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English Grammar · Chapter 14 · Conditional Sentences

Conditional Sentences

A conditional sentence says that one thing depends on another — "If you study, you will pass." It has two parts: the if-clause (the condition) and the main clause (the result). English has four patterns — zero, first, second and third — and each fixes exactly which tense goes in each clause. The single most tested point is simple: never put "will" or "would" in the if-clause. This chapter builds the four types and that rule.एक सशर्त वाक्य (conditional) कहता है कि एक बात दूसरी पर निर्भर है — "If you study, you will pass." इसके दो भाग हैं: if-उपवाक्य (शर्त) और मुख्य उपवाक्य (परिणाम)। अंग्रेज़ी में चार पैटर्न हैं — zero, first, second और third — और हर एक तय करता है कि किस उपवाक्य में कौन-सा काल आए। सबसे अधिक पूछा बिंदु सरल है: if-उपवाक्य में "will" या "would" कभी न रखें। यह अध्याय चारों प्रकार और वह नियम बनाता है।
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Topic 01

What Conditionals Are & the Zero Type

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Besides "if", a condition can start with when, unless, even if, only if, in case. The zero conditional states a general truth that is always true — so it uses the present tense in both clauses: "If you heat ice, it melts." Here "if" can usually be replaced by "when" without changing the meaning."if" के अलावा शर्त when, unless, even if, only if, in case से भी शुरू हो सकती है। zero conditional एक सामान्य सत्य बताता है जो हमेशा सच हो — अतः दोनों उपवाक्यों में वर्तमान काल: "If you heat ice, it melts." यहाँ "if" को अर्थ बदले बिना "when" से बदला जा सकता है।

TypeIf-clauseMain clause
Zeropresentpresent
Firstpresentwill + V1
Secondpastwould + V1
Thirdpast perfect (had + V3)would have + V3
📝 Self-testस्वयं-परीक्षण 4 MCQs

"If you heat ice, it ___." Choose the correct verb."If you heat ice, it ___." सही क्रिया चुनें।

  1. will melt
  2. melts
  3. would melt
  4. melted
✔ B. Zero conditional (general truth) → present "melts".✔ B. zero conditional (सामान्य सत्य) → present "melts"।

In a zero conditional, both clauses are in which tense?zero conditional में दोनों उपवाक्य किस काल में हैं?

  1. past
  2. past perfect
  3. future
  4. present
✔ D. Zero conditional uses the present tense in both parts.✔ D. zero conditional दोनों भागों में वर्तमान काल लेता है।

"If you give respect, you ___ respect." Choose the correct verb."If you give respect, you ___ respect." सही क्रिया चुनें।

  1. will get
  2. got
  3. would get
  4. get
✔ D. A general truth → present "get".✔ D. सामान्य सत्य → present "get"।

"Water boils when it ___ 100°C." Choose the correct verb."Water boils when it ___ 100°C." सही क्रिया चुनें।

  1. reaches
  2. reached
  3. will reach
  4. would reach
✔ A. Zero conditional → present "reaches", not "will reach".✔ A. zero conditional → present "reaches", "will reach" नहीं।
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Topic 02

First & Second Conditional

  • First (Type 1) — a real, likely situation: present in the if-clause, will + V1 in the main clause. "If you work hard, you will succeed."पहला (Type 1) — वास्तविक, संभावित स्थिति: if-उपवाक्य में वर्तमान, मुख्य में will + V1। "If you work hard, you will succeed."
  • Second (Type 2) — an unlikely or imaginary present/future: past in the if-clause, would + V1 in the main clause. "If you asked him, he would help you."दूसरा (Type 2) — असंभावित या काल्पनिक वर्तमान/भविष्य: if-उपवाक्य में past, मुख्य में would + V1। "If you asked him, he would help you."
  • In the second conditional, "be" becomes were for all subjects: "If I were you, I wouldn't trust him."दूसरे conditional में "be" सभी कर्ताओं के लिए were: "If I were you, I wouldn't trust him."
📝 Self-testस्वयं-परीक्षण 4 MCQs

"If you work hard, you ___ succeed." Choose the correct verb."If you work hard, you ___ succeed." सही क्रिया चुनें।

  1. would have
  2. are
  3. will
  4. would
✔ C. First conditional main clause → "will succeed".✔ C. पहला conditional मुख्य उपवाक्य → "will succeed"।

In a first conditional, the if-clause is in which tense?पहले conditional में if-उपवाक्य किस काल में है?

  1. simple present
  2. simple future
  3. past perfect
  4. simple past
✔ A. The if-clause stays in the simple present.✔ A. if-उपवाक्य simple present में रहता है।

"If you asked him, he ___ help you." Choose the correct verb."If you asked him, he ___ help you." सही क्रिया चुनें।

  1. can
  2. would have
  3. would
  4. will
✔ C. Second conditional (unlikely) → "would help".✔ C. दूसरा conditional (असंभावित) → "would help"।

"If I ___ you, I wouldn't trust him." Choose the correct verb."If I ___ you, I wouldn't trust him." सही क्रिया चुनें।

  1. am
  2. were
  3. would be
  4. was
✔ B. In the second conditional, "be" → "were" for all subjects.✔ B. दूसरे conditional में "be" → सभी के लिए "were"।
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Topic 03

Third Conditional & Inversion

The third (Type 3) conditional talks about the past that did not happen — an imaginary regret. Use had + past participle in the if-clause and would have + past participle in the main clause: "If you had invited them, they would have come."तीसरा (Type 3) conditional जो भूत नहीं हुआ उसकी बात करता है — काल्पनिक पछतावा। if-उपवाक्य में had + past participle और मुख्य में would have + past participle: "If you had invited them, they would have come."

Inversion drops "if": "Had I known his motive, I wouldn't have supported him" (= If I had known…). "Were I you, I wouldn't permit this" (= If I were you…).
📝 Self-testस्वयं-परीक्षण 4 MCQs

"If you had invited them, they ___ come." Choose the correct words."If you had invited them, they ___ come." सही शब्द चुनें।

  1. would
  2. will have
  3. had
  4. would have
✔ D. Third conditional main clause → "would have come".✔ D. तीसरा conditional मुख्य उपवाक्य → "would have come"।

In a third conditional, the if-clause is in which tense?तीसरे conditional में if-उपवाक्य किस काल में है?

  1. simple present
  2. simple future
  3. simple past
  4. past perfect
✔ D. The if-clause uses the past perfect (had + V3).✔ D. if-उपवाक्य past perfect (had + V3) लेता है।

"___ I known his real motive, I wouldn't have supported him." Choose the word."___ I known his real motive, I wouldn't have supported him." सही शब्द चुनें।

  1. Had
  2. Have
  3. Would
  4. If
✔ A. Inverted third conditional drops "if" → "Had I known…".✔ A. उलटा तीसरा conditional "if" हटाता है → "Had I known…"।

"___ I you, I wouldn't permit this." Choose the word."___ I you, I wouldn't permit this." सही शब्द चुनें।

  1. Was
  2. Were
  3. Am
  4. Had
✔ B. Inverted second conditional → "Were I you…".✔ B. उलटा दूसरा conditional → "Were I you…"।
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Topic 04

Common Errors & Rules

  • Never put "will" in the if-clause (first conditional): If you will study more… → If you study more….if-उपवाक्य में "will" कभी नहीं (पहला): If you will study more… → If you study more…।
  • Never put "would" in the if-clause (second/third): If I would win… → If I won…; If you would have studied… → If you had studied….if-उपवाक्य में "would" कभी नहीं (दूसरा/तीसरा): If I would win… → If I won…; If you would have studied… → If you had studied…।
  • Comma when the condition comes first ("If Tommy eats his vegetables, he will…"); no comma when it comes second.Comma जब शर्त पहले आए ("If Tommy eats his vegetables, he will…"); बाद में आए तो comma नहीं।
  • When both parts are negative, prefer unless: "Unless you study diligently, you'll never understand" (rather than "If you don't study…").दोनों भाग नकारात्मक हों, तो unless बेहतर: "Unless you study diligently, you'll never understand"।
📝 Self-testस्वयं-परीक्षण 4 MCQs

Choose the correct sentence:सही वाक्य चुनें:

  1. If you study more, your English will get better.
  2. If you will study more, your English will get better.
  3. If you would study more, your English will get better.
  4. If you studying more, your English will get better.
✔ A. The if-clause stays in the present — no "will".✔ A. if-उपवाक्य वर्तमान में — "will" नहीं।

Choose the correct sentence:सही वाक्य चुनें:

  1. If I win the big prize, I would take you to dinner.
  2. If I will win the big prize, I would take you to dinner.
  3. If I won the big prize, I would take you to dinner.
  4. If I would win the big prize, I would take you to dinner.
✔ C. Second conditional → past "won" in the if-clause, no "would".✔ C. दूसरा conditional → if-उपवाक्य में past "won", "would" नहीं।

Choose the correct sentence:सही वाक्य चुनें:

  1. If you have studied more, your English would improve.
  2. If you had studied more, your English would have improved.
  3. If you would have studied more, your English would have improved.
  4. If you will have studied more, your English would have improved.
✔ B. Third conditional → "had studied" in the if-clause.✔ B. तीसरा conditional → if-उपवाक्य में "had studied"।

Which is preferred in formal English?औपचारिक अंग्रेज़ी में कौन-सा बेहतर है?

  1. If you won't study diligently, you'll never pass.
  2. If you don't study diligently, you'll never pass.
  3. Unless you study diligently, you'll never pass.
  4. Until you don't study, you'll never pass.
✔ C. When both parts are negative, "Unless" is preferred.✔ C. दोनों भाग नकारात्मक हों, तो "Unless" बेहतर।

Test Yourself · Conditional Sentences

12 questions on the four conditionals, inversion and common errors. Tap an option to check, then read Why.

चार conditional, उलटाव और आम त्रुटियों पर 12 प्रश्न। जाँचने के लिए विकल्प पर टैप करें, फिर Why पढ़ें।