Conditional Sentences (If
Sentences)
Note: If clause is also known as subordinate clause is a part of a sentence that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It depends on the main clause to make sense.
Types of Conditional Sentences:
Type 1 [Cause & Effect]
(I)
Zero
Conditional
– General truths (If + present simple, present simple)
E.g. If you heat water, it boils.
Note:
It is used to show the two actions occur simultaneously in the present
especially universal truths and scientific facts.
(II)
First
Conditional
– Real possibility (If + present simple, will + verb)
E.g. If I study, I will pass.
Note:
It shows one action happens in the present whereas, another action occurs in
the future.
Type 2 [Possibility/Imaginary]
Second Conditional – Unreal/Imaginary
[If
+ Simple Past Tense (Subject+ verb2+ object), Subject + would, could, should,
might+ verb1+ object.]
E.g.
1. If I were rich, I would travel the world.
2. If I lived in a big city, I would go out more
often.
3. If I lived in a big city, I wouldn’t need a
car.
4. I would go out more often if I lived in a big
city.
5. I wouldn’t need a car if I lived in a big
city.
6. If I were rich, I would spend all my time
travelling.
Note: This shows a hypothetical situation,
not necessarily regret—just imagining a different reality.
Type 3 [Impossibility/Regret]
Third Conditional – Past unreal situations
[Subject+ had+verb3+object.), Subject+
would, could, should, might+ have+verb3+object.]
E.g.
1. If I had
studied, I would have passed.
2. If it had rained, you would have gotten wet.
3. You would have passed your exam if you had
worked harder.
4. If you had worked harder, you would have
passed your exam.
5. I would have believed you if you hadn't lied
to me before.
6. If you hadn't lied to me before, I would have
believed you.
Note: The Third Conditional expresses regret or talks about unreal situations in the past
– things that didn't happen
and cannot be changed.
It reflects how different actions in the past might have led to different
outcomes.
Conditional Sentences Exercises
Here are the corrected versions of the "if"
sentences you provided:
a. Original: The driver was talking on the phone
so the accident happened.
Corrected: If the driver hadn't been talking on
the phone, the accident wouldn't have happened.
b. Original: There is no anyone at home because
all the lights are off.
Corrected: If there were someone at home, all the
lights wouldn't be off.
c. Original: He must be an educated person because
he has subscribed to 'The Kathmandu Post'.
Corrected: If he weren't an educated person, he
wouldn't subscribe to 'The Kathmandu Post'.
d. Original: His head was not injured in the
accident because he had put the helmet on.
Corrected: His head would have been injured in the
accident if he hadn't put the helmet on.
e. Original: I am sure he passed the exam because
he gave a heavy treat to his friends.
Corrected: If he hadn't passed the exam, he
wouldn't have given a heavy treat to his friends.
f. Original: You didn’t take any breakfast so you
are hungry now.
Corrected: If you had taken some breakfast, you
wouldn't be hungry now
g. Original: I am sure he is a doctor because he
is wearing the white gown.
Corrected: If he weren't a doctor, he wouldn't be
wearing the white gown.
h. Original: She is very rich so she drives a
Mercedes.
Corrected: If she weren't very rich, she wouldn't
drive a Mercedes.
i. Original: I didn’t know it was only half a
kilometer from my house, so I booked a ride.
Corrected: If I had known it was only half a
kilometer from my house, I wouldn't have booked a ride.
j. Original: He has hidden something in his mind,
so he does not look fresh.
Corrected: If he hadn't hidden anything in his
mind, he would have looked fresh.
Key Notes
The sentences need to match the right conditional
structure depending on the time and situation.
The first sentence describes a past event (third
conditional), while others may be more hypothetical or refer to the present (second
conditional).
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