Conditional Sentences
What is conditional sentences ?
Conditional sentences are sentences discussing factual implications or hypothetical situations and their consequences. Languages use a variety of conditional constructions and verb forms (such as the conditional mood) to form such sentences.
There are two opinions about conditional sentences, the first opinion states that conditional sentences are divided into two types, they are:
1. Real
ü Present and future
2. Unreal
ü In present
ü In past
The second opinion states that conditional sentences are divided into three types, they are:
1. Possible (Present and future)
2. Possible but very unlikely happen (In present)
3. Impossible (In past)
However, those opinions are essentially the same suggests that conditional sentences can be classified into three types. Conditional sentences contain two clauses, they are if clause and main clause or result clause.
The patterns of conditional sentences
| Type | If Clause | Main or Result Clause | Fact |
| I | Present Tense (S + V1 + O) | Present Future (S + Will + V1/Be + O) | Present Future (S + Will + V1/Be + O) |
| II | Past Tense (S + V2 + O) | Past Future (S + Would + V1/Be + O) | Present Tense (S + V1 +O) |
| III | Past Perfect (S + Had + V3 + O) | Past Future Perfect (S + Would + Have + V3/Been + O) | Past Tense (S + V2 + O) |
The characteristic of conditional sentences
Type one is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled. This type use simple present and simple future. Type two is possible but very unlikely, that the condition will be fulfilled. There is an exception in type two, that every subject in the nominal sentence must use "were". This type has opposite fact to conditional sentences. If the conditional sentences is positive so the fact negative, and if the conditional sentences is negative so the fast positive. Type three is impossible that the condition will be fulfilled because it refers to the past. This type also has opposite fact to conditional sentences.
Separating the “if clause” with “main clause” must use a comma "," if the “if clause” is in front of the sentence, but if the if clause is at the end of the sentence is not necessary to use a comma ",", and the fact using conjunctive “so” or “because”.
Examples
Type I
1. We wouldn’t go skating if you think the ice is dangerously thin.
Fact: It is possible that you will think the ice is dangerously thin.
2. If he has time, he will walk in the park.
Fact: It is possible that he will have time.
3. Our cat will never eat if we leave her in the house alone.
Fact: It is possible that we will leave her in the house alone.
Type II
1. If the weather were very bad, we would take the train.
Fact: The weather isn’t very bad so we don’t take the train.
2. If I went to the post office, I would get you some stamps.
Fact: I don’t go to the post office, so I don’t get you some stamps.
3. If the weather were very bad, all schools would be closed.
Fact: The weather isn’t very bad so all schools aren’t closed.
Type III
1. If you hadn’t understood the math problem, I would have explained to you.
Fact: You understood this math problem, so I didn’t explain to you.
2. If he had made a large sale, he would have taken his wife out to an expensive restaurant.
Fact: He didn’t make a large sale, so he didn’t take his wife out to an expensive restaurant.
3. She would have returned her new dress to the store if her husband hadn’t liked her new dress.
Fact: Her husband liked her new dress so she didn’t return her new dress to the store.
Bibliography
Hanggu Benedict, Messe STUDENT’S POCKET, Messemedia, Indonesian edition, Yogyakarta, 2009.
Alexander L. G, PRACTICE AND PROGRESS, KANISIUS, Indonesian edition, Yogyakarta, 2009.
