There are four main types of if sentences in English, often called conditional sentences.
These sentences are in two halves, with the if part in one half and the other part where you can use words such as can, will, may, might, could and would.
If + present form + present form
"If you heat ice, it melts."
In this type of sentence, you could use when instead of if. It's always true that when you heat ice it melts. This is why this type of sentence is sometimes called a zero conditional.
If + present form, + will, can or may
"If I am late, I will call you."
"If you need me, you can call me at home."
"If it gets any hotter, we may have a thunder storm."
In these sentences (or first conditional sentences), there is a strong possibility that the first part (coming after if) is going to happen. The second part says what will happen as a result.
If + past form + would, could or might
"If I got a pay rise, I would buy a new car."
"If you left your job, you could travel around the world."
"If you were nicer to him, he might lend you the money."
In these sentences, the first part with if shows that the event is unlikely to happen. In English, we often use this type of sentence (called a second conditional) to talk about hypotheses, or imaginary future events.
For example, "If I was President of the United States, I would change some laws." But I know that I'll never be the President of the USA – I'm just saying what I would do if I was in his/her position. Note: in American English, it is correct to use "if I were…" In British English, it's more common to say "if I was…"
If + past perfect + would/might/could have done
"If I had revised, I would have passed my exams."
"If we had gone out earlier, we might have got to the cinema on time."
"If you had told me there was a problem, I could have helped."
In these sentences (or third conditional sentences), the first part of the sentence with if didn't happen. So there is no possibility of the second part of the sentence happening. I didn't revise, so I didn't pass my exams and there is nothing I can do about it now. English speakers use this type of sentence to show how things could have been different.
80 comments on “"If" sentences”
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If I learned english well it would be a miracle
If not all answers had been "if clauses", i would have been surprised…
If I had known this web-site earlier, I would have saved a lot of time searching for the "if-sentence-rules".
Why it says "were" instead of "was" in this example:
I'd buy if it were on sale.
Because it's a type of subjunctive: we use "were" instead of "was" in second conditional sentences.
"If I were you, I would…"
If I were you , I would tell everyone about this site .
I STUDY IN THE INSTITUTE ,MY TEACHER GIVE ME THE SAME GRAMMAR AND THE SAME INFORMATION THANK YOU
IF I EAT SO MUCH ,I WILL BE FAT
Had I not understood the conditionals before, I would certainly do so now!
.. don't you just love 'mixed' conditionals!
If you fail , what will you do?
If you made friend with me,I would be verry pleased.
Can we use "would" in first conditional?
e.g. If you meet your father he would be very happy.
No. Use it in the second conditional:
If you met your father, he would be happy.
1. If you heat ice, it melts.
2. If you heat this metal, it will melt.
3. If you heated this metal, it might melt.
4. If you have heated this metal, it might have melted.
Is this correct?
1 – 3 are correct, but 4 should be "If you had heated…"
If you love me, you will hug me
Why it says "were" instead of "was" in this example:
I'd buy if it were on sale.
Because it's a type of subjunctive: we use "were" instead of "was" in second conditional sentences.
"If I were you, I would…"
if i have a girlfriend, i will kiss her.
if i have passed the CPA test ,uncle CAT will be very happy
If I got this job earlier,I could have progressed a lot.
Is this sentence correct?
if sachin gets an operation of his knee,he will recover soon frm his injury and fit for playing again in team india
if sachin got the operation of his knee erlier,he could play the odi series in sri lanka
if sachin had gone to london for his knee operation,he mightnot hve missed the odi series
Shwet » Yes.
What about the "wether" usage?
Thank you
Fabrizio
Fabrizio » We can use "whether" instead of "if" in indirect questions.
I don't know whether you'll like it or not.
She hasn't said whether she is going.
But we can't use "whether" instead of "if" in conditional sentences.
If you eat too much, you'll feel sick. (Whether can't be used here.)
Clare:::Shwet »Yes
I don't think so.. cause
Shwet::
If I got this job earlier,I could have progressed a lot.
Correct answer:: If I ""had"" got this job earlier,I could have progressed a lot.
???
can I say: If each of us got ourselves a double, we would have resolved the problem of solitude?
or do I need to say: 'would resolve'
Paola » It's "would resolve", but I'd say "If we all had a double…"
If I had taken my medicine, I might have felt better.
if i had had car i wouldnt have waited an hour for bus this morning
i will be happy if i can pass an examinaton today:-)
If I want to say thanks , It will be for this great website
thanks for your great website!could you please explain the use of SHOULD in conditional sentences(please with some details) & is it formal to use should instead of if?finaly is this sentence gramatically correct? should giving lectures was not a compolsary activity I wouldnt do it in this lifetime!
Yes, it's formal. You often see it in notices, which makes your example sentence a little strange-sounding. We'd be more likely to say "If giving lectures wasn't compulsory, I'd never do it!"
An example:
Should you fail to settle your outstanding debt within the next 14 days, we will have no option but to initiate legal proceedings,."
I think I understand your teacher's confusion: maybe it should be "on well" rather than "unwell"!
If you can't get on well with other people, you will find playing chess really helpful.
thanks for all ,but i want to give a note about a common mistakes
In the Present Unreal Conditional, the form "was" is not considered grammatically correct. In written English or in testing situations, you should always use "were." However, in everyday conversation, "was" is often used.
You are right. In British English, we often use "was" instead of "were" in spoken English.
I wish it were true.
I wish he would come now
I wish he could come now
Dear sir/ madam,
Please tell me about the use of when and if.
You can use when instead of if in zero conditionals. In first, second and third conditionals, use if, not when.
hi!there is still an ambeguity in my mind a bout the use of should instead of if:does it make a subjunctive mood when you use should instead of if in conditional sentences type 1 & 2? thanks a million!
Not as far as I know. It's just a more literary / formal way of using a conditional.
First question.
In Second Conditional in future meaning, is it possible to use 'would' or 'would not' in if-clause?
Like this,
If I would try my best, I should be able to succeed in my undertaking.
If I would not try my best, my father should scold me.
Second question.
If it is possible to use 'would', what is different 'should' and 'were to'?
If it should be fine tomorrow, I would go fishing.
If it were to be fine tomorrow, I would go fishing.
And I really wonder which sentence you use much more as native speaker above these sentences or other forms. Would you speak why?
Third question
In Conditionals, could we use 'not' in if-clause?
Like this.
If he had not the money, I would not be mistaken in thinking that he was dishonest.
Thank you for reading.
You can use "If I were to…." but this is formal and not often used in spoken English. Don't use "would" in the if clause, but a past form (for second conditionals).
You can use negatives in if sentences.
If he didn't have the money, I wouldn't be mistaken….
The chapter was really benificial for me as I am teaching English Language in one of the Institutes inside Afghanistan, so it helped me.
Thanks
Hi claire…please tell whether this sentence is correct or not :
if the requests are on prodution systems, it should be logged on our tracker system.
The conditional is correct, but you have requests (plural) followed by it (singular). I'd rewrite it:
If the request is on the ……, it should be logged…
thanks claire !
if I want to write this sentence in plural ….If the requests are on the….., (…) should be logged….
My question is what should be written at the place of 'it'.
I have one more query as I have mentioned above "at the place of 'it'"…..mentiong 'at the place is correct here.
If the requests ….. they—-
i was very confused abt imaginary sentences …n i found english at home ..if i hadnt found this briliant website i wouldnt hv cleared my doubt..thnx…
if i had not found this web-site, i couldn't have ………
Hello,
Can i say "If we started, We would have settled by this time" or am i need to use "might have settled"
"If we had started on time, we would / might have arrived by now." (I don't know what you mean by "settled".)
if i log on this website regularly, i may learn some english!
as usual I have never read a page here without confusion. ):
1-first look at this phrase and tell me whether its correct or not:
" If I had my wishes granted, I would be overjoyed"
then can I exchange between the two sentences:
"I would be overjoyed if I had my wishes granted"
2-if the if-clause sentence has more than one verb how we can deal with them?:
" if I had a car, I would drive her wherever she (want)"
3-"If you need me, you can call me at home."
can I change it using "when" into:
"when u need me, u can call me at home"????
it sounds familiar to my ear..
thanks & regards
1. Yes
2. … wherever she wanted (keep the tense the same as in the if-clause part of the sentence)
3. Yes, you can use "when" for zero conditions instead of "if"
if we work hard we cannot fail in life.english always come with expoyer n confidance we muat speak no mater right or wrong with out bothering others
Hi,
thanks for this.
does a conditonal statement *have* to start with/include the word 'if'? what if it is implied?
for example, 2 people talking:
Fred: What must I do to get a glass of water?
Barney: Jump up and down, and I will give you a drink.
Is this a conditional sentence?
Thanks.
No, it's not a conditional sentence. To make it conditional, you can write:
"If you jump up and down, I'll get you a drink."
if you drop me at home, i will offer you a cup of tea.
if you told me about his intentions, i would save my money and energy.
if the government had warned about heavy rain, people mighthave saved their animals.
are the above sentences are correct.
Yes!
Is this is correct? A customer service person is trying to debug a customer computer issue and sending an email related to that.
If you can provide me access to your computer that will be great.
That's fine!
If fails, do this…
or
If failed, do this…
and why?
Thanks
Neither is correct to me.
If all else fails, do this… (zero conditional)
Can you please help me? I am struggling with extremely rare events (zero conditional).
Should I say:
‘When you witness a murder, please call 112 immediately.’
‘If you witness a murder, please call 112 immediately’
or is it more natural to say this in another way?
Is there a (subtle) difference between the two sentences?
If you witness… is more correct, as "when you witness" suggests that you will witness one.
hi
is it right to say
if i were you i would be a rich man.
No. "If I were you…" is used to give advice, not really to talk about hypothetical situations.
Hi,
Thank you very much!
Here is my question:
Which one is the right one and what is the difference:"If I did not tell him,he would not know" and "If I had not told him,he would not have known"?
Thanks again!
They're both correct. The first one refers to a hypothetical situation, while the second refers to a situation in the past that you are commenting on.
Hello!Can you please help me!
I have heard this:"If he is lucky,he could get the job".
Is this correct?Dosen't it have to be"If he was lucky,he could get the job" or "If he is lucky,he can get the job"?
Can we use could/would/might that way?
You can use could / should / might with first conditionals because they can refer to future possibilities.
Hello!Can you please help me!
I have heard this:"If he is lucky,he could get the job".
Is this correct?Dosen't it have to be"If he was lucky,he could get the job" or "If he is lucky,he can get the job"?
Can we use could/would/might that way?
Hello!Can you please help me!
I have heard this:"If he is lucky,he could get the job".
Is this correct?Dosen't it have to be"If he was lucky,he could get the job" or "If he is lucky,he can get the job"?
Can we use could/would/might that way?
We can use "could" to refer to a future possibility, so the sentence is fine. You can use could / should/ might in first conditionals, but use would in second conditionals.
pls correct my sentence: If he comes back his country, I'll quit job
If he comes back, I'll quit my job.
dear clare,
how about the usage of 'if only'? is it considered as a conditional sentence?
It's like saying "I wish".
If only I could sing well = I wish I could sing well.
