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A conditional sentence usually consists of a main clause and an if clause, and it is used for
talking about possible or imaginary situations.
The order of the two clauses is not important; it depends on the speakers intention which of the
two comes first.
Examples:
Examples:
We would have stayed at home if it had rained. (Reference to the past it didnt rain and
we didnt stay at home.)
The boss would have got angry if I had been late for work. (Reference to the past I
wasnt late and he wasnt angry.)
They would have finished earlier if the machine hadnt broken down. (It broke down, so
they didnt finish early.)
If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a house by the sea. (Impossibility I didnt
win and I couldnt buy a house.)
If you had left in time, you would have caught the last bus. (Past reference, now its late to
do anything about it.)
Would you have helped my sister if she had asked you? (No possibility, she didnt ask you.)
Zero Conditional
Certainty, factual implication, general fact, overall truth the result of this condition is always
the same.
Main clause: present, if clause: present.
Examples:
The time of the if clause is different from the time of the main clause, several kinds of
combinations may be used.
Examples:
If you had taught me how to make muffins (then in the past), I wouldnt have to buy them
in a shop (now).
I would buy a house by the sea (now or in the future) if I had won the lottery last week.
If I were in my mothers house, I wouldnt have stayed up so late last night.
We would have scored more in the match yesterday if we were good players.
Notes
If modal verbs like can/could, may/might or should are used in the main clause, they replace will:
If you will phone the manager now, he will surely make an appointment with you.
(willingness)
I would be very thankful if you would help me with my homework. (very polite request)
Should in if clauses may mean if perhaps, by any chance:
I would be very happy if he should turn up at the party. (Hes not at all likely to come, but
perhaps)
In negative sentences we can use unless instead of if not:
You wont pass the exam unless you study very hard. (= if you dont study very hard)
If can be omitted with inverted word order (usually in the third conditional if the if clause comes
first, and also in the second if the verb is were):