Conditional Sentences

 Conditionals and Their Uses in Detail

Conditional Sentences are complex sentences in nature, indeed. In fact, if and unless related sentences are known as conditional sentence. As they are complex sentences in nature of their structure, they have two parts - one is sub-ordinate clause (which is if/unless related sentence) and the other is principal or main clause.

Types of Conditionals:

Conditionals are of four kinds:

1. Zero Conditional
2. First Conditional
3. Second Conditional
4. Third Conditional

Zero Conditional: The two clauses are in Simple Present/Present Indefinite or the two clauses are in Simple Past/Past Indefinite tense in this type of sentences. In this case, the facts of the two clauses are scientifically truth or universally truth.

The rule is-

If + sub + verb (simple present/past), sub + verb (simple present/past)

For example-

If you heat ice, it melts. (scientifically true)

If he has time, he visits us next Friday.

If it is winter, it feels cool.

If it is summer, it feels hot.

First Conditional: In this type of sentence, the  verb of the 'if clause' is in present indefinite and the main clause is in future indefinite tense.

So the sentence, the rule will be like:

If + sub + verb (present ind:), sub + will/can/may + V.B.F (v-1)

For example-

Unless he comes, we won't have much to talk about.

If ruby is heated, it will temporarily lose its color.

He won't pass his exam unless he studies much harder.

If he runs fast, he will win the prize.

Second Conditional: In this type of sentence, the verb of the 'if clause' is in past indefinite and the main or principal clause is in 'would/could/might + V.B.F'.

Here goes the rule-

If + sub + verb (past form), sub + would/could/might + V.B.F (v-1)

For example-

If I were a millionaire, I would help every worth cause.

I could go for a drive if today were Saturday.

If he had the money, he would buy a car.

If I were a prince, I would not know what sorrow is.

Third Conditional: In this sentence, the 'if clause' has the verb in past perfect and the main clause has 'would/could/might + have + V.P.P.'

Here goes the rule:

If + sub + had + v.p.p, sub + would/could/might + have + v.p.p (v3)

For example-

This could have worked if I had been more cautious.

If the police had come earlier, they could have arrested the burglar.

He would not have joined the army if he had known that they would send him abroad.

If Napolean had not invaded Russia, he would have conquered the rest of Europe.