| Type | If-Clause | Main Clause | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | Present Indefinite (V1/V1+s/es) | shall/will + V1 | Real/Possible |
| Type 2 | Past Indefinite (V2) | should/would/could/might + V1 | Unreal Present |
| Type 3 | Past Perfect (had + V3) | should/would/could/might + have + V3 | Unreal Past |
A Sub-ordinating Clause which shows a Condition is called an Adverb Clause of Condition.
Clauses that start with if, whether, unless, provided, in case, so long as etc. are called Adverb Clause of Condition.
тЬУ If you work too much, you will lose your health.
тЬУ You must do it whether you like it or not.
тЬУ In case I go to Agra, I will visit the Tajmahal.
тЬУ You will not get good marks unless you work hard.
Note: Conditional Clauses usually start with if, unless, in case, provided that, supposing that etc.
In a Conditional Sentence, the Conditional Clause depends on the Result Clause for its meaning. Therefore, it is also called Subordinate Clause, and the Result Clause is called Main Clause or Principal Clause.
Example 1: If she comes, I shall help her.
тЖТ If she comes = Sub-ordinate/Conditional Clause
тЖТ I shall help her = Principal/Result Clause
Example 2: If they invited me, I would go there.
тЖТ If they invited me = Sub-ordinate/Conditional Clause
тЖТ I would go there = Principal/Result Clause
Conditions are of three types:
If Subordinate clause is in Present Indefinite Tense (V1/V1+s/es), then main clause is in Future Indefinite Tense (shall/will +V1).
In this type of condition, there is possibility of the condition being fulfilled.
1. If you work hard, you will certainly pass.
2. If you win the race, you can get a prize.
3. If they make a noise, they will be punished.
4. If I have a lot of money, I will help you.
5. If you work hard, you can win a prize.
6. We shall go on a picnic provided that the weather is fine.
7. Why don't you buy a scooter if you have enough money?
In Open or Probable Condition, instead of Shall, will, we can also use can and may.
1. If you win the race, you can get a prize.
2. Unless you work hard, you may not get good marks.
3. If you work hard, you will pass.
4. If you work hard, you can win a prize.
1. Don't come unless I tell you to come.
2. Unless you work hard, you may not get good marks.
3. We shall go on a picnic provided that the weather is fine.
If Subordinate clause is in Past Indefinite Tense (V2), then main clause is in Future Indefinite in the Past Tense (should/would/could/might +V1).
In this type of condition, there is no possibility of the condition being fulfilled.
1. If you attended the marriage ceremony, you would get a nice gift.
2. If Nisha joined the meeting, she would get a chance to see the new boss.
3. If you went to Delhi, you might see the Prime Minister.
4. If he took his doctor's advice he might soon be well again.
5. Supposing my father saw me with you, what might he think?
6. He would not do it unless you ordered him to do it.
7. If I had money, I should pay you.
If Be verb is used in Sub-ordinate clause, then "were" is used with all subjects.
1. If I were you, I would treat him more kindly.
2. If I were a bird, I could fly in the sky.
3. Were I you, I would accept proposal.
4. If he were a rich man, he would give me a gift.
If Subordinate clause is in Past Perfect Tense (had+V3), then main clause is in Future Perfect in the Past Tense (should/would/could/might + have +V3).
In this type of condition, there is no possibility of the condition being fulfilled. That is, the time has passed, now that action is not possible.
1. If Neeraj had worked hard, he would have succeeded.
2. If Archana had reached the station, she would have caught the train.
3. If the gardener had watered the plants, they would not have died.
4. If you had run fast, you would have caught the train.
5. If you had not worked hard, you would have failed.
6. If you had been at the meeting, I should have seen you.
The If Clause of these sentences can also be started with "had" (without using "if").
1. Had I had a lot of money, I could have helped the poor.
2. Had She cooked food, I would have gone to school.
1. If you ___ hard, you will succeed. (work)
2. If it ___ today, we will cancel the match. (rain)
3. If he ___ early, he will catch the bus. (leave)
4. If she ___ the rules, she will not be punished. (follow)
5. If they ___ us, we will help them. (call)
6. If I ___ rich, I would travel around the world. (be)
7. If he ___ harder, he would pass the exam. (study)
8. If she ___ a car, she would drive to office. (have)
9. If we ___ the truth, we would speak it. (know)
10. If I ___ you, I would accept the offer. (be)
11. If you ___ earlier, you would have caught the train. (come)
12. If she ___ the doctor, she would have recovered. (consult)
13. If they ___ the alarm, they would not have overslept. (set)
14. If I ___ his number, I would have called him. (know)
15. If he ___ carefully, he would not have made the mistake. (drive)
16. If it ___ tomorrow, we will stay at home. (rain)
17. If I ___ wings, I would fly in the sky. (have)
18. If she ___ harder last year, she would be in college now. (study)
19. If you ___ the truth, you would not have been punished. (tell)
20. If we ___ on time, we would not be late now. (leave)
Zero Conditional is used for general truths, scientific facts, and things that are always true.
Both clauses use Present Indefinite Tense.
1. If you heat water to 100┬░C, it boils.
2. If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
3. If ice melts, it turns into water.
4. If you don't water plants, they die.
5. If the sun sets, it becomes dark.
6. If you touch fire, you get burned.
Note: In Zero Conditional, "if" can often be replaced by "when" because the result is always true.
Example: When you heat ice, it melts. = If you heat ice, it melts.
Mixed Conditionals combine elements from different conditional types. They are used when:
1. If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now.
тЖТ (I didn't study medicine in the past, so I am not a doctor now)
2. If she had taken the job, she would be rich today.
тЖТ (She didn't take the job, so she is not rich today)
3. If they had left on time, they would not be late now.
тЖТ (They didn't leave on time, so they are late now)
4. If he had eaten breakfast, he would not be hungry now.
тЖТ (He didn't eat breakfast, so he is hungry now)
1. If I were taller, I would have joined the army.
тЖТ (I am not tall, so I couldn't join the army)
2. If she spoke English, she would have got the job.
тЖТ (She doesn't speak English, so she didn't get the job)
3. If he were more careful, he would not have made mistakes.
тЖТ (He is not careful, so he made mistakes)
Besides "if", there are several other words and phrases that introduce conditional clauses:
Meaning: "If... not" - Negative condition
тЬУ Unless you work hard, you will fail. = If you don't work hard, you will fail.
тЬУ I won't go unless you come with me. = I won't go if you don't come with me.
тЬУ Unless it rains, we will go for a picnic.
тЬУ He won't pass unless he studies harder.
Important: Don't use "not" with "unless" as it already means "if not".
тЭМ Unless you don't come... (Wrong)
тЬЕ Unless you come... (Correct)
Meaning: On the condition that (only if)
тЬУ I will help you provided that you help me first.
тЬУ You can go out provided you finish your homework.
тЬУ We shall go on a picnic provided that the weather is fine.
тЬУ He will succeed providing he works hard.
Meaning: On the condition that; for the entire time that
тЬУ You can stay here as long as you keep quiet.
тЬУ I will support you so long as you are honest.
тЬУ As long as you study, you will pass.
тЬУ The machine will work so long as you maintain it properly.
Meaning: What if; Imagine that
тЬУ Supposing it rains, what will we do?
тЬУ Suppose you won a lottery, what would you do?
тЬУ Supposing my father saw me here, what would he think?
тЬУ Suppose they don't come, shall we start without them?
Meaning: Because of the possibility that; as a precaution
тЬУ Take an umbrella in case it rains.
тЬУ In case I forget, please remind me.
тЬУ Keep some money in case of emergency.
тЬУ In case I go to Agra, I will visit the Taj Mahal.
Meaning: Only if; with the requirement that
тЬУ I will lend you money on condition that you return it by Friday.
тЬУ You may go on condition that you complete your work first.
тЬУ He agreed to help on condition that he would be paid.
Meaning: Without; if something had not happened
тЬУ But for your help, I would have failed. (= If it had not been for your help...)
тЬУ But for the rain, we would have gone out. (= If it had not rained...)
тЬУ But for his guidance, I would be lost.
Meaning: In either case; regardless of
тЬУ You must do it whether you like it or not.
тЬУ Whether he comes or not, we will start the meeting.
тЬУ I will go whether it rains or not.
Meaning: Despite the possibility that
тЬУ Even if it rains, we will go for a walk.
тЬУ I won't forgive him even if he apologizes.
тЬУ Even if you study all night, you cannot finish this book.
Meaning: What would happen if
тЬУ What if the train is late?
тЬУ What if it rains tomorrow?
тЬУ What if you don't pass the exam?
In formal English, "if" can be omitted by using inversion (putting the auxiliary verb before the subject).
This is commonly used in Type 2 and Type 3 conditionals.
Normal: If I were you, I would accept the offer.
Inverted: Were I you, I would accept the offer.
Normal: If he were a rich man, he would help us.
Inverted: Were he a rich man, he would help us.
Normal: If she were here, she would solve this problem.
Inverted: Were she here, she would solve this problem.
Normal: If I had known, I would have helped.
Inverted: Had I known, I would have helped.
Normal: If she had studied, she would have passed.
Inverted: Had she studied, she would have passed.
Normal: If they had arrived on time, they would have seen the show.
Inverted: Had they arrived on time, they would have seen the show.
Normal: If you should need help, call me.
Inverted: Should you need help, call me.
Normal: If anyone should call, take a message.
Inverted: Should anyone call, take a message.
| Type | If-Clause | Main Clause | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | Present Simple | Present Simple | Facts, General truths | If you heat ice, it melts. |
| Type 1 | Present Simple | will/can/may + V1 | Real, Possible future | If it rains, I will stay home. |
| Type 2 | Past Simple (were) | would/could/might + V1 | Unreal present, Imaginary | If I were rich, I would travel. |
| Type 3 | Past Perfect (had + V3) | would/could/might + have + V3 | Unreal past, Impossible | If I had known, I would have helped. |
| Mixed 1 | Past Perfect (had + V3) | would + V1 | Past condition тЖТ Present result | If I had studied, I would be a doctor. |
| Mixed 2 | Past Simple (were) | would have + V3 | Present condition тЖТ Past result | If I were taller, I would have joined. |
21. If water freezes, it becomes ice.
22. If I were the Prime Minister, I would reduce taxes.
23. Had I known about the party, I would have come.
24. Unless you apologize, I won't forgive you.
25. If she had taken the medicine, she would be healthy now.
26. If I ___ (be) the President, I would change many laws.
27. If the sun ___ (rise) in the west, it would be strange.
28. ___ I in your place, I would not accept this offer.
29. If they ___ (inform) us earlier, we would have prepared better.
30. You will get good marks provided that you ___ (study) sincerely.
31. Change to inverted form: If I had money, I would buy a car.
32. Use 'unless': If you don't hurry, you will miss the bus.
33. Change to Type 2: If he works hard, he will pass.
34. Change to Type 3: If she studies, she will pass.
35. Use 'but for': Without your help, I would have failed.
тЭМ If he will come, I will talk to him. (Wrong - no 'will' in if-clause)
тЬЕ If he comes, I will talk to him. (Correct)
тЭМ If I was rich, I would buy a car. (Wrong - use 'were' not 'was')
тЬЕ If I were rich, I would buy a car. (Correct)
тЭМ If she studied, she will pass. (Wrong - mixing Type 1 and Type 2)
тЬЕ If she studies, she will pass. (Correct - Type 1)
тЬЕ If she studied, she would pass. (Correct - Type 2)
тЭМ Unless you don't work hard... (Wrong - double negative)
тЬЕ Unless you work hard... (Correct)
тЭМ If I would have known... (Wrong - don't use 'would' in if-clause)
тЬЕ If I had known... (Correct)
тЭМ If he was here yesterday... (Wrong for Type 3)
тЬЕ If he had been here yesterday... (Correct - Type 3)