English conditionals

In this chapter the English conditionals will be explained. In the different subchapters the different types of conditionals are explained. Conditionals are used to describe a speculation.

Lesson outline

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1.Definition and usage of conditional sentences in English
2.Structure of conditional sentences
2.1.Affirmative conditionals
2.2.Negative conditionals
2.3.Interrogative conditionals
3.Exercises
3.1.Exercise to fill in the correct form of the English conditionals
3.2.Practice the English conditionals
3.3.Exercise negative and interrogative conditionals
3.4.English conditionals exercise

Definition and usage of conditional sentences in English

The conditionals in English are used to express speculation. They refer to an action that could happen, to something that may have happened or to something that is expected to happen.

In English there are five types of conditionals. The table below shows you the different conditionals and when they are used.

Type of conditional	Usage	Verb tense of the condition ('if')	Verb tense of the result	Example
Type 0	General facts	Present simple	Present simple	If you heat water, it boils. If it rains, you get wet.
Type 1	Real or possible situation	Present simple	Future simple (will)	If I see her, I will greet her. If they don't hurry, they will miss the train.
Type 2	Hypothetical situation	Past simple	Present conditional or present continuous conditional (would + infinitive)	If I were taller, I would not wear high heels. If I spoke Spanish, I would be working in Spain.
Type 3	Hypothetical situation in the past	Past perfect	Perfect conditional (would have + past participle)	If I had known then what I know now, I would have acted differently. If he had worked harder, he would have earned more money.
Mixed	Not real condition of the past with a probable result in the present. Situation of the present that could have a consequence in the past.	Past perfect Past simple	Present conditional (would + infinitive) Perfect conditional (would have + past participle)	If I were not scared of mice, I would have picked them up. If he had worked harder, he would have more money now.

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Structure of conditional sentences

Conditional sentences have two parts and each action depends on the other. The first part of the conditional always starts with 'if'. If a condition, situation or circumstance is true, then a specific result happens.

The if-clause can be at the beginning of the sentence:

If-clause	Result
If you study	you will pass your exams.
If he works harder	he will earn more money.

The if-clause can be at the end of the sentence:

Result	If-clause
You will pass your exams	if you study.
He will earn more money	if he works harder

1) Affirmative conditionals

The table below shows the structure of affirmative conditionals. These sentences state truths. Some of the conditionals have a long form and a contracted form.

Type of conditional	Affirmatives - long form	Affirmatives - contracted form
Type 0	If you drop your phone, it breaks. If you eat good, you do not get sick.
Type 1	If I see her, I will say hello. If he comes, we will talk to him.	If I see her, I'll say hello. If he comes, we'll talk to him.
Type 2	If he worked, he would earn money. If I studied, I would get a good job.	If he worked, he'd earn money. If I studied, I'd get a good job.
Type 3	If I had known you were coming, I would have cleaned the house. If he had given me the money, I would have paid the dinner.	If I'd known you were coming, I'd have cleaned the house. If he'd given me the money, I'd have paid the dinner.
Mixed	If I were not afraid of heights, I would have climbed the tower. If she had worked harder, she would have finished the assignment.	If I were not afraid of heights, I'd have climbed the tower. If she'd worked harder, she'd have finished the assignment.

2) Negative conditionals

The table below shows the structure of the negative conditionals. These sentences state falsity. Some sentences have a long form and a contracted form.

Type of conditional	Negatives - long form	Negatives - contracted form
Type 0	If you do not drop your phone, it does not break. If you do not eat good, you get sick.	If you don't drop your phone, it doesn't break. If you don't eat good, you get sick.
Type 1	If I do not see her, I will not say hello. If he does not come, we will not talk to him.	If I don't see her, I won't say hello. If he doesn't come, we won't talk to him.
Type 2	If he did not work, he would not earn money. If I did not study, I would not get a good job.	If he didn't work, he wouldn't earn money. If I didn't study, I wouldn't get a good job.
Type 3	If I had not known you were coming, I would not have cleaned the house. If he had not given me the money, I would not have paid the dinner.	If I hadn't known you were coming, I wouldn't have cleaned the house. If he hadn't given me the money, I wouldn't have paid the dinner.
Mixed	If I were not afraid of heights, I would have climbed the tower. or If I were afraid of heights, I would not have climbed the tower. If she had not worked harder, she would not have finished the assignment.	If I weren't afraid of heights, I would've climbed the tower. or If I were afraid of heights, I wouldn't have climbed the tower. If she hadn't worked harder, she wouldn't have finished the assignment.

3) Interrogative conditionals

The following table shows the structure of the conditional interrogatives.

Type of conditional	Interrogatives
Type 0	If you drop your phone, does it break? Do you not get sick if you eat healthy?
Type 1	Will I say hello if I see her? Will we not talk to him when he comes?
Type 2	Would he earn money if he worked? Would I get a good job if I study?
Type 3	Would I have cleaned the house if I knew you were coming? Would I have paid the dinner, if he had given me the money?
Mixed	Would I have climbed the tower, if I were not afraid of heights? Would she have finished the assignment if she had worked harder?

Test yourself with the exercises below!

Exercises

Exercise to fill in the correct form of the English conditionals
Practice the English conditionals
Exercise negative and interrogative conditionals
English conditionals exercise

Exercise to fill in the correct form of the English conditionals

Practice the English conditionals

Exercise negative and interrogative conditionals