English Grammar: Conditional Sentences Rules

English Grammar: Conditional Sentences Rules

Hello, I am going to discuss and show you about the Conditional Sentences in English Grammar.English Grammar: Conditional Sentences Rules.

Conditional Sentences:

• Conditional sentences are those sentences in which the happening of an action is dependent upon the availability of the condition.
• A conditional sentence is a complex sentence, which has two clauses; one is subordinate clause and the other is principal clause. Usually the subordinate clause having ‘if/had/should’ at the beginning contains a condition and the principal clause contains an action.

·         Example: If you work hard, you will get your expected result.

¨      Here ‘if you work hard’ is a subordinate clause and it contains a condition and ‘you will get your expected result’ is a principal clause, which contains an action.

Each of the clauses in a conditional sentence may come at the beginning of the sentence.

·         Example: Both ‘If you work hard, you will get your expected result’ and ‘You will get your expected result, if you work hard.’ are correct sentences.

• There are two types of conditional sentence; real condition and unreal or hypothetical condition.
• Real Condition: Real condition means, it is possible that the condition will be found and hence the action will also be found.
• Unreal/hypothetical condition: Unreal/hypothetical condition means, the condition was not/will not be found and so the action did not /will not occur.
• Real conditions are used for present and future activities and for giving instructions, advice and making requests.

§  Example: If you are an honest man, you are trustworthy as well. (Present),

·         If you wait for me, I shall go with you. (Future),

¨      If you want to have heavenly pleasure, follow the rules of Islam. (instruction)

• Unreal conditions are used for past, present and future.

·         Example: If you had been present, your classmates would have seen you. (Past),

·         If you attended the meeting, we could elect you our captain.(present/future)

Structures:

Real Condition:

 Clause-1-present tense+clause-2-present/future tense or imperative sentence

• If with present form of verb + second clause in present/future/imperative

                    i.            If you get A+, you are a meritorious student. (present)

                  ii.            If you get A+, we shall reward you. (future)

                iii.            If you get A+, apply for the post. (imperative)

• ‘If’ with ‘to be verb’ in present form + second clause in present/future/imperative

                    i.            If you are a meritorious student, you are sincere as well.

                  ii.            If you are a meritorious student, we shall welcome you.

                iii.            If you are a meritorious student, join our team.

• ‘If’ with ‘to have verb’ in present form + second clause in present/future/imperative

                    i.            If you have sincerity and honesty, you are a trustworthy person.

                  ii.            If you have sincerity and honesty, we shall trust you.

                iii.            If you have sincerity and honesty, show it in practice.

Unreal Condition:

1. Clause-1-past tense + clause –2 contains would/could + present form of the verb. (present/future)
2. Clause-1-past perfect tense + clause –2 contains would/could + have + past participle form of the verb. (Past)/ Had + subject + p.p. of the verb + clause –2 contains would/could + have + past participle form of the verb.

Present and Future

• ‘If’ with past form of the verb + second clause with would/ could + present form of the verb

If I had time, I would attend your party. ( meaning-I know I shall not have time, so I shall not be able to attend your party)

• ‘If’ with past form of to be (were) + second clause with would/ could + present form of the verb

If you were honest, we would select you our representative. (meaning-We know you are not honest, so we can’t select you our representative)

• ‘If’ with past form of ‘to have verb’ + second clause with would/ could + present form of the verb

If you had sincerity and honesty, we could support you. ( meaning-You don’t have sincerity and honesty, so we cant support you)

 Past activity

• ‘If’ with past perfect (had + p.p. of verb) + second clause with would have + p.p. of verb

If you had arrived earlier, you would have got much necessary information. (meaning-You did not arrive earlier, so you didn’t get much necessary information)

• If with ‘had been’ + second clause with would have + p.p. of verb

If you had been present at that time we could have protest the injustice. (meaning-You were not present so we couldn’t protest the injustice)

• If with ‘had had’ + second clause with would have + p.p. of verb

If you had had sincerity and honesty, you could have commanded people’s respect. (meaning-You did not have sincerity and honesty, so you could not command the respect of the people)

Note: The difference between ‘if you had’ and ‘if you had had’

If you had sincerity and honesty, we could support you. (This structure is used for present and future activity and it means ‘We know that you don’t have sincerity and honesty and so we won’t support you.)

If you had had sincerity and honesty, you could have commanded people’s respect. (This structure is used for past activity and it means ‘You didn’t have sincerity and honesty and so you could command the respect of the people.)