CBSE Class 10 English Conditionals: Types, Rules & Easy Examples for Exam SuccessCBSE Class 10 English Conditionals Get PDF @ Rs. 99 – All Chapter Notes Get PDF @ Rs. 199 – Class 10 Notes Conditionals What are Conditionals? Conditionals are sentences used in English to: Predict what could happen Guess what might have happened but didn’t Wish what would happen Characteristics of Conditionals They are complex sentences comprising a main clause and a dependent clause. The dependent clause starts with ‘If...’ and is also known as an ‘if clause’. They are made with different tenses. In the case of negative sentences, ‘unless’ is used instead of ‘if’. Types of Conditionals There are four types of conditionals in English: Zero conditional First conditional Second conditional Third conditional Zero Conditional The zero conditional is used for expressing general truths. The result of a zero conditional is always true. The dependent clause and the main clause of a zero conditional are in the simple present tense. More examples: First Conditional The first conditional talks about possibilities in the present or the future. It speaks about things which may happen. The dependent clause is in the simple present tense and the main clause is in the simple future tense. More examples: Second Conditional The second conditional talks about hypothetical or unreal situations in the present or in the future. It speaks about things which have a slim chance of happening. The dependent clause is in the simple past tense and the main clause is in the simple future tense. More examples: Third Conditional The third conditional is used to express improbable situations in the past. It speaks of conditions in the past which didn’t happen or are impossible. The dependent clause is in the past perfect tense and the main clause is in the future perfect tense. More examples: Variations in Form The order of the clauses of the conditions can be changed. The sentence can start with the main clause and end with the dependent clause. Sometimes, the order of the verbs and the nouns in the conditional sentence can also vary. In such cases, ‘if’ is optional. Revision Dependent Clause Main Clause If Mahesh buys a car, If you fail to show up, If it rains, his jealous neighbour also buys a car. The opportunity goes to someone else. Little green shoots erupt out of the earth. Dependent Clause Main Clause If you lead a simple life, If it rains, If you order now, you will have no anxieties. We will need an umbrella. You will receive a free subscription for a year. Dependent Clause Main Clause If we had the means, If I were the Prime Minister, If Manish had more time, we would buy a car. I would strive for the alleviation of poverty. He would finish his paper. Dependent Clause Main Clause If she had informed us, If they hadn’t worked hard, If the purse had been stolen, we would have cancelled our plans. They would not have won. Manisha would have been left penniless. Summary Table Type of Conditional Usage Dependent Clause Main Clause Zero Conditional Facts If + Simple Present Simple Present First Conditional Possibilities If + Simple Present Simple Future Second Conditional Unreal Situations If + Simple Past Simple Future Third Conditional Improbable Situations If + Past Perfect Future Perfect JOIN TELEGRAM CHANNEL Join Our WhatsApp Channel JOIN NOW