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Conditionals

Conditionals: imagined situations​

Conditional sentences consider imagined or uncertain situations and the possible results of these situations. The most common types of conditional sentences involve if:

  • [imagined situation] If I get the job in Milan, [result] I’ll be pretty happy.
  • [outcome] We’ll have the party in the garden [imagined situation] as long as it doesn’t rain.
  • (or … if it doesn’t rain. or … on condition that it doesn’t rain.)
See also
  • Conditionals: if
  • Conditionals: other expressions (unless, should, as long as)
  • If

Conditional sentences​

Conditional sentences consist of a conditional clause and a main clause:

  • [conditional clause] If a lot of people come, [main clause] we’ll have to get extra chairs.
  • [conditional clause] Unless you book weeks in advance, [main clause] you won’t get a flight.

The verb in the conditional clause reflects the speaker’s point of view on whether the imagined situation is likely or impossible:

  • If you win the next match, will you be in the semi-final? (present simple + will indicates the speaker thinks winning the match is possible or likely)
  • If I won a million pounds, I would give this job up tomorrow! (past simple + would indicates the speaker thinks winning a million pounds is not likely to happen)
  • If we had won the competition, we would have had a free trip to Moscow. (past perfect + would have refers to an impossible condition – the event did not happen)

Order of clauses​

Conditional clauses usually come before main clauses but they may also come after them:

  • If you see Dora*, will you give her a message?* (conditional clause first; a comma is normally used in writing)
  • I’ll go to Bristol tomorrow if the weather is good. (conditional clause second; a comma is not normally used in writing)

Verb forms in the conditional clause​

The verb in the conditional clause may be in the simple form or the continuous form, depending on the meaning:

  • If you owe money, you must pay it back immediately. (simple)
  • If you’re feeling hungry, we can go and get something to eat. (continuous)
  • If he had time, he always called in to see us. (simple)
  • If they were working, we always tried not to disturb them. (continuous)