Mister Guru

o you understand what these sentences imply?
Do you know what they mean?

• "If you had left earlier, you would have caught the train." or
• "You will make yourself ill if you eat all those chocolates."

They are called conditional sentences. A conditional sentence consists of two clauses; the if-clause, and the main clause. The if-clause can come first or second. When it comes first, we usually put a comma between the two clauses.

There are 4 (four) types of conditional sentences, including mixed conditional.

1. Conditional Sentence Type 1

The if-clause is in the present tense, the main clause uses will and the infinitive, or simple present.

Conditional Sentence Type 1

IF CLAUSE	MAIN CLAUSE	MEANING
Simple present	Simple present	True in the present or possible in future
If you work hard,	you succeed.	It’s possible to happen in the future
Simple present	Simple future
If you work hard,	you will succeed.

When do we use conditional sentence type 1?

1. We use conditional sentence type 1 to talk about possible situations in the present or future.
   
   • If you leave earlier, you will not be late.
   • If you open the windows, the room will get some fresh air.
2. We often use conditional type 1 to talk about facts or processes:
   
   • If you heat water to 100 degrees, it will boil.
   • If we stare into the sun, we will hurt our eyes.

Note:

Other modal verbs can also be used in place of will and would.

• If it rains like this all day, the river might flood. (might = will possibly)
  
• If it rains like this all day, the river could flood. (could = will be able to)

2. Conditional Sentence Type 2

The if-clause is in the simple past or the past continuous tense, the main clause uses would and the infinitive, or would be and the present participle (Verb-ing).

Conditional Sentence Type 2

IF CLAUSE	MAIN CLAUSE	MEANING
Simple past	would + simple form	Untrue in the present
If you worked hard,	you would succeed.	Fact: You don’t work hard, so you don’t succeed.
Past continuous	would be + present participle
If it were not raining now,	I would be going out for a walk.	Fact: It’s raining now, so I’m not going out for a walk.

When do we use conditional sentence type 2?

Conditional sentence type 2 is used to talk about actions or situations that are not taking place in the present or future, but we can imagine the probable result.

• If we didn’t live in a big city, we would not have to breathe polluted air everyday. (In truth, we live in a big city)
• If he were here, I would tell him about my plan.
  (In fact, he isn’t here)

Note:

• ‘Were’ is used for both singular and plural subjects.
• The use of type 2 conditional in “If I were you, I would ....” is a common form of advice.

3. Conditional Sentence Type 3

The if-clause is in the past perfect or the past perfect continuous tense, the main clause uses would have and past participle (Verb 3), or would have been and present participle (Verb-ing).

Conditional Sentence Type 3

IF CLAUSE	MAIN CLAUSE	MEANING
Past perfect	would have + past participle	Untrue in the past
If you had worked hard,	you would have succeeded.	Fact: You didn’t work hard, so you didn’t succeed.
Past perfect continuous	would have been + present participle
If it had not been raining yesterday afternoon,	I would have been going out for a walk.	Fact: It was raining yesterday afternoon. I was not going out for a walk.

When do we use conditional sentence type 3?

Conditional sentence type 3 is used to talk about actions or situations that did not take or were not taking place in the past, but we can imagine the probable result.

• If you had come to the party last night, you would have met my cousin. (In truth, you didn’t come to the party last night)
• If he had not been late this morning, his teacher would not have punished him. (In truth, he was late)

4. Mixed Conditional Sentence

Mixed conditional sentence is a combination of conditional sentence type 2 and conditional sentence type 3.

Mixed Conditional Sentence

IF CLAUSE	MAIN CLAUSE	MEANING
Simple past	would have + past participle	Untrue in the present or future.
If I were a bird,	I would have flown to your place last night.	Fact: I am not a bird, so I didn’t fly to your place.
Past perfect	would + simple form	Untrue in the past.
If you had worked hard,	you would succeed.	Fact: You didn’t work hard. Now, you don’t succeed.

When do we use mixed conditional sentence?

Mixed conditional sentence is used to talk about actions or situations that did not take or were not taking place in the past, but we can imagine the probable result in the present, or actions or situations that do not take place in the present, but we can imagine the probable result in the past.

• If you lived near the factory, you would have heard the sound of the explosion. (In truth, you don’t live near the factory. Therefore, you didn't hear the sound of the explosion.)
• If he had not been late this morning, he would be permitted to join the test. (In truth, he was late. Therefore, he is not permitted to join the test.)

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Relevant Resources

• To do the exercise or test on conditional sentences, go to Interactive Grammar Test: Conditional Sentence.
• To read how conditional sentence is used as a testing point in TOEFL Test, read Tips TOEFL: Strategi Mengerjakan Test TOEFL Dengan Mengenali Testing Point.
• To learn more about conditional sentences, watch the following video:

Reference:

1. Azar B.S. Understanding and Using English Grammar (2nd Ed). NJ: Prentice-Hall. Inc, 1989.
2. Thomson-Martinet (1986). A Practical English Grammar (4th Ed). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
3. Swan, M. (1980) Practical English Usage. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
4. EverydayEnglish, Conditionals in English | Daily English Conversation, https://youtu.be/jk3SKf0mFaw

Before you do this exercise, make sure you have read and review the explanation about Conditional sentences here:
Conditional Sentences Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, and Mixed Conditional.

1. If she had come to the meeting yesterday afternoon, she ... involved in decision making.
   
   1. were
   2. would be
   3. had been
   4. would have been
   5. was.

2. The truth implied by the sentence in problem no. 1 is ....
   
   1. She isn't coming to the meeting.
   2. She came to the meeting.
   3. She didn't come to the meeting.
   4. She had come to the meeting.
   5. She comes to the meeting.
3. If you had invited her to your party, I ... with her.
   
   1. had come
   2. would come
   3. would have come
   4. will come
   5. came
4. The truth implied by the sentence in problem no. 3 is ....
   
   1. She came to the party to your party.
   2. You invited her to your party.
   3. You didn't invite her to your party.
   4. You had invited her to your party.
   5. You don't invite her to your party.
5. There would be a risk of accident if you ... that cable on the floor.
   
   1. would leave
   2. left
   3. were left
   4. would have left
   5. leave
6. Annie ... you if she had had your phone number.
   
   1. had called
   2. would call
   3. calls
   4. would have called
   5. will call
7. The truth implied by the sentence in problem no. 6 is ....
   
   1. Annie doesn’t have your phone number.
   2. Annie had your phone number.
   3. Annie wouldn’t have your phone number.
   4. Annie didn’t have your phone number.
   5. Annie called you.
8. We would have met Mr. Woodhead, the famous speaker, if we ... earlier to the hall.
   
   1. would come
   2. will come
   3. came
   4. had come
   5. come
9. The truth implied by the sentence in problem no. 8 is ....
   
   1. We would come earlier so we could meet Mr. Woodhead.
   2. We came earlier, so we met Mr. Woodhead.
   3. We didn't come earlier but we met Mr. Woodhead.
   4. We didn't came earlier, so we didn't met Mr. Woodhead.
   5. We met Mr. Woodhead although we didn't come earlier.
10. If it rains this afternoon, I ... at home.
    
    1. will stay
    2. would stay
    3. would have stayed
    4. had stayed
    5. am staying
11. If our team ... for the match more intensively, we would have won it.
    
    1. prepare
    2. had prepared
    3. have prepared
    4. prepared
    5. would have prepared
12. The sentence in problem no. 11 implies that ....
    
    1. We didn’t prepare intensively but we won the match.
    2. We had prepared intensively and, therefore, we won the match
    3. We prepared intensively, but we lost the match.
    4. We prepared intensively in order to win the match.
    5. We didn’t prepare intensively and lost the match.
13. If the EXIT doors ... locked, those people would have escaped easily from the burning hall.
    
    1. had not been
    2. would not be
    3. have not been
    4. were not
    5. wouldn't have been
14. The sentence in problem no. 13 implies that ....
    
    1. The people could not escape easily because the EXIT doors were locked.
    2. The people could not escape easily although the EXIT doors were not locked.
    3. The people cannot escape easily because the EXIT doors are locked.
    4. The people cannot escape easily because the EXIT doors aren't locked.
    5. The people could escape easily because the EXIT doors weren't locked.
15. Had she known about the story, she ... us about it.
    
    1. told
    2. has told
    3. would tell
    4. would have told
    5. had told
16. The truth implied by the sentence in no. 15 is ....
    
    1. She knew about the story so she told us about it.
    2. She told us the story because she knew about it.
    3. She didn't tell us the story because she didn't know about it.
    4. She told us the story although she didn't know much about it.
    5. She didn't tell us the story although she knew about it.
17. If the delivery is late, we ... the shipping.
    
    1. are paying
    2. paid
    3. would have paid
    4. would pay
    5. will pay
18. If this school had a complete multi-media laboratory, learning ... more enjoyable.
    
    1. was
    2. will be
    3. would be
    4. were
    5. would have been
19. The sentence in no. 18 tells us that ....
    
    1. The school had a complete multi-media laboratory.
    2. The school will have a complete multi-media laboratory.
    3. The school doesn't have a complete multi-media laboratory.
    4. The school has a complete multi-media laboratory.
    5. The school didn't have a complete multi-media laboratory.
20. Things could have been different if we ... the tires before leaving.
    
    1. didn't check
    2. checked
    3. had not checked
    4. would have checked
    5. wouldn't check
21. Choose the best conditional sentence for: "He didn’t take care of his health, so he fell sick"
    
    1. If he took care of his health, he wouldn't be sick.
    2. If he had taken care of his health, he wouldn't have been sick.
    3. If he didn’t take care of his health, he would be sick.
    4. If he takes care of his health, he won't be sick.
    5. If he doesn't take care of his health, he will be sick.
22. Choose the best conditional sentence for: "Medical expense is not cheap. Poor people can’t afford it."
    
    1. If medical expense hadn't been cheap, poor people wouldn't have been able to afford it.
    2. If medical expense were cheap, poor people would be able to afford it.
    3. If medical expense is cheap, poor people will be able to afford it.
    4. If medical expense weren't cheap, poor people wouldn't be able to afford it.
    5. If medical expense had been cheap, poor people would have been able to afford it.
23. Choose the best conditional sentence for: "The device is broken now because you didn’t use it properly last night." (mixed conditional)
    
    1. The device won't be broken now if you had used it properly last night.
    2. The device wouldn't be broken now if you had used it properly last night.
    3. The device wouldn't be broken now if you used it properly last night.
    4. The device will be broken now if you didn’t use it properly last night.
    5. The device would be broken now if you hadn't used it properly last night.
24. Choose the best conditional sentence for: "I didn’t read the instructions carefully, so I made a lot of mistakes"
    
    1. If I didn’t read the instructions carefully, I would have made a lot of mistakes
    2. If I read the instructions carefully, I wouldn't make a lot of mistakes.
    3. Had I read the instructions carefully, I wouldn't have made a lot of mistakes.
    4. If I didn’t read the instructions carefully, I would make a lot of mistakes
    5. Had I not read the instructions carefully, I would have made a lot of mistakes
25. Choose the best conditional sentence for: "She doesn’t live here, so she doesn’t know this area very well"
    
    1. If she hadn’t lived here, she wouldn’t have known this area very well
    2. If she lives here, she will know this area very well
    3. If she lived here, she would know this area very well.
    4. If she didn’t live here, she wouldn’t know this area very well
    5. If she had lived here, she would have known this area very well

To learn more about conditional sentences, click HERE.