Complete Guide to Conditional Sentences & English Clauses

Complete Guide to Conditionals & Clauses

Conditional Sentences • English Clauses • If Clauses • Relative Clauses • Updated January 2026

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Conditional sentences and English clauses are essential for expressing possibilities, hypothetical situations, and complex ideas. This guide covers all four conditional types (Zero, First, Second, Third) and different clause types (Relative, Dependent, Independent) with rules, structures, and Urdu explanations.

📚 What are Conditional Sentences?

Conditional sentences express situations and their possible results. They have two parts: the condition (if clause) and the result (main clause).

Zero Conditional
100% Certain
First Conditional
Real Future
Second Conditional
Unreal Present
Third Conditional
Unreal Past
Conditional Type Structure Usage Probability
Zero Conditional If + present simple, present simple General truths, facts 100%
First Conditional If + present simple, will + V1 Real future possibilities 50-90%
Second Conditional If + past simple, would + V1 Unreal present/future 0-10%
Third Conditional If + past perfect, would have + V3 Unreal past situations 0% (past)
✅ Key Conditional Rules:
  1. Conditional sentences always have two parts: If clause and Main clause
  2. The order can be reversed: Main clause can come first
  3. Comma is used when if clause comes first
  4. "If" can often be replaced by "when" (Zero Conditional)
  5. "Will" is NOT used in the if clause (except polite requests)

🟡 Zero Conditional Explained

0

Zero Conditional - Facts & General Truths

100% certainty, scientific facts, general truths

Structure

If + Present Simple, Present Simple

Example: If water reaches 100°C, it boils.

اگر پانی کا درجہ حرارت 100°C ہو جائے، تو وہ ابلتا ہے۔

Usage
  • Scientific facts
  • General truths
  • Habitual actions
  • Cause and effect

حقیقی حقائق اور عمومی سچائیاں

Zero Conditional Examples

If Clause (Condition) Main Clause (Result) Explanation
If you heat ice, it melts. Scientific fact
If people don't eat, they get hungry. Biological fact
If it rains, the grass gets wet. Natural consequence
If you mix red and blue, you get purple. Color theory fact
When I wake up early, I feel fresh. Habitual result

Important Notes:

  • "If" can be replaced by "when" or "whenever": When/Whenever it rains, the streets get wet.
  • Present continuous can also be used: If you are not wearing a coat, you feel cold.
  • Imperative can be used: If the phone rings, answer it.

زیرو کنڈیشنل حقیقی حقائق، سائنسی اصولوں اور عمومی سچائیوں کے لیے استعمال ہوتا ہے۔

🟢 First Conditional with Examples

1

First Conditional - Real Future Possibilities

Real and likely future situations

Structure

If + Present Simple, will + V1

Example: If it rains tomorrow, I will stay home.

اگر کل بارش ہوئی، تو میں گھر رہوں گا۔

Variations
  • May/might: If you study, you may pass.
  • Can: If you finish, you can go.
  • Should: If you see him, you should tell.
  • Imperative: If you go out, take an umbrella.

First Conditional Examples

Situation First Conditional Sentence Probability Urdu Translation
Possible future event If I have time, I will call you. High اگر میرے پاس وقت ہوا، تو میں آپ کو فون کروں گا۔
Promise If you clean your room, I will buy you ice cream. Conditional اگر تم اپنا کمرہ صاف کرو، تو میں آئس کریم دوں گا۔
Warning If you don't study, you will fail. Likely اگر تم نے پڑھائی نہیں کی، تو تم فیل ہو جاؤ گے۔
Suggestion If you feel tired, you should rest. Advice اگر تم تھکے ہوئے محسوس کرو، تو تمہیں آرام کرنا چاہیے۔
Permission If you finish your homework, you can watch TV. Conditional اگر تم اپنا ہوم ورک ختم کرو، تو تم ٹی وی دیکھ سکتے ہو۔
⚠️ Common Mistakes in First Conditional:
  • ❌ Incorrect: If I will have time, I will call you.
  • ✅ Correct: If I have time, I will call you.
  • Rule: Never use "will" in the if clause (except for polite requests)
  • Exception (polite): If you will wait here, I'll check for you.

🔵 Second Conditional Rules

2

Second Conditional - Unreal Present/Future

Imaginary, unlikely, or impossible present/future situations

Structure

If + Past Simple, would + V1

Example: If I were rich, I would travel the world.

اگر میں امیر ہوتا، تو میں دنیا گھومتا۔

Key Features
  • Unreal/imaginary situations
  • Hypothetical present
  • Unlikely future
  • Impossible dreams
  • Polite requests

Second Conditional Examples

Type Second Conditional Sentence Reality Check Urdu Meaning
Imaginary present If I were you, I would study more. I am not you اگر میں آپ کی جگہ ہوتا، تو میں زیادہ پڑھتا۔
Unlikely future If I won the lottery, I would buy a mansion. I probably won't win اگر میں لاٹری جیت جاتا، تو میں ایک حویلی خریدتا۔
Impossible dream If I could fly, I would visit the moon. I can't fly اگر میں اڑ سکتا، تو میں چاند پر جاتا۔
Polite request If you would help me, I would be grateful. Polite way to ask اگر آپ میری مدد کرتے، تو میں شکر گزار ہوتا۔
Advice If I were in your position, I would accept the offer. Giving advice اگر میں آپ کی جگہ ہوتا، تو میں پیشکش قبول کرتا۔
✅ Important Rule: "If I were" vs "If I was"

In second conditional, traditionally we use "were" for all subjects:

  • Formal: If I were you, If he were here
  • Informal: If I was you, If he was here (accepted in modern English)
  • Always correct: If I were (subjunctive mood)

🔴 Third Conditional Sentences

3

Third Conditional - Unreal Past Situations

Imaginary past situations and their results (regrets, criticism)

Structure

If + Past Perfect, would have + V3

Example: If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.

اگر میں نے محنت سے پڑھائی کی ہوتی، تو میں امتحان پاس کر لیتا۔

Usage
  • Past regrets
  • Missed opportunities
  • Criticism of past actions
  • Imagining different past
  • Explaining past failures

Third Conditional Examples

Situation Third Conditional Sentence Real Situation Urdu Translation
Regret If I had known, I would have helped. I didn't know, so I didn't help اگر مجھے پتہ ہوتا، تو میں مدد کرتا۔
Missed opportunity If she had applied, she would have gotten the job. She didn't apply, so no job اگر اس نے درخواست دی ہوتی، تو اسے نوکری مل جاتی۔
Criticism If you had listened, you wouldn't have made that mistake. You didn't listen, so mistake اگر تم نے سنا ہوتا، تو تم وہ غلطی نہ کرتے۔
Different past If we had left earlier, we would have arrived on time. We left late, so late arrival اگر ہم پہلے نکلتے، تو ہم وقت پر پہنچ جاتے۔
Explanation If it hadn't rained, we would have played. It rained, so no play اگر بارش نہ ہوئی ہوتی، تو ہم کھیلتے۔

Mixed Conditionals:

  • Past condition, present result: If I had studied medicine (past), I would be a doctor now (present).
  • Present condition, past result: If I were smarter (present), I would have made better decisions (past).

📝 If Clause Rules with Examples

Complete If Clause Summary

If Clause Type If Clause Verb Main Clause Verb Example Usage
Zero Present Simple Present Simple If you heat water, it boils. Facts, general truths
First Present Simple will + V1 If it rains, I will stay home. Real future
Second Past Simple would + V1 If I were rich, I would travel. Unreal present
Third Past Perfect would have + V3 If I had known, I would have come. Unreal past

If Clause Variations

Unless = If not

Unless means "if not" or "except if"

Example: Unless you hurry, you'll be late. = If you don't hurry, you'll be late.

جب تک نہیں = اگر نہیں

In case = If it happens

In case means "if it happens that"

Example: Take an umbrella in case it rains. = Take an umbrella if it rains.

اگر ایسا ہوا کہ

As long as/Provided that

As long as means "only if"

Example: You can go as long as you finish your work.

جب تک کہ

📚 Types of Clauses in English

A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb. There are two main types: Independent and Dependent clauses.

Independent Clause

Can stand alone as a sentence

Example: She sings beautifully.

Dependent Clause

Cannot stand alone

Example: because she practices daily

Noun Clause

Acts as a noun

Example: What she said surprised me.

Adjective Clause

Acts as an adjective

Example: The book that I read was interesting.

Clause Type Function Starts With Example
Independent Clause Complete thought, can stand alone Subject + Verb She sings.
Dependent Clause Incomplete thought, needs main clause Subordinating conjunction Because she practices
Noun Clause Acts as subject/object/complement that, what, who, why, how What you said is true.
Adjective Clause Describes/modifies a noun who, which, that, whose The man who called is my uncle.
Adverb Clause Describes verb/adjective/adverb when, because, if, although She left when I arrived.

🔗 Relative Clauses Explained

Relative clauses are adjective clauses that give extra information about a noun. They start with relative pronouns: who, which, that, whose, whom, where, when.

Defining Relative Clause

Purpose: Essential information

No commas: The book that I borrowed is interesting.

Without it: Sentence meaning changes

ضروری معلومات، کوما نہیں

Non-Defining Relative Clause

Purpose: Extra information

With commas: My brother, who lives in London, is a doctor.

Without it: Sentence still makes sense

اضافی معلومات، کوما ضروری

Relative Pronouns Chart

Relative Pronoun Used For Example Urdu Meaning
who People (subject) The man who called is my friend. جو شخص (فاعل)
whom People (object) - formal The woman whom I met was kind. جس شخص کو (مفعول)
whose Possession The student whose book was lost. جس کا
which Things, animals The car which I bought is red. جو چیز
that People/things (defining) The book that I read was interesting. جو (ضروری معلومات)
where Places The house where I grew up. جہاں
when Time The day when we met. جب

Relative Clause Examples:

  • Defining: People who work hard succeed. (Essential - which people?)
  • Non-defining: My father, who is a doctor, works in Karachi. (Extra info)
  • Object pronoun omitted: The book (that) I read was good. (That can be omitted)
  • Subject pronoun not omitted: The man who lives next door is friendly. (Who cannot be omitted)

📝 Comprehensive Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Identify Conditional Type
  1. If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
    Answer: Zero Conditional
  2. If I have enough money, I will buy a new phone.
    Answer: First Conditional
  3. If I were you, I would tell the truth.
    Answer: Second Conditional
  4. If she had studied, she would have passed.
    Answer: Third Conditional
  5. When water freezes, it becomes ice.
    Answer: Zero Conditional
Exercise 2: Complete the Conditional Sentences
  1. If I see him, I ______ (tell) him.
    Answer: will tell (First)
  2. If I were taller, I ______ (play) basketball.
    Answer: would play (Second)
  3. If she had called, I ______ (answer).
    Answer: would have answered (Third)
  4. If you heat butter, it ______ (melt).
    Answer: melts (Zero)
  5. If it rains, we ______ (cancel) the picnic.
    Answer: will cancel (First)
Exercise 3: Join Sentences with Relative Clauses
  1. The man is my uncle. He lives next door.
    Answer: The man who lives next door is my uncle.
  2. I lost the book. You gave it to me.
    Answer: I lost the book (that) you gave me.
  3. My sister is a doctor. She lives in London.
    Answer: My sister, who lives in London, is a doctor.
  4. This is the house. I was born here.
    Answer: This is the house where I was born.

Quick Reference Tables

Topic Key Points Formula Example
Zero Conditional Facts, 100% certainty If + present, present If water boils, it evaporates.
First Conditional Real future, likely If + present, will + V1 If it rains, I will stay.
Second Conditional Unreal present, unlikely If + past, would + V1 If I were rich, I would travel.
Third Conditional Unreal past, regrets If + past perfect, would have + V3 If I had known, I would have come.
Relative Clauses Extra information about noun Noun + who/which/that + clause The book that I read was good.

کنڈیشنل جملے اور کلاز انگریزی میں پیچیدہ خیالات کو ظاہر کرنے کے لیے ضروری ہیں۔ ان قوانین کو سمجھ کر آپ بہتر انگریزی بول اور لکھ سکتے ہیں۔

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