CBSE Class 10 English Conditionals – Types, Rules & ExamplesConditionals Get PDF @ Rs. 99 – All Chapter Notes Get PDF @ Rs. 199 – Class 10 Notes ConditionalsWhat are Conditionals?Conditionals are sentences used in English to• Predict what could happen• Guess what might have happened but didn’t• Wish what would happenCharacteristics 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 ConditionalsThere are four types of conditionals in English.• Zero conditional• First conditional• Second conditional• Third conditionalZero 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.RevisionDependent Clause Main ClauseIf Mahesh buys a car, his jealous neighbour also buys a car.If you fail to show up, the opportunity goes to someone else. If it rains, little green shoots erupt out of the earth.If Mahesh buys a car, his jealous neighbour also buys a car.If you fail to show up, the opportunity goes to someone else. If it rains, little green shoots erupt out of the earth.Dependent Clause Main ClauseIf you lead a simple life, you will have no anxieties. If it rains, we will need an umbrella.If you order now, you will receive a free subscription for a year.If you lead a simple life, you will have no anxieties. If it rains, we will need an umbrella.If you order now, you will receive a free subscription for a year.Dependent Clause Main ClauseIf we had the means, we would buy a car.If I were the Prime Minister, I would strive for the alleviation of poverty. If Manish had more time, he would finish his paper.If we had the means, we would buy a car.If I were the Prime Minister, I would strive for the alleviation of poverty. If Manish had more time, he would finish his paper.Dependent Clause Main ClauseIf she had informed us, we would have cancelled our plans. If they hadn’t worked hard, they would not have won.If the purse had been stolen, Manisha would have been left penniless.If she had informed us, we would have cancelled our plans. If they hadn’t worked hard, they would not have won.If the purse had been stolen, Manisha would have been left penniless.UsageDependent ClauseMain ClauseZero ConditionalFactsIf + Simple PresentSimple PresentFirst ConditionalPossibilitiesIf + Simple PresentSimple FutureSecond ConditionalUnreal SituationsIf + Simple PastSimple FutureThird ConditionalImprobable SituationsIf + Past PerfectFuture Perfect JOIN TELEGRAM CHANNEL Join Our WhatsApp Channel JOIN NOW