Conditional Sentences / If-Clauses Type I, II und III

Conditional Sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If Clauses. They are used to express that the action in the main clause (without if) can only take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if) is fulfilled. There are three types of Conditional Sentences.

Conditional Sentence Type 1

→ It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled.

Example: If I find her address, I’ll send her an invitation.

Conditional Sentence Type 2

→ It is possible but very unlikely, that the condition will be fulfilled.

Form: if + Simple Past, Conditional I (= would + Infinitive)

Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation.

Conditional Sentence Type 3

→ It is impossible that the condition will be fulfilled because it refers to the past.

Form: if + Past Perfect, Conditional II (= would + have + Past Participle)

Example: If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.

Exceptions

Sometimes Conditional Sentences Type I, II and III can also be used with other tenses.

Exercises on Conditional Sentences

Conditional Sentence Type 1

• Exercise on If Clauses Type ILevel: elementary
• Exercise 2 on If Clauses Type ILevel: elementary

Conditional Sentence Type 2

• Exercise on If Clauses Type IILevel: lower intermediate
• Exercise 2 on If Clauses Type IILevel: lower intermediate

Conditional Sentence Type 3

• Exercise on If Clauses Type IIILevel: intermediate
• Exercise 2 on If Clauses Type IIILevel: intermediate

Mixed Exercises on Conditional Sentences

• Type I or II • Exercise 2 • Exercise 3Level: lower intermediate
• Type I, II or III • Exercise 2 • Exercise 3Level: intermediate
• Fairytale “The Cat and the Mouse”Level: intermediate
• Exercise on “New Orleans” textLevel: intermediate

Exceptions

• Exercise on If Clauses Type I with AuxiliariesLevel: intermediate
• Exercise on If Clauses Type I • Exercise 2Level: upper intermediate
• Exercise on If Clauses Type IILevel: upper intermediate
• Exercise on If Clauses Type IIILevel: upper intermediate

Tests on Conditional Sentences

• Conditional Sentences Type 1Level: elementary
• Conditional Sentences Type 1 and 2Level: lower intermediate
• Conditional Sentences Type 1, 2 and 3Level: intermediate
• Conditional Sentences Type 1, 2, 3 and ExceptionsLevel: upper intermediate