10th Class English Grammar (All Topics) Conditionals

         Conditionals

Introduction: There are several structures in English which are called conditionals. 'Condition' means 'situation or circumstance'. If a particular condition is true, then a particular result happens. There are three basic conditionals that we use very often. There are some more conditionals that we do not use so often. The conditionals are used to talk about real or unreal situations. They are also sometimes called if-clauses. Real Conditional describes real-life situations. Unreal Conditional describes unreal or imaginary situations.  

If a certain condition is true, then a particular result happens.

There are four basic conditionals that we use in English.

(i) Zero Conditional

(ii) First Conditional

(iii) Second Conditional

(iv) Third Conditional  

            Zero Conditional: Certainty  

The Zero Conditional is used for things that are always true as long as the condition is met.

Formation: if+ present simple + present simple  

            First Conditional  

A First Conditional sentence is for future actions dependent on the result of another future action or event, where there is a reasonable possibility of the conditions for the action being satisfied.

Formation: if + present simple + will  

            Second Conditional: Imaginary Present or Unlikely Future  

The Second Conditional can be used to talk about imaginary present situations, where we are imagining something different from what is really the case. We can also use it to talk about things in the future that are unlikely to happen, as the condition is unlikely to be met. We use the past tense in the condition part and would for the result.

Formation: if + past simple, + would + base form  

            Third Conditional: Imaginary Past  

The Third Conditional is used when we are talking about the past and imagining something different from what actually happened, that means for imaginary past actions, where the conditions for the action were not satisfied.

Formation: If + past perfect, + would have + past participle