We all like to periodically dream: "Oh, if I lived in Paris!" or "Oh, if only I could." This word "if" in English sounds like if, and in order to dream in English, you need to carefully study the rule of conditional sentences.
Conditional sentences always contain the word if - a condition that can be either real or unreal. There are four types of conditional sentences in English. In this article, we will consider each of them separately, study the rule of use, grammatical construction, the rule for using each of them, and also work out several exercises.
General table of conditional sentences
There are four types of offers. All of them are divided according to the phenomena and actions in question in the context.
For example,if a person is talking about what is really happening at the present time, then this will be a zero-type conditional sentence, in which the Zero Conditional rule applies. More about this in the table:
| If (offer) | Main offer | Example | Translation | |
| 0 type of conditional sentences (phenomena that are always true) Zero Conditional rule | Present Simple | Present Simple | If you heat ice, it melts. | If you heat the ice, it will melt. |
| 1 type of conditional sentences (real action) Rule First Conditional | Present Simple | Future Simple | If I earn enough money, I will go abroad this summer. | If I earn enough money, I will go abroad this summer. |
| 2 type of conditional sentences (unreal action in the present). Rule Second Conditional | Past Simple Tense | would + verb in first form | If I were you, I would go to the party. | If I were you, I would go to the party. |
|
3 type of conditional sentences (unreal action in the past) Rule ThirdConditional |
Past Perfect | would have been + third form verb | If I have told you beforehand, you wouldn't do such stupid things. | If I had told you beforehand, you wouldn't have done such stupid things. |
First Conditional rule
The first type of conditional sentences is used when an action can happen in real life, if, for example, you make some effort. Such an action is translated into Russian in the future tense, although in English the sentence is built in the Present Simple tense.
Sentence construction scheme:
If + Present Simple, will+verb in the first form (Future Simple)
Sample sentences:
- If she makes her assignment in time, she will get an additional day-off. - If she completes the task on time, she will get an extra day off.
- If I am in time, I will go with you shopping. - If I have time, I'll go shopping with you.
- If you go now, you will be in time. - If you go now, you will be on time.
- If the weather is good, we will go to the park tomorrow. - If the weather is good, we will go to the park tomorrow.
- If my mother allows, I will go for a walk with you tonight. - If my mother allows me, I will go for a walk with you in the evening.
Second Conditional rule in Russian
The second type of conditional sentences is used inif the action is unrealistic. The rule and examples of Second Conditional are discussed below. It cannot happen in the future under any circumstances. In this case, the Second Conditional rule and the sentence construction scheme is as follows:
If + Past Simple tense, would + first form verb
A negative sentence is also built according to the rules of the Past Simple Tense (using the auxiliary verb did, and adding the particle not to the verb would):
- If I were you, I wouldn't do that. - If I were you (if I were you), I wouldn't do this).
- If I had a lot of money, I would live in the USA. - If I had a lot of money, I would live in the United States of America).
- If I speak Japanese, I would apply this job. - If I could speak Japanese, I would apply for this job.
- If my sister was more reliable, I would trust her. - If my sister was more reliable, I would trust her.
- If I live in Paris, I would go for a walk every night. - If I lived in Paris, I would go out every night.
Third Conditional Rule
The third type of conditional sentences is used when it comes to an unreal action in the past. This means that the action has already taken place and nothing can be changed. At the same time, we most often express regret that this happened.
The formation scheme of this type of conditional sentence differs from the Second Conditional rule:
If + presentincomplete tense (Past Perfect), would +have been + verb in form 3
Examples:
- If I had been ready, I would have been answered his questions. - If I was ready, I would have answered his questions (It is a pity that I was not ready. The action has already happened, and it is not possible to change anything).
- If she had listened to me, she would not have been made such a stupid mistake. - If she had listened to me, she wouldn't have made such a stupid mistake (Too bad she didn't listen to me).
- If my mother had told me about the meeting beforehand, I would not have been late. - If my mother had told me about the meeting in advance, I would not have been late (I wish she had told me).
- If I had made a right decision, I would not have been now in such a situation. If I had made the right decision, I wouldn't be in this situation. (Sorry I didn't take it.)
- If you had been more careful, you would not have been had an accident. - If you had been more careful, you wouldn't have had an accident (Sorry you're so sloppy).
