It is written with a type 1 conditional sentence structure, but it expresses something that cannot happen? Have you spent a fair amount of time in your English learning schedule studying this content and still feel confused? This article EnglishTopVN helps you have a complete view of conditional sentences in English.
In English, conditional sentences are used to express and explain an event that may happen when the condition mentioned occurs. Most conditional sentences contain “if”. A conditional sentence has two clauses.
The main clause is also called the result clause.
The clause containing “if” is a subordinate clause or conditional clause, it states the condition for the main clause to become true.
Usually the main clause will come before the following subordinate clause. However, we can move the subordinate clause to the front of the sentence and add a comma after the subordinate clause to separate the subordinate clause and main clause.
For example:
If the weather is nice, I will go to Cat Ba tomorrow.
If I were you, I would buy that laptop.
I would have gotten better marks if I had learned hard.
Corresponding to the times when the condition occurs, conditional sentences are also classified into forms based on those timestamps. Let's learn in detail the structure and usage of each type of conditional sentence right below!
Conditional sentences type 0 are used to explain situations that are considered true, usually facts in life, such as science.
Subordination |
Main clause |
If + S+ V (Simple tense) |
S + V (Simple tense) |
For example:
If you freeze water, it becomes a solid.
Plants die if they don’t get enough water.
If public transport is efficient, people stop using their cars.
In addition, type 0 conditional sentences are also used to give instructions and suggestions.
For example:
If Bill phones, tell him to meet me at the cinema.
Ask Pete if you’re not sure what to do.
If you want to come, call me before 5:00.
In a zero-type conditional sentence, we can replace “if” with “when” without changing the meaning of the statement:
If you heat ice, it melts.
Ice melts if you heat it.
When you heat ice, it melts.
Ice melts when you heat it.
Conditional sentences type 1 are used to describe events that are likely to happen in the present or future and their results.
Subordination |
Main clause |
If + S + V (Simple tense) |
S + will + V (Future simple) |
For example:
If you don’t hurry, you will miss the bus.
What will you do if you miss the plane?
In conditional sentences type 1, instead of using the future tense, we can also use modal verbs to express a degree of certainty or suggest a certain result:
If you drop that glass, it might break.
I may finish that letter if I have time.
If he calls you, you should go.
Conditional sentences type 2 are used to express situations that are not real and cannot happen in the future and assume the result if it could happen.
Subordination |
Main clause |
If + S + V-ed (Simple past) |
S + would + V (form 1 tense) |
For example:
Conditional sentences type 3 are used to describe events that did not happen in the past and to determine the result if it had happened. This sentence structure often implies regret or blame.
Subordination |
Main clause |
If + S + had + V-PII (Past Perfect) |
S + would + have + V-PII (2nd tense form) |
For example:
If I had worked harder I could have passed the exam. (But I didn’t work hard, and I didn’t pass the exam.
If I had known you were coming I would have baked a cake. (But I didn’t know and I didn’t bake a cake.
If she hadn’t got a job in London , she would have married him.
Mixed conditionals express contrary events that happened in the past and assume the result if these things had actually happened. These results would be contrary to the current truth.
Subordination |
Main clause |
If + S + had + V-PII (Past Perfect) |
S + would + V |
For example:
Just like verbs with regular verbs and irregular verbs, conditional sentence structures also have special cases that need attention.
In the conditional sentence there issubordinate clause in negative form, We can use “unless” instead of “if not…”
For example:
=> I will buy you a laptop unless you let me down.
=> I will go to Cao Bang tomorrow unless it rains.
=> Mary can’t let you in unless you give her the password.
In type I conditional sentences, we can use the simple future tense in the subordinate clause if the subordinate clause takes place after the present clause takes place.
For example:
In conditional sentences type 2, we use “were” instead of “was”
For example:
This usage is more formal and common.
The usage of conditional sentences type 2 and conditional sentences type 3 are often used in sentence structure wish andstructure of sentences would rather to express regret or blame someone for doing or not doing something:
For example:
=> I wish I had reviewed for the exam.
=> I would rather I had reviewed for the exam.
=> I wish I had gone to that party.
=> I would rather I had gone to that party.