GLOW: Grammar Lessons On the Web

For the exclusive use of employees of the U.S. Department of State--by Tillyer Associates

Conditional Sentences: Real and Unreal

We use conditional sentences a lot. Here are a few:

 

If you are late to the theater, you will not be seated until intermission.

If you mix ammonia and chlorine bleach, you will create a smelly, dangerous solution.

If you take the 8 a.m. flight to New York, you don't have to change planes.

 

If I were the ambassador, I'd make sure the President hears about this.

If I were a little taller, I'd be able to water the plant on the top shelf.

If I spoke French, I'd warn Francois.

 

If Ambassador Fox hadn't gone to college with the President, he might not have been given the ambassadorship.

If it had rained last night, it wouldn't be so hot today.

If we hadn't had that problem with the car, we wouldn't have missed the speech.


What are the differences in these three groups of conditional sentences?
 

Notice that the three sentences in the first group are all true. Well, we don't know about the 8 a.m. flight, but it sounds as if the information is being given on good authority! All three sentences tell what will happen (result) if certain conditions are met. These are real conditions.

The second group tells what might happen (result) if some unreal conditions were met. I'm not the ambassador, I'm not taller, and I don't speak French. Thus, none of these outcomes (results) will materialize.

The third group just speculates about what would result if past conditions had been different. These are considered unreal past conditional sentences.

Forming Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentences have two clauses:
 
 
 

Dependent Clause 

Independent Clause

"If" Clause

 "Result" Clause

Condition

 Result

If you stay in the sun too long, 

you will get sunburned!

If you drink too much whiskey, 

you'll get sick.

If you study hard and practice a lot,

your English will improve.

The clauses can be reversed. If the dependent (If) clause comes first in the sentence, you must separate them with a comma. You shouldn't use a comma if the independent clause comes first.

You will get sunburned if you stay in the sun too long!

You'll get sick if you drink too much whiskey.

Your English will improve if you study hard and practice a lot.

The difference in meaning between the first pattern and the second, if there is one, is in the statement's intent.

Specific Warning:

If you stay up too late, you'll be really tired tomorrow.

General Statement: 

You'll be really tired tomorrow if you stay up too late.

Verb Forms with Conditionals

Real (Factual) conditions:
 
 
 

If clause=present tense 

Result clause=future tense

If you eat too much ice cream,

you'll get sick.

If Betsy needs help, 

she will call us.

Unreal Conditions--present:
 
 
 

If clause=simple past

Result clause=would or could + base form of verb

If I had more time, 

I'd do exercises everyday.

If you were* rich,

 you could buy a large house in the suburbs.

If Patricia owned a dog, 

she would walk him everyday.

 

* It is a peculiarity of unreal conditional sentences that all persons of the verb be are written as were. This will likely disappear in American English in the next 20 years.

Unreal Conditions--past:
 
 
 

If clause=past perfect

Result clause=would have + past participle or  would + be

If Ronald had stayed in school,

he would have gotten a better job.

If I had invented the personal computer,

I would be rich today.

If the kids hadn't eaten all the ice cream, 

we could have had dessert.

Questions with Conditions

You can, of course, ask questions with conditions:

Yes-no Questions
 

Does the dog get angry if you forget to feed him?

Would it hurt the car if you put apple juice in the gas tank?

Does it hurt your computer if you leave it on all night?

Information Questions
 

What happens to your computer if you leave it on all night?

What would happen if you put apple juice in the gas tank?

Unreal: What would you do if you got the job?

Real: What will you do if you get the job?

Remember: The main thing to consider when you are writing conditional sentences
                    is whether or not the condition (IF clause) is real or possible.
 

Unreal condition:

If I were the king of the world, I would make it easy to write English.

Real condition:

If you practice your English everyday, it will improve.


Practice #1    Practice #2     List of Lessons

İTillyer Associates