Conditional Sentences

Conditional Sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If Clauses. They are used to express that the action in the main clause (without if) can only take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if) is fulfilled. There are three types of Conditional Sentences.

Conditional Sentence Type 1

→ It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled.
Form: if + Simple Present, will-Future

Example: If I find her address, I’ll send her an invitation.

more on Conditional Sentences Type I ►

Conditional Sentence Type 2

→ It is possible but very unlikely, that the condition will be fulfilled.
Form: if + Simple Past, Conditional I (= would + Infinitive)

Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation.

more on Conditional Sentences Type II ►

Conditional Sentence Type 3

→ It is impossible that the condition will be fulfilled because it refers to the past.
Form: if + Past Perfect, Conditional II (= would + have + Past Participle)

Example: If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.

more on Conditional Sentences Type III ►

Exceptions

Sometimes Conditional Sentences Type I, II and III can also be used with other tenses.

more on Conditional Sentences used with other tenses ►

Exercises on Conditional Sentences

Conditional Sentence Type 1

• Exercise on If Clauses Type I
• Exercise 2 on If Clauses Type I

Conditional Sentence Type 2

• Exercise on If Clauses Type II
• Exercise 2 on If Clauses Type II

Conditional Sentence Type 3

• Exercise on If Clauses Type III
• Exercise 2 on If Clauses Type III

Mixed Exercises on Conditional Sentences

• Type I or II • Exercise 2 • Exercise 3
• Type I, II or III • Exercise 2 • Exercise 3
• Fairytale “The Cat and the Mouse”
• Exercise on “New Orleans” text

Exceptions

• Exercise on If Clauses Type I with Auxiliaries
• Exercise on If Clauses Type I • Exercise 2
• Exercise on If Clauses Type II
• Exercise on If Clauses Type III

Tests on Conditional Sentences

• Conditional Sentences Type 1
• Conditional Sentences Type 1 and 2
• Conditional Sentences Type 1, 2 and 3
• Conditional Sentences Type 1, 2, 3 and Exceptions