Question

WHAT ARE CONDITIONALS AND THEIR TYPES WITH EXAMPLES

Answer 1

Conditional tenses are used to speculate about what could happen, what might have happened, and what we wish would happen. In English, most sentences using the conditional contain the word if. Many conditional forms in English are used in sentences that include verbs in one of the past tenses. This usage is referred to as "the unreal past" because we use a past tense but we are not actually referring to something that happened in the past. There are five main ways of constructing conditional sentences in English. In all cases, these sentences are made up of an if clause and a main clause. In many negative conditional sentences, there is an equivalent sentence construction using "unless" instead of "if".

Conditional sentence typeUsageIf clause verb tenseMain clause verb tenseZeroGeneral truthsSimple presentSimple presentType 1A possible condition and its probable resultSimple presentSimple futureType 2A hypothetical condition and its probable resultSimple pastPresent conditional or Present continuous conditionalType 3An unreal past condition and its probable result in the pastPast perfectPerfect conditionalMixed typeAn unreal past condition and its probable result in the presentPast perfectPresent contditionalTHE ZERO CONDITIONAL

The zero conditional is used for when the time being referred to is now or always and the situation is real and possible. The zero conditional is often used to refer to general truths. The tense in both parts of the sentence is the simple present. In zero conditional sentences, the word "if" can usually be replaced by the word "when" without changing the meaning.

If clauseMain clauseIf + simple presentsimple presentIf this thing happensthat thing happens.If you heat iceit melts.If it rainsthe grass gets wet.

Read more about how to use the zero conditional.

TYPE 1 CONDITIONAL

The type 1 conditional is used to refer to the present or future where the situation is real. The type 1 conditional refers to a possible condition and its probable result. In these sentences the if clause is in the simple present, and the main clause is in the simple future.

If clauseMain clauseIf + simple presentsimple futureIf this thing happensthat thing will happen.If you don't hurryyou will miss the train.If it rains todayyou will get wet.

Read more about how to use the type 1 conditional.

TYPE 2 CONDITIONAL

The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a time that is now or any time, and a situation that is unreal. These sentences are not based on fact. The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a hypothetical condition and its probable result. In type 2 conditional sentences, the if clause uses the simple past, and the main clause uses the present conditional.

If clauseMain clauseIf + simple pastpresent conditional or present continuous conditionalIf this thing happenedthat thing would happen. (but I'm not sure this thing will happen) OR
that thing would be happening.If you went to bed earlieryou would not be so tired.If it rainedyou would get wet.If I spoke ItalianI would be working in Italy.

Read more about how to use the type 2 conditional with the present conditional and how to use the present continuous conditional in type 2 conditional sentence.

TYPE 3 CONDITIONAL

The type 3 conditional is used to refer to a time that is in the past, and a situation that is contrary to reality. The facts they are based on are the opposite of what is expressed. The type 3 conditional is used to refer to an unreal past condition and its probable past result. In type 3 conditional sentences, the if clause uses the past perfect, and the main clause uses the perfect conditional.

If clauseMain clauseIf + past perfectperfect conditional or perfect continuous conditionalIf this thing had happenedthat thing would have happened. (but neither of those things really happened) OR
that thing would have been happening.If you had studied harderyou would have passed the exam.If it had rainedyou would have gotten wet.If I had accepted that promotionI would have been working in Milan.

Read more about how to use the type 3 conditional with the perfect conditional tense, and how to use the perfect continuous conditional in type 3 conditional sentences.

MIXED TYPE CONDITIONAL

The mixed type conditional is used to refer to a time that is in the past, and a situation that is ongoing into the present. The facts they are based on are the opposite of what is expressed. The mixed type conditional is used to refer to an unreal past condition and its probable result in the present. In mixed type conditional sentences, the if clause uses the past perfect, and the main clause uses the present conditional.

If clause Main clause If + past perfect or simple past present conditional or perfect conditional If this thing had happened that thing would happen. (but this thing didn't happen so that thing isn't happening)If I had worked harder at school I would have a better job now.If we had looked at the map we wouldn't be lost.If you weren't afraid of spiders you would have picked it up and put it outside.

Answer 2

Explanation:

Conditional

Conditional sentence typeUsageIf clause verb tenseZeroGeneral truthsSimple presentType 1A possible condition and its probable resultSimple presentType 2A hypothetical condition and its probable resultSimple pastType 3An unreal past condition and its probable result in the pastPast perfect