CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
(‘if’ sentences)
A.G.N.Sudath

(JP)

Bachelor of Education, National Diploma in Teaching English
Former National Trainer at the PIC at the Ministry of Education
Visiting Lecturer of English – University of Sabaragamuwa

Conditional Sentences
Structure :
A conditional sentence is composed of 2 parts :

If-clause

+

Main Clause

Example :

If it rains tomorrow, we will not come.
If-clause

Main Clause

These sentences are in two halves (clauses):
 The if part

- (if clause)

 The other part where you can use words such as can, will, may, might, could and would

clause)

-

(main

If you come with me , I will buy an ice

cream

Conditional Sentences
Types :


There are 4 types of conditional sentences.
They are classified according to their specific implications. 

Each type of conditional sentences uses different tenses to show the difference in their implications.

ZERO CONDITIONAL
ZERO CONDITIONAL is a structure used for talking about general truths -- things which always happen under certain conditions The zero conditional is used to talk about things which are always true -- scientific facts, general truths, and so on.
N.B: (note that most zero conditional sentences will mean the same thing if "when" is used instead of "if").

Zero Conditionals
If clause

Main clause

If + Present Simple

Present Simple

Present Tense

If you heat the water to 100 degrees,

Present Tense

It boils

1st CONDITIONAL
1st CONDITIONAL is a structure used for talking about possibilities in the present or in the future. The first conditional is used to talk about things which are possible and probable in the present or the future --things which may happen.

1st CONDITIONAL if clause

main clause

If + Present Simple

Future Simple, can, may Present simpleTense

If you study hard,

Future simple Tense

you will pass the test. Possible & Probable conditions
IF CLAUSE

MAIN CLAUSE

If you ________ (drink) a lot,

I ________ (leave) you

If we ________