What are conditionals in English grammar? Sometimes we call them 'if clauses'. There are four kinds of conditional sentences as fo...
What are conditionals in English grammar? Sometimes we call them 'if clauses'.
There are four kinds of conditional sentences as follows:
1. Zero Conditional:
(if + present simple, ... present simple) - general truths and general habits
2. First Conditional:
(if + present simple, ... will + infinitive) - possible or likely things in the future
3. Second Conditional:
(if + past simple, ... would + infinitive) - impossible things in the present or unlikely things in the future
4. Third Conditional
(if + past perfect, ... would + have + past participle) - things that did not happen in the past and their imaginary results
Inverted conditionals: Conditional sentences with inversion are more formal than those that follow the usual word order.
Inversion is used in conditional sentences where “if” is replaced by “had”, “were” and “should”.
1. Should + S + V, S + will/should/may/shall + V
If it is warm, we will go for a picnic.
=> Should it be warm, we will go for a picnic.
2. Were S + to V/ Were S, S + would/could/might + V
If I were you, I would talk to the teacher.
=> Were I you, I would talk to the teacher.
If you listened carefully, you would know more about it.
=> Were you to listen carefully, you would know more about it.
3. Had + S + past participle, S + would/should/might have + past participle
If you had been careful, you wouldn't have cut yourself.
=> Had you been careful, you wouldn't have cut yourself.
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