Conditional Sentences
Conditional sentences are statements discussing known factors or hypothetical situations and their consequences. These sentences use conditional construction and verb forms, which is called the conditional mood. Complete conditional sentences contain a conditional clause and the consequence. As a refresher, a clause is a group of words with their own subject and verb. Consider the following sentence:
“If a certain condition is true, then a particular result happens.”
“I would travel around the world if I won the lottery.”
“When water reaches 100 degrees, it boils.”
The tricky part about constructing a conditional sentence is it involves many factors both in its form and meaning. Since there are various factors involved when writing conditional sentences, the rules can be explained in different ways. The properties of the entire conditional sentences are determined by the condition’s tense and degree of realness.
- Conditional Sentences
- “If” Clause
- Conditional sentences. “If” clause: verb in present, main clause: verb in past
- Conditional sentences. “If” clause: verb in past tense, main clause: verb in present tense
- Conditional sentences. Wrong verb in the unreal “if” clause
- Conditional sentences. “Was” instead of “were” in the unreal “if” clause
- Conditional sentences. Main clause: “would”, “if” clause: verb in present tense
- Conditional sentences. “If” (conditional) clause: “would”; main clause: future tense
- Conditional sentences. “If” clause: future tense, “result” clause: “Would”
- Conditional sentences. Main clause: “will”, “if” clause: verb in past
- Conditional sentences. Main clause: “will”, “if” clause: “will”
- Conditional sentences. Missing “would”
- Conditional sentences. “Would have” in the “if” clause