Conditional Sentence

 

Conditional Sentence

 A conditional sentence is a complex sentence expressing a result which is expected from a condition. The condition is stated in a clause which generally begins with the word (/, and the result is expressed in the main clause. The result expected can be real or unreal.

. There are three important types of conditional sentences:

·         Future conditional sentences

·         Present conditional sentences

·         Past conditional sentences

1) A future conditional sentence expresses that something mentioned in the if – clause will probably happen or is likely to happen in the present or in the future.

2) A present conditional sentence expresses that something mentioned in the if – clause is unreal or contrary to the fact of the present.

3) A past conditional sentence also states a contrary – to – the -fact condition. It expresses that something mentioned in the if- clause did not occur in the past.

Ø  In the future conditional sentence the main clause uses will, can, must, may, to be going to. have to, expect to, plus the first form of a verb. The verb in the conditional clause is in the present tense.

Ø  In the present conditional sentence the main clause uses would, could, might, was going to, expected to, plus the first form of a verb. The verb in the conditional clause is in the past tense.

Ø  In the past conditional sentence the main clause uses would have, could have, might have, plus the third form of a verb. The verb in the conditional clause is in the past perfect tense.

Future conditional sentences

Examples:

• If meet him again, I will tell him that. (zero conditional or first conditional can be used)
• I will probably meet him soon.
• If I were a bit taller, I would be more attractive.
  But I'm not taller.

o       I don’t know if anna is at home.

I don’t know if anna is at home or not.

I don’t  know if whether or not anna is at home.

Ø  I don’t know whether he will.

Ø  I don’t know if he will come.

Ø  We don’t know whether he speaks Spanish.

Ø  We don’t know whether or not he speaks Spanish or not.

Ø  We don’t know whether or not he speaks Spanish.

Present conditional sentences

Examples:

·         If  rains tomorrow, we will not go swimming.

Should it rains tomorrow, we will not go swimming.

·         If she invited me to the party  I would came

Where she invited me to the party, I would came.

·         If you were busy, we couldn’t force you.

were you busy, we couldn’t force you.

·         If you change your mind, let me know.

Should you change your mind, let me know.

·         If my boss calls, please let me know right away

Should my boss call, please let me know right away

Past conditional sentences

Examples:

·         It sound as though there were a herd of lions that came to here.

·         She spoke as if she would know all of matters.

·         As though his girl was hurts him.

·         She talked to him as if he were a child.

As if/as though + Past Perfect  Tense

·         She acted as though she had never met

·         When she came from the trip, she looked as if she hadn’t has energy.

·         He behaved as though he had been understood.

·         Anne cried as if she  had lost all of her wishes.