Conditional Sentences

Conditional Sentences / If-Clauses Type I, II, and III

 

Conditional Sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If Clauses. They are used to express that the action in the main clause (without if) can only take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if) is fulfilled. There are three types of Conditional Sentences.

Conditional Sentence Type 1

Form: if + Simple Present, will-Future

Example: 

1. If I find his address, I will send his an invitation. 
2. If I do not see him this afternoon, I will phone him in the evening.
3. If the book is interesting, I will buy it.

Conditional Sentence Type 2

Form: if + Simple Past, Conditional I (= would + Infinitive)

Example:

1. If I found his address, I would send his an invitation.
2. If I knew him, I would have said hello.
3. If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.

Conditional Sentence Type 3

Form: if + Past Perfect, Conditional II (= would + have + Past Participle)

Example:

1. If I had found his address, I would have sent his an invitation.
2. If I had not studied, I would not have passed my exams.
3. If I had learned for the test, I would not have failed it.