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UREL-1103, UREL-1106, UREL-1202
Conditional Sentences
Conditional sentences are those sentences in which the happening of an action is dependent upon
the availability of the condition.
A conditional sentence is a complex sentence, which has two clauses; one is subordinate clause and
the other is principal clause. Usually the subordinate clause having ‘if/had/should’ at the beginning
contains a condition and the principal clause contains an action.
Example: If you work hard, you will get your expected result. Here ‘if you work hard’ is a
subordinate clause and it contains a condition and ‘you will get your expected result’ is a principal
clause, which contains an action.
Each of the clauses in a conditional sentence may come at the beginning of the sentence. Example:
Both ‘If you work hard, you will get your expected result’ and ‘You will get your expected result,
if you work hard.’ are correct sentences.
There are two types of conditional sentence; real condition and unreal or hypothetical condition.
Real Condition: Real condition means, it is possible that the condition will be found and hence the
action will also be found.
Unreal/hypothetical condition means, the condition was not/will not be found and so the action did
not /will not occur.
Real conditions are used for present and future activities and for giving instructions, advices and
making requests. Example: If you are an honest man, you are trustworthy as well. (Present), If you
wait for me, I shall go with you. (Future), If you want to have heavenly pleasure, follow the rules
of Islam. (instruction)
Unreal conditions are used for past, present and future. Example: If you had been present, your
classmates would have seen you. (Past), If you attended the meeting, we could elect you our
captain.(present/future)
Structures:
Based on real and unreal conditions and three tenses there are three basic structures of Conditional
Sentences. They are:
Conditional -1: Clause-1-presnt tense (am/is/are/have/do) +clause-2-present/future tense or imperative
sentence
Examples: a. If you wait for me, I shall go with you.
b. If you have a certificate on computer literacy, apply for the post.
c. If you are God fearing person, you are honest as well.
Conditional -2: Clause-1-past tense (were/had/did) + clause –2 contains would/could + present form of
the verb. (present/future)
Examples: a. If I were you, I would accept the offer.
b. If you had honesty, you could show it.
c. If I earned one million, I could spend a lot for the welfare of the people.
Conditional-3: Clause-1-past perfect tense (had been/had had/had done) + clause –2 contains would/could
+ have + past participle form of the verb. (Past)/ Had + subject + p.p. of the verb + clause –2 contains
would/could + have + past participle form of the verb.
Examples: a. If you had been there, you could have protested the decision.
b. If you had had that honesty, you could have shown it.
c. If you had accepted the offer, you could have earned a lot of money.
Real Condition & Unreal Condition
Real Condition: Clause-1-presnt tense+clause-2-present/future tense or imperative sentence
If with present form of verb + second clause in present/future/imperative
If you get A+, you are a meritorious student. (present)
If you get A+, we shall reward you. (future)
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If you get A+, apply for the post. (imperative)
‘If’ with ‘to be verb’ in present form + second clause in present/future/imperative
If you are a meritorious student, you are sincere as well.
If you are a meritorious student, we shall welcome you.
If you are a meritorious student, join our team.
‘If’ with ‘to have verb’ in present form + second clause in present/future/imperative
If you have sincerity and honesty, you are a trustworthy person.
If you have sincerity and honesty, we shall trust you.
If you have sincerity and honesty, show it in practice.
Unreal Condition:
1. Clause-1-past tense + clause –2 contains would/could + present form of the verb. (present/future)
2. Clause-1-past perfect tense + clause –2 contains would/could + have + past participle form of the
verb. (Past)/ Had + subject + p.p. of the verb + clause –2 contains would/could + have + past
participle form of the verb.
Present and Future
‘If’ with past form of the verb + second clause with would/ could + present form of the verb
If I had time, I would attend your party. (meaning-I know I shall not have time, so I shall not be able to
attend your party)
‘If’ with past form of to be (were) + second clause with would/ could + present form of the verb
If you were honest, we would select you our representative. (meaning-We know you are not honest, so
we can’t select you our representative)
‘If’ with past form of ‘to have verb’ + second clause with would/ could + present form of the verb
If you had sincerity and honesty, we could support you. ( meaning-You don’t have sincerity and
honesty, so we cant support you)
Past activity
‘If’ with past perfect (had + p.p. of verb) + second clause with would have + p.p. of verb
If you had arrived earlier, you would have got much necessary information. (meaning-You did not
arrive earlier, so you didn’t get much necessary information)
If with ‘had been’ + second clause with would have + p.p. of verb
If you had been present at that time we could have protested the injustice. (meaning-You were not
present so we couldn’t protest the injustice)
If with ‘had had’ + second clause with would have + p.p. of verb
If you had had sincerity and honesty, you could have commanded people’s respect. (meaning-You did
not have sincerity and honesty, so you could not command the respect of the people)
Note: The difference between ‘if you had’ and ‘if you had had’
If you had sincerity and honesty, we could support you. (This structure is used for present and future
activity and it means ‘We know that you don’t have sincerity and honesty and so we won’t support you.)
If you had had sincerity and honesty, you could have commanded people’s respect. (This structure is used
for past activity and it means ‘You didn’t have sincerity and honesty and so you could not command the
respect of the people.)
Exercise
Use the verb in bracket in each of the following sentences in its right form. (Some sentences are worked
out)
Real condition (present/future/imperative)
1. If you attend the classes late, you (miss) many important lesson. ------will miss
2. If you are a sincere student, (attend) the classes punctually. -------attend
3. If you are a sincere student, you (be) a regular student as well. ---are
4. (help) yourself in all activities, if you want to be self dependent in your life.--help
5. You (be) an honest man, if you are a God fearing man.
6. (Harry up), if you want to avail yourself of the opportunity.
7. He (visit) us twice a week, if he stays in this city.
8. I (phone) you, if I reach there before you.
9. If you waste your time now, you (repent) for it later on.
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Unreal condition (past/present/future)
1. If I were you, I (not reject) the offer.—would not reject.
2. If you supported me, I (protest) the injustice. --- could protest.
3. If I had enough experience in this field, I (apply) for the post.—could apply.
4. I would be very grateful to you, if you (accompany) me. ----- accompanied.
5. I could do the work better, If you (give) me necessary instructions.—gave
6. If you had done the work systematically, you (finish) successfully.---could have finished.
7. The audience would have thanked you, if you (speak) more loudly.
8. Had you been honest in all your activities, you (command) the respect of the people.—could have
commanded.
9. You (do) better result, if you had prepared the notes earlier.
Exercise (mixed)
1. I shall help you if you (ask) me to help.
2. If you want to win the race, (get) regular training.
3. If I (be) the Prime Minister of Bangladesh I would work hard to remove the terrorism.
4. If you had the common sense, you (not do) it.
5. We could elect you the president if you (attend) the meeting.
6. If you really had been present, I (see) you.
7. She would have spent a part of the money for the poor if she (win) the lottery.
8. If you read attentively, you (understand) the subject matter of this article.
9. You will suffer in the long run if you (neglect) your studies now.
10. If I (be) the Prime Minister of Bangladesh I would try my best to control the corruption.
11. If I had enough time, I (wait) for you.
12. (Read) attentively if you want to get the highest grade.
13. If you had come to class regularly, you (understand) the lessons to the point.
14. You will suffer in the long run if you (neglect) your studies now.
15. If I (have) one million taka I would spend it in welfare activities.
16. If you really had learned the lesson you (be) able to answer the questions.
17. If you read it attentively, you (understand) it.
18. I shall help you if you (be) sincere.
19. If you supported me, I (win).
20. The students could do it themselves if they (try) a little.
21. He would have attacked you if you (speak) to him.
22. If my father had had a lot of money, I (spend) a lot.
23. If I were you I (not do) it.
24. If you do the work attentively, you (succeed) in it.
25. I shall help you if you (phone) me in due time.
26. If you supported me, I (be) able to defend myself.
27. The students could do it themselves if they (read) the text carefully.
28. He would have attacked you if you (abuse) him.
29. If I were you I (not reject) the proposal.
30. If you come in due time, you (understand) the lesson.
31. If you helped me, I (be) grateful to you.
32. Had you been well prepared, you (do) better result.
33. You would have been able to do the exercise, if you (understand) the lesson.
34. If you were present we (select) you our representative.
35. Had you given me necessary information I (not miss) the grand chance.
36. Had the government (take) necessary steps in due time, the price of essential goods would not have risen.
37. The thief could have been caught, if the night guard (be) awake.
38. If you (be) alert, you could have avoided the accident.
39. If you had had the honesty you are speaking of, we (see) it in your activities.
40. Buy this book, if you (want) to get benefited from the book.
41. If the anti corruption commission had been active, the corruption (not be) so rampant in the country.
42. I would feel much excited, if I (not get) the information earlier.
43. Had the Bangladesh cricket team been more sincere, they (not be) so badly defeated.
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44. If they were your friend, they (help) you.
45. Had I had enough experience in that field, I (not seek) your help.
46. If the authority (take) a drastic step in this regard, definitely we would have got a positive result.
47. If you consulted an expert, you (accomplish) the job earlier.
* Complete the following sentences using the structures of conditional sentences.
1. Obey your teachers--------------------------------------
2. If you see him waiting for me------------------------------------
3. You can have a nice experience-------------------------------------
4. I would have given you a nice suggestion-----------------------------------
5. I would not reject the offer----------------------------------------
6. Had you been my supporter----------------------------------------
7. You will shine in life--------------------------------------------
8. Your article would have been more suggestive--------------------------------------
9. If you were a religious person---------------------------------------
10. Had the syllabuses been more comprehensive-----------------------------------
11. If you attend the classes regularly------------------------------------
12. ----------------------------------I shall be ever grateful to you.
13. ----------------------------------we would think to make you our representative.
14. -----------------------------------the students would have been more benefited.
15. ---------------------------------show your honesty in practice.
16. Had I got a job in a multinational company-----------------------------.
17. Had our cricketers not joined ICL-----------------------------------
18. I would have suggested your name for the committee----------------------------------
19. If you had had a certificate on computer literacy------------------------------------
20. You could be a doctor---------------------------------------------------
