Lesson 11 - Conditionals

A conditional relates to a sentence that expresses a condition. A conditional sentence is made up of two clauses, the first of which is the conditional clause and it commonly starts with� if . We refer to it as the� if-clause (or� if clause or� ‘if’ clause ). The if-clause contains a condition, which if fulfilled another action will take place.

Lesson 11 - Conditionals
1. The First Conditional
2. The Second Conditional
3. The Third Conditional
4. The Zero Conditional

The other clause of the conditional sentence is the� main clause (or result clause ). The main clause shows the effect of the action taken or if taken in the if-clause . The if-clause usually comes before the main clause although the reverse is possible. A comma comes after the if-clause if the clause comes before the main clause , but if the main clause comes earlier, no comma is required.

In this lesson on conditionals, only the conditional conjunction� if is used throughout. Conditional sentences using other conditional conjunctions are about similar in constructions. The other conditional conjunctions include as long as ,� provided , should ,� since ,� unless and when .

Examples:

If the building is unsafe, you enter at your own risk.
You enter at your own risk� if the building is unsafe.

(In the first conditional sentence, the if-clause comes before the main clause and a comma is required.)

*This conditional uses the simple present tense in both parts of the sentence and is described as the fourth type known as the ‘zero’ conditional .

There are three main types of conditional. They are commonly referred to as the First Conditional , the Second Conditional , and the Third Conditional . (or simply,� Type 1 ,� Type 2 or� Type 3 Conditionals .)

Each of these is explained further in the following sections: