CBSE Class 10 English Conditionals
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 |
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