If Clause Table, Type 0,1,2,3! ESL students, have you ever wondered what the different types of ‘if’ clauses are? In this post, we will take a look at each type and give some examples. Keep reading to learn more about! ‘if’ clauses in English!
If Clause, Type 0,1,2,3
Type 0: If + present tense, will/can/may/might + infinitive without to
Examples:
- If you heat ice, it will melt.
- If you put salt on a snail, it will die.
Type 1: If + present tense, present tense
Examples:
- If you study hard, you will pass your exams.
- If I have time, I will visit my grandparents.
Type 2: If + past tense, would/could/should + infinitive without to
Examples:
- If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.
- If it rained tomorrow, we could go to the park.
Type 3: If + past perfect tense, would/could/should + have + past participle
Examples:
- If I had known her phone number, I would have called her.
- If we had gone out last night, we could have seen the shooting stars.
If Clause Table
If Clause | Main Clause |
Zero Conditional Sentence – Type I | |
Present Indefinite Tense | Present Indefinite Tense |
First Conditional Sentence (Present Tense/Future Tense) | |
Present Indefinite Tense | Future Indefinite Tense(will + infinitive) |
Present Indefinite Tense | Modal Verb + infinitive |
Present Indefinite Tense | Imperative |
Present Continuous Tense | Future Indefinite Tense (will + infinitive) |
Second Conditional Sentence (Present Tense/Future Tense) | |
Past Indefinite Tense | Conditional Simple (would + infinitive) |
Past Indefinite Tense | Modal Verb + infinitive |
Third Conditional Sentence (Past Tense) | |
Past Perfect Tense (had + past participle) | Conditional Perfect (would + have + past participle) |
Past Perfect Tense (had + past participle) | Modal Verb + have + past participle |
Mixed Conditional Sentence (Past action, present result) | |
Past Perfect Tense (had + past participle) | Modal Verb + infinitive |
Past Perfect Tense (had + past participle) | Conditional Simple (would + infinitive) |