To express or put forth trade off like dilemmas or hypothetical possibility, conditional sentences are used. We classify them as zero, first, second, and third conditional sentences.
In terms of role, conditional sentences” indicate trade off dilemmas, general truth, scientific facts, likely possibilities, future possibilities, missed opportunities and much more.
In the conditional sentences, final results depends upon the earlier occured condition or causes. For example, If you put iron nearby to magnet, it will surely attract the iron.
Simple explanation of conditional sentences
Here, “Putting the iron nearby to magnet” is causal factor or earlier condition that results in attraction of iron. Usually, conditional sentences are expressed by if….clauses.
Simply, final result will not be possible until the requirements are fulfilled. Hence, earlier causal factor becomes condition for subsequent result.
In our day-to-day life, conditional sentences we use to form complex and mixed sentences, to express hypothetical or trade off like dilemmas. On the basis degree of likeliness of results are obtained, these conditionals are having four basis types.
Easy guide to learn zero, first, second, third conditional sentences
Here On, in a concise manner I’m going to simply the zero, first, second, third conditional sentences with meanings and examples.
1. Structure function and examples of Zero conditional sentence
1. Zero conditional statementsZero conditional describes general truth or scientific facts. Those results are unavoidable can be shown with the help of zero conditionals. Possibility of result is most likely that is 100%.
To make zero conditional sentences we have to take if….clause as well as main clause in Simple present tense. First of all, let’s begin with structure of zero conditional sentence. Following examples are showing general truth or assurance of result.
“If clause…..main clause”
1.If you expose yourself to struggle as early as possible, you could learn key lessons of live.
2.If you put iron nearby to magnet, it can attract the iron easily.
3.Or magnet attracts iron if you put it close or nearby to.
4.Bacteria spreads rapidly if humidity increases in atmosphere.
5.Eyes suffer badly if you study late night on PC or mobile.
4.people become fatty or lazy If they eat too much and too late at night.
2. First conditional statement or sentence
If there is an assurance about the result but you cannot give guarantee of the specific result. In such circumstances, we have to use first conditional sentence.
In the formation of first conditional sentence, we have to use “If…..clause” in the simple present tense, whereas Simple future tense dominates main clause. Surely, simple future tense indicates the likely possibility of a certain result.
“If clause……main clause”, and “When clause…..main clause”
1.If you practice regularly, you will regain your lost form.
2.If you care his childhood properly, one day he will become better person.
3.We will not receive you if it rains.
4.If it rains, traffic jam will not let us to go out.
5. Mother will become furious if the daughter reveals her mistake.
3. Describing Second conditional sentence with examples
Second conditional sentence expresses impossible results or unlikely possibility of a specific result.
In the formation, If….clause remains in the Simple past tense, whereas main clause comes with Modal auxiliary verbs — would, could, should, might and infinitive.
Compare to zero and first conditional sentences, in the second conditional, there is minimum chances of possibility of assurance or likelihood.
It is like just imagination and outcome is not going to become reality. Modal verbs in main clause indicate the mood or unlikeliness of a result or mere possibilities.
“If clause in simple past, and main clause with modal verbs”
1.If he were the captain, he could handle the situation easily.
2.I would receive you at the airport if I had idea of yours coming.
3.If we had an extra bed room, we would not let you stay at the lodge.
4.People would recognise me if I achieved the success.
5.If you didn’t leave doggy alone, doggy would not go missing.
6.I could make money even in the falling market if I had a demat account of stock market.
4. Third conditional statements or sentences
It is used to express present or future results on the basis of past causal situation. Third conditional sentence expresses irreversible past actions which cannot change the present possible results.
In the formation, we have to use If clause in perfect past tense while main clause takes modal verbs structure (would, should, could, might ) with have + past participle.
“if….. clause in past perfect tense, while main clause with modal verbs”
1.If our party had won the elections, people would not have suffered like this.
2.Board of directors would have accepted the proposal if you had convinced them properly.
3.My grand parents could have retained their property if they had not became the pray of some wrong estate dealers.
4.He would have ruined his life in a vain if his father had not warned him before time.
5. If his father had not warned him, he could have lost his bike.
Short summary of zero, first, second, third conditional sentences
1.Conditional sentences form complex or compound sentences.
2. If….clause is a subordinate clause of condition.
3. Do not use comma when if clause follows the main clause.
4.”When” can be used to replace if in a if….clause in zero conditionals.
5.Probability or likeliness of an outcome goes decreasing from zero to third conditional sentences.
Finally, so far, I have explained one by one zero, first, second, third conditional sentences with rules, formation processes and easy examples. The degree of possibility goes declining from zero to third conditional sentence.
Noun Clause And Adjective Clause
Perception imagination and visualisation