Conditionals - if clauses - introduction
Conditional sentences consist of two parts:
the if clause
which is a condition,
and the main clause
which is a result.
For example
If it rains, we will cancel the trip.
If it rains... is the if-clause, the condition
An if-clause begins with IF
and has a subject and a verb.
We will cancel the trip
is the main clause, the result.
The word IF introduces a condition.
This is something that may or may not happen
depending on the circumstances.
We don't know exactly if it is going to rain
so we say: if it rains
And what is the result of this condition?
We will cancel the trip.
There is always a condition and a result.
The if-clause introduces a condition.
The main clause is the result of that condition.
What happens in the main clause
is conditional to what happens in the if-clause
In other words, the main clause only happens
when the events in the if-clause happen.
Note, there are two ways of ordering a conditional sentence
We can use condition comma + result
with a comma after the condition
or we could use result + condition
without a comma between the two.
Look at the original sentence.
If it rains, we will cancel the trip.
Notice how there is a comma after the verb 'rains'
which is the last part of the if-clause.
When the if-clause comes first in the sentence,
we put a comma after it.
If it rains comma we will cancel the trip
But, when the main clause comes first in the sentence,
the comma is not necessary.
We will cancel the trip if it rains.
Notice how there is no comma in this last sentence.
You can use either order.
They are both used and both correct.
Types of conditionals.
The four main types of conditionals are:
the zero conditional
the first conditional
second conditional
and the third conditional.
Sometimes these are called type 0, type 1, type 2, and type 3 conditionals.
We will quickly introduce them in this lesson and go into more detail about each conditional in individual lessons.
The zero conditional
This involves the present simple + the present simple
This is used for facts that are generally true or scientific facts.
The condition always has the same result.
For example
If you stand in the rain, you get wet.
This is generally true.
If you heat ice, it melts.
This is a fact.
The first conditional
This involves the present simple + will or its negative won't + the verb
This is used to express a possible situation in the future.
We are predicting a likely result in the future if the condition happens.
For example
If it rains, we will cancel the trip.
This is the likely result in the future if it rains.
If you study, you will pass the exam.
Again, I predict that this will happen in the future if you study.
The second conditional
This involves the past simple + would + the verb
This is used for hypothetical or unlikely situations.
Also for unreal or improbable situations now or in the future.
For example
If I won the lottery, I would travel a lot.
It is unlikely that I will win the lottery
but in this hypothetical situation,
this is what I would do.
If they sold their house, they would be rich.
It is unlikely that they will sell their house
because they like living there.
However, in the improbable situation of them selling the house,
they would become rich.
The third conditional
This involves the past perfect + would have + the past participle
This is used when a person is imagining a different past,
an imaginary situation that did not happen in the past.
For example
If you had studied, you would have passed the exam.
I imagine that if you had done this in the past
the result would have been different.
If I hadn't been sick, I would have gone to your party.
I'm imagining the situation of not being sick in the past,
something that I cannot change now
So, in general,
zero conditional refers to fact
first conditional and second conditional refer to the present or future.
However, second conditional sentences suggest it is less probable or imaginary.
Third conditional refers to the past.
There are more than these four types of conditional sentences,
though these are the ones that are used the most.
We will look at other types in future lessons.
Remember, this is just an introduction to conditionals.
We will now look at each of these four types of conditional sentences.
I hope you found this lesson about conditionals useful.
If you did, click like and subscribe to our channel
so you know when we create new videos to help you improve your English.
Have an awesome day!