Conditional Sentences (If Clauses):
Purpose: To express a condition and its result.
Example: "If it rains, we will stay indoors."
Conditional sentences express a relationship between two events or situations—one dependent on the other. There are different types of conditional sentences, including zero, first, second, third, and mixed conditionals. Here are examples of each:
Example: "If it rains, we will stay indoors."
Conditional sentences express a relationship between two events or situations—one dependent on the other. There are different types of conditional sentences, including zero, first, second, third, and mixed conditionals. Here are examples of each:
Zero Conditional:
If it rains, the streets get wet.
When you heat ice, it melts.
When you heat ice, it melts.
First Conditional (Possible or likely situations in the future):
If she studies hard, she will pass the exam.
Unless you hurry, you will miss the bus.
Unless you hurry, you will miss the bus.
Second Conditional (Unreal or hypothetical situations in the present or future):
If I had a million dollars, I would travel around the world.
If it were sunny today, we could go for a picnic.
If it were sunny today, we could go for a picnic.
Third Conditional (Unreal or hypothetical situations in the past):
If they had known about the traffic, they would not have been late.
She would have accepted the job if the salary had been higher.
She would have accepted the job if the salary had been higher.
Mixed Conditional (Combining elements of both second and third conditionals):
If he had studied more, he would be in a better job now.
If she were more careful, she wouldn't have broken her phone.
If she were more careful, she wouldn't have broken her phone.
Remember, conditional sentences are constructed using "if" or "unless" to introduce the condition, followed by a dependent clause (the condition) and an independent clause (the result or consequence). The choice of verb tenses in the clauses depends on the type of conditional sentence.