Conditional Sentences (if-clause)
Conditional Sentence Type 1
→ It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled.
Form: if + Simple Present, will-Future
Example: If I find her address, I’ll send her an invitation.
more on Conditional Sentences Type I ►
Conditional Sentence Type 2
→ It is possible but very unlikely, that the condition will be fulfilled.
Form: if + Simple Past, Conditional I (= would + Infinitive)
Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation.
more on Conditional Sentences Type II ►
Conditional Sentence Type 3
→ It is impossible that the condition will be fulfilled because it refers to the past.
Form: if + Past Perfect, Conditional II (= would + have + Past Participle)
Example: If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.
Conditional Sentences Type I (likely)
| Condition refers to: | IF Clause | Main Clause | ||
| future action | Simple Present | If the book is interesting, … | Future I | …I will buy it. |
| Imperative | …buy it. | |||
| Modal Auxiliary | …you can buy it. | |||
| action going on now | Present Progressive | If he is snoring, … | Future I | …I will wake him up. |
| Imperative | …wake him up. | |||
| Modal Auxiliary | …you can wake him up. | |||
| finished action | Present Perfect | If he has moved into his new flat, … | Future I | …we will visit him. |
| Imperative | …visit him. | |||
| Modal Auxiliary | …we can visit him. | |||
| improbable action | should + Infinitive | If she should win this race, … | Future I | …I will congratulate her. |
| Imperative | …congratulate her. | |||
| Modal Auxiliary | …we can congratulate her. | |||
| present facts | Simple Present | If he gets what he wants, … | Simple Present | …he is very nice. |
Conditional Sentences Type II (unlikely)
| Condition refers to: | IF Clause | Main Clause | ||
| present / future event | Simple Past | If I had a lot of money, … | Conditional I | …I would travel around the world. |
| consequence in the past | Simple Past | If I knew him, … | Conditional II | …I would have said hello. |
Conditional Sentences Type II (impossible)
| Condition refers to: | IF Clause | Main Clause | ||
| present | Past Perfect | If I had known it, … | Conditional I | …I would not be here now. |
| past | Past Perfect | If he had learned for the test, … | Conditional II | …he would not have failed it. |
