CONDITIONAL SENTENCES IN ENGLISH

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

THE MEANING OF CONDITION

Condition is something that has to be fulfilled first before something else could happen.

Or is the state of affairs that must exist or happen or to be done before something else is possible.

A CONDITIONAL CLAUSE

A conditional clause is a type of subordinate clause, most commonly introduced by the conjunction if or unless.  Like most subordinate clauses introduced by a conjunction, the conditional clause can either come before the main clause, or after it.

Example

If you don’t pay school fees, you cannot write the exam.

The condition here is that you have to pay school fees first so that you can be allowed to do or write the exam.

SOME WORDS USED IN CONDITIONAL SENTENCES OR STATEMENTS

The following are some of the words that are used in conditional sentences

1.     If

Example

If the rain stops, we will be able to work.

The conjunction if means on the condition that. That is the rain has to stop first, then they shall work.

2.    Unless

Unless means except when/if not so unless has got the negation within it.

Example

Unless you work hard, you will not pass the examination.

From the above sentence, the condition given is that you must work hard in order to pass the examination.

3.    Provided (that)

Example

You can come to the part provided that you bring with you your drinks.

4.    Incase

Example

Example

In the case he comes, don’t leave the door open.

The condition here is that if he will be coming the door should not be left open.

 

 

 

TYPES OF CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

There are three types of conditional statements

a)    Conditional sentence type 1-likely/probable/open

Example

If you want, you can go home.

b)   Conditional sentence type 2-unlikely

Example

If you wanted, you could go home.

 

c)    Conditional sentence type 3-rejected/impossible

Example

If you had wanted, you could have gone home.

 

NOTE

All the three types of conditional sentences require different tense sequence and have different meanings

Example

Type 1

If she finishes work early, she will go home.

Explanations on the tense sequence

Conditional sentence type 1, uses simple present tense in dependent clause and future tense in the independent clause.

 

Type 2

If she finished work early, she would go home.

Explanations on tense sequence

The verb in dependent clause is in past tense or form and the verb in the main clause is past conditional tense, would, should or could.

 

Type 3

If she had finished work early, she would have gone home.

 

Explanations on the tense sequence

The verb in dependent clause is in past perfect tense (had + past participle form of the verb) and the tense in independent clause in perfect conditional tense (has/have+ verb in past participle form)

 

 

 

DETAILED EXPLANATIONS ON EACH TYPE OF CONDITIONAL SENTENCE

CONDITIONAL SENTNCE TYPE 1

 

1)    The use of conditional sentence type 1 implies or indicates that there is big chance or possibility for the condition given to be fulfilled.

 And this is the reason for why it is referred as likely or probable or open conditional sentence.

Conditional sentence type 1, can also be constructed by using the following words (must, had, ought and should) and in such constructions of conditional sentence type 1, it will be used to express command, request or advice.

But the tense in the main clause should, however, not be in the future tense.

Examples

                                     i.        If you want to pass the exam, you must or should work hard.

                                    ii.        If you want to pass the exam, you had better work hard.

                                  iii.        If you want to pass the exam, you ought to work hard.

 

2)   The conditional sentence type 1, uses simple present tense in dependent clause and uses future tense in the independent clause

Dependent clause	Independent clause
If Tegemea finishes work early	She will go home
Simple present tense	Future tense

 

 

3)   The conditional sentence type 1, is constructed or made up of two present tenses to express automatic or habitual results.

Examples

                                     i.        If you heat ice, it turns to water.

                                    ii.        If you heat water to 100^oC, it turns to vapour.

                                  iii.        If there is the shortage of food or goods, the price goes up.

 

 

CONDITIONAL SENTNCE TYPE 2

A.   In the conditional sentence type 2, the verb in dependent clause is in past tense or form and the verb in the main clause is past conditional tense, would, should or could.

Dependent clause	Independent clause
I I had some money	I would lend it to you
Past tense	Past conditional tense

 

B.  The uses of conditional sentence type 2.

     i.        It is used when there is unlikelihood of something to happen or to be possible.

Example

If it rained much in Dodoma, we would plant rice.

This sentence means that there is very low possibility to have much rains in Dodoma. That is why it’s called unlikely, meaning that there is very low possibility for such condition to be fulfilled.

 

    ii.        Conditional sentence type 2 is used when the supposition is contrary to the known fact or describing something which is impossible.

Example

If I lived hear the school, I would be in time for classes.

From the above statement, there is no possibility because the person is not living near the school, hence cannot be in time for classes. Therefore its contrary.

 

If I were you, I would be rich.

Its not possible for the other person to be the other.

 

CONDITIONAL SENTNCE TYPE 3

   A.        In conditional sentence type 3, the verb in dependent clause is in past perfect tense (had + past participle form of the verb) and the tense in independent clause in perfect conditional tense (has/have+ verb in past participle form)

Dependent clause	Independent clause
If we had hired the car	We would have saved the time
Past perfect tense	Perfect conditional tense

 

Other example

If we had left at 10AM, we would have been there now.

    B.        USES OF CONDITIONAL SENTNCE TYPE 3

The conditional sentence type 3, is purely hypothetical that is supposed but not real or true.

 

It hypothetical as it shows all things are in past and nothing can be done at the moment. Hence conditional sentence type 3 is called rejected.

In conditional sentence type 3, the possibility is zero(o), since everything is in the past and already completed.

Example

If I had studied hard, I would have passed the exam well.

This statement means that I didn’t study hard, therefore I didn’t do the exam well.

CAUTION NOTE)

We should not rigidly stick to these three (3) types of conditional sentences, there are occasions where we can use any tense in IF clause depending on the context, therefore in short there are some situations, occasions and situations where we can mix the tenses in conditional sentences contrary from what has been shown in the each type of conditional sentence from type 1 to type 3.

Examples

a.    If I had had your advantage, I would be rich now.

b.    If you knew me better, you would have deceived me.

Question

What is the tense arrangements in the above sentences in a and b?