Lesson 3: Mastering Conditional Sentences

📚 Introduction

Have you ever said something like: “If I was rich, I buy a big house!”

Hmm… Something sounds wrong there! 🤔
We often talk about possibilities, wishes, and conditions in real life — “if it rains,” “if I study,” “if I were taller.”
In English, we use conditional sentences to express these ideas clearly.

Conditional sentences are like “If…then…” bridges. 🌉
They show a condition (something that must happen first) and a result (what happens because of it).

In this lesson, we will explore the magic of “if” and master how to form real, likely, and imaginary conditions in English!

🧠 Key Concepts and Explanations

1. What Are Conditional Sentences?

• A conditional sentence expresses a situation and its result.

• It has two parts:

  • If-clause (the condition) ➔ starts with “if”

  • Main clause (the result)

Example:

If it rains, we will stay indoors.

• If it rains → condition

• We will stay indoors → result

2. Structure of a Basic Conditional Sentence

3. Types of Conditional Sentences

In English, there are four major types of conditionals — but for BECE, we focus mainly on the first three.

Type 0: Universal Truths (Zero Conditional)

• Form: If + present tense, present tense

• Use: Facts, general truths

Example:

If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.

✅ Both sides use present tense.

Type 1: Real and Possible Conditions

• Form: If + present tense, will + verb

• Use: Real situations that are likely to happen.

Example:

If it rains, we will get wet.

✅ “If” clause = present simple.
✅ Main clause = will + base verb.

Type 2: Unreal and Improbable Conditions

• Form: If + past tense, would + verb

• Use: Imaginary or unlikely situations in the present or future.

Example:

If I were rich, I would travel the world.

✅ “If” clause = past tense.
✅ Main clause = would + base verb.

Note:

• “Were” is often used with “I/he/she/it” in formal English.

Type 3: Impossible Past Conditions

(Advanced but can appear in tougher questions!)

• Form: If + past perfect, would have + past participle

• Use: Imaginary situations that did not happen in the past.

Example:

If you had studied, you would have passed.

✅ Talking about a past that is now impossible.

4. Signal Words for Conditionals

🧩 Table: Quick Summary of Conditionals

📝 Step-by-Step Walkthroughs of Sample Problems

Sample 1
Question: Complete:
“If you ____ (leave) now, you ____ (catch) the bus.”

👉 Step 1: Check time — real situation? Likely? ➔ Type 1
👉 Step 2: Form: If + present tense, will + verb
👉 Step 3: Complete:

• If you leave now, you will catch the bus.

✅ Final Answer:
“If you leave now, you will catch the bus.”

Sample 2
Question: Rewrite using Type 2 Conditional:
“I am not a bird, so I cannot fly.”

👉 Step 1: Imagine an unreal situation.
👉 Step 2: If + past tense, would + verb
👉 Step 3: Complete:

• If I were a bird, I would fly.

✅ Final Answer:
“If I were a bird, I would fly.”

Sample 3
Question: Identify the conditional type:
“If you had warned me, I would have listened.”

👉 Step 1: “had warned” = past perfect
👉 Step 2: “would have listened” = would have + past participle
👉 Step 3: ➔ Type 3 Conditional.

✅ Final Answer:
Type 3 Conditional — impossible past situation.

🎯 Practice Exercises

Practice A: Fill in the blanks with the correct tense and form.

1. If he ______ (study) harder, he ______ (pass) the exam.

2. If it ______ (rain) tomorrow, we ______ (stay) indoors.

3. If I ______ (have) more money, I ______ (buy) a new phone.

4. If she ______ (be) at the meeting, she ______ (speak).

5. If you ______ (mix) red and blue, you ______ (get) purple.

Practice B: Identify the Type of Conditional

State whether each sentence is Type 0, Type 1, Type 2, or Type 3:

1. If you press this button, the machine stops.

2. If you had woken up earlier, you would have caught the bus.

3. If it snows tomorrow, we will not go to school.

4. If I were taller, I would play basketball.

Practice C: Correct the Mistakes

“If she will study hard, she will pass.”

✅ Correction: ____________________________________

📝 Practice Answers

Practice A:

1. studied, would pass (Type 2)

2. rains, will stay (Type 1)

3. had, would buy (Type 2)

4. were, would speak (Type 2)

5. mix, get (Type 0)

Practice B:

1. Type 0 (General truth)

2. Type 3 (Impossible past)

3. Type 1 (Possible future)

4. Type 2 (Imaginary situation)

Practice C:

✅ Corrected Sentence:
“If she studies hard, she will pass.”
(Type 1: If + present, will + verb)

🔁 Recap

Today, you learned that:

• Conditional sentences express “if…then…” ideas: conditions and results.

• Type 0 = Facts and general truths

• Type 1 = Real possibilities

• Type 2 = Imaginary or unlikely situations

• Type 3 = Impossible past situations

• Remember the correct verb forms for each type!

Mastering conditionals makes your English clearer, smarter, and more accurate — just like magic! ✨

🪞 Reflection Prompt

📝 Think of one thing you wish you could change about yesterday.
Write a Type 3 conditional sentence about it.
Example: “If I had woken up earlier, I would have finished my homework.”