If I were you, I would not
leave tonight.
- If I were president, I would
fix the system.
Second conditional
sentences refer to the present time.
4. What is a third conditional sentence? A third conditional sentence expresses a past
idea that did not occur. The third conditional sentence expresses an imagined
result of that past event that did not occur. In other words, it is unreal. The dependent clause
of the third conditional begins with “if” and uses the past perfect tense. The independent clause of the third
conditional uses “would” have plus the past participle of a verb. Examples of third conditional:
- If I had listened, I would have
not gotten lost.
- If he had gone to lunch, you
would have answered his calls.
- I would have wrapped his
present if he had left.
Third conditional
sentences refer to the past.
