Conditional Sentences - Definition, Types and Examples

Sentences are classified into various types based on what the sentence conveys. Sentences that express a request or a demand are referred to as an imperative sentence and those that state facts or general truths are called assertive or declarative sentences. Likewise, conditional sentences are those that lay out a condition. In this article, you will be introduced to what conditional sentences are, the types of conditional sentences, along with examples to help you understand well.

Table of Contents

• What Are Conditional Sentences? – Meaning and Definition
• Types of Conditional Sentences with Examples
  • Zero Conditional Sentences
  • First Conditional Sentences
  • Second Conditional Sentences
  • Third Conditional Sentences
• Check Your Understanding of Conditional Sentences
• Frequently Asked Questions on Conditional Sentences in English

What Are Conditional Sentences?

Conditional sentences express conditions that are required to be followed in order to achieve the desired end results. According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, a conditional sentence is defined as “a sentence that begins with if or unless and expresses a condition”, and according to the Collins Dictionary, “if a situation or agreement is conditional on something, it will only happen or continue if this thing happens”.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines a conditional sentence as “ a sentence, often starting with “if” or “unless”, in which one half expresses something which depends on the other half”, and according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a conditional is defined as “the mood or form that is used to say that something is true or happens only if something else is true or happens”.

Types of Conditional Sentences with Examples

In the English language, conditional sentences are divided into four main types namely,

• Zero Conditional Sentences
• First Conditional Sentences
• Second Conditional Sentences
• Third Conditional Sentences

Let us take a look at each type of conditional sentence in detail.

Zero Conditional Sentences

A zero conditional sentence is one which refers to a general truth. It denotes situations in which a particular thing or action always results in the other. In zero conditional sentences, both the dependent clause and the independent clause are written in the simple present tense. This is mainly due to the fact that the outcomes are guaranteed.

A few examples of zero conditional sentences are given below.

Examples of Zero Conditional Sentences

• When you smoke, your lungs are affected.
• The lawn gets wet when it rains.
• Babies cry when they are hungry and sick.
• If you don’t water the plants, they die.
• If you don’t exercise, you gain weight.

First Conditional Sentences

First conditional sentences are those sentences that express a situation in which the end result would be the one to most likely happen. This, however, is not the guaranteed outcome.

The tense used in a first conditional sentence is as follows:

• Simple present tense in the ‘if clause’ – the dependent clause.
• Simple future tense in the independent clause which expresses the outcome that is most likely to happen in the future as a result of the other action expressed in the ‘if clause’.

Take a look at the examples below to understand.

Examples of First Conditional Sentences

• If you talk to someone about how you feel, you will feel better.
• If you are focussed, you will achieve your goal.
• If you take some medicines, you will feel better.
• If you go out now, you will get wet in the rain.
• If you like animated movies, you will like Inside out.

Second Conditional Sentences

Second conditional sentences are sentences in which hypothetical situations or unrealistic events that are not likely to ever happen are mentioned. In this type of conditional sentences, the tense used would be – simple past tense for the ‘if clause’ and use of a modal auxiliary along with a main verb in the independent clause. The common modal auxiliaries used in second conditional sentences include might, would, could, should, etc.

Look at the example sentences given below to learn how they work.

Examples of Second Conditional Sentences

• If I had a teleporting device, I would travel around the world in a jiffy.
• If I knew animation graphics, I would create real life animated characters.
• If I had a time travel machine, I could go back to my past and change a few things.
• If I won the lottery, I would buy all the famous super cars.
• If I had a choice, I would never marry at all.

Third Conditional Sentences

Third conditional sentences express alternate circumstances in the present. This is used to indicate that the outcome would have been different if there was a change in the past event mentioned in the dependent clause. The tense rules to be followed in third conditional sentences are – past perfect tense in the ‘if clause’ (the dependent clause) and modal auxiliary verb (would, should, could, etc.) + have + past participle in the independent clause.

Take a look at the following sentence examples to understand.

Examples of Third Conditional Sentences

• If I had been there, I would have surely helped you in one way or another.
• If Ashish had been with me, he would have known how to make me feel better.
• If they had taken him to hospital sooner, he would not have died.
• If you had not fought with me, everything would have been fine.
• If the teacher had informed us earlier, we could have finished it in time.

Check Your Understanding of Conditional Sentences

Go through the following sentences and identify what type of conditional sentences they are.

1. If my parents had not consented to the surgery, my life would have been different.

2. If we let them know, they will be able to do something.

3. If I had an invisibility cloak, I could disappear whenever I wanted to.

4. If she had not gone home, she would have been happier.

5. If nobody understood you, you could leave.

6. If you do not follow the traffic rules, you will be punished.

7. If I had magical powers, I could change the world.

8. If you eat fast food every day, you get sick.

9. If they stay indoors, they will not become sick.

10. If I were a bird, I would happily fly around the world.

Now, check the answers to see if you identified them correctly.

1. If my parents had not consented to the surgery, my life would have been different. – Third Conditional Sentence

2. If we let them know, they will be able to do something. – First Conditional Sentence

3. If I had an invisibility cloak, I could disappear whenever I wanted to. – Second Conditional Sentence

4. If she had not gone home, she would have been happier.- Third Conditional Sentence

5. If nobody understood you, you could leave. – Second Conditional Sentence

6. If you do not follow the traffic rules, you will be punished. – First Conditional Sentence

7. If I had magical powers, I could change the world. – Second Conditional Sentence

8. If you eat fast food every day, you get sick. – Zero Conditional Sentence

9. If they stay indoors, they will not become sick. – First Conditional Sentence

10. If I were a bird, I would happily fly around the world. – Second Conditional Sentence