What are the rules of conditional sentences?

What are the rules of conditional sentences?

There are three common types* of conditional sentence:

  • if clause > present simple tense : main clause > future tense (will) If you help me, I will help you.
  • if clause > past simple tense : main clause > would. If you knew her, you would agree with me.
  • if clause > past perfect tense : main clause > would have.

What is an example of a conditional sentence?

A conditional sentence tells what would or might happen under certain conditions. It most often contains an adverb clause beginning with ‘if’ and an independent clause. For example: “If it’s cold, I’ll wear a jacket” or “I’ll (I will) wear a jacket if it’s cold.” Either clause can go first.

What is first and second conditional?

1. The first conditional describes something that is possible, and could really happen. 2. The second conditional describes something that is possible, but will almost certainly not happen. Often there only difference between the first and the second conditional is the speaker’s opinion.

What is 1st conditional sentences?

The first conditional is used to express the future consequence of a realistic possibility now or in the future. For example, If I miss the train, I’ll take the next one. There is a 50% chance that the first part of this sentence (the action following ‘if’) will happen.

What is conditional sentence example?

Which is Type 2 conditional sentence?

Function. The type 2 conditional refers to an unlikely or hypothetical condition and its probable result. These sentences are not based on the actual situation. In type 2 conditional sentences, the time is now or any time and the situation is hypothetical.

Can you give two examples of conditional sentences?

The independent clause is a conditional perfect using would or another modal verb. “If you had studied, you would have passed that exam.” “If she hadn’t gotten sick, she might have won the singing contest.” “If that car had been two seconds later, it would have hit you.”

What are the rules of a conditional sentence?

Rules of Conditional Sentences in English Grammar. Conditional Sentences start with ‘If’ and each of them refers to the unreal past. This kind of sentences is also known as ‘If ‘sentence and here, past tense is used, but they do not refer to the past time. There are four main types of conditional sentences. • When the both parts of the sentence

When do you use the simple present tense in a conditional sentence?

Note that we use the simple present tense in the if-clause and simple future tense in the main clause—that is, the clause that expresses the likely outcome. This is how we indicate that under a certain condition (as expressed in the if-clause), a specific result will likely happen in the future.

When to use simple future in a conditional sentence?

As with most topics in the English language, conditional sentences often present special cases in which unique rules must be applied. Generally speaking, the simple future should be used only in the main clause. One exception is when the action in the if-clause will take place after the action in the main clause.

Which is the correct tense for a zero conditional?

There are a couple of things to take note of in the above sentences in which the zero conditional is used. First, when using the zero conditional, the correct tense to use in both clauses is the simple present tense. A common mistake is to use the simple future tense.