If Conditionals
I. Introduction.
1.1 Background of the study.
One of the most confusing grammatical aspects of English is “If Conditionals” sentences. Not many books, actually, discuss this notion. There are some different opinions from one teacher to another teacher about how many types of “If Conditionals” sentences are all together. Some books say that there are only 3 types of “If Conditionals” sentences. For example, English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy, published by Cambridge University Press, states only 3 types of the “If Conditionals” sentences. They are the first, the second and the third types of the “If Conditionals”, while, Understanding and Using English Grammar by Betty S. Azar, published by Prentice Hall, states that there are 5 types of the “If Conditionals”. Advance Learners’ Grammar by Mark Foley & Diane Hall, published by Longman, also, states that there are 5 types of “If Conditional” sentences. The 5 types of the “If Conditionals” sentences are, zero type, first, second, third, and mix type.
An “If Conditional” sentence is a conditional sentence that use “If” in the conditional clause. According to Advance Learners’ Grammar by Mark Foley & Diane Hall, published by Longman, conditional sentences usually consist of two clauses: a conditional clause (or “if” clause) and a main clause (or result clause). The result in the main clause is dependent on the condition in the conditional clause. The types of verbs used in each clause are different from one type to another type. The types of verbs used, are dependent on the meaning of the “If clause” or the situation. If the situation is true in the present or in the future, thus, the “If clause” verb is in simple present form, and the “result clause” is in simple future tense. But, if the situation is untrue in the present/future, then, the “if clause” is using simple past tense, while the “result clause” uses “would” + simple present. However, if the situation is untrue in the past, then for the “if clause” is using past perfect form, and for the “result clause” uses “would” + Present perfect.
II. Discussion.
2.1 “If Conditionals” according to Betty S. Azar.
The writer finds that Betty Azar’s explanation is easier to be understood. It has clear and step-by-step elaboration on each of the conditionals.
The writer will discuss the “If Conditional” mainly from the point of Betty Azar’s view. The 5 types of “If Conditional” are:
A. Zero conditional.
Meaning of the “If Clause”
Verb form in the “If Clause”
Verb form in the “Result Clause”
True in the present/future
Ø Simple present
Ø Simple Present
Ø Simple present
Ø Simple present

Sentence examples:
v If you heat water up to 100 degree Celsius, it boils.
vIf I am late having my meals, I usually get a gastric.
Function
If Clause
Relative Clause
Fact
If you heat water up to 100 degree Celsius,
It boils
Habitual
If I am late having my meals,
I usually get a gastric

B. First conditional.
Meaning of the “If Clause”
Verb form in the “If Clause”
Verb form in the “Result Clause”
True in the present/future
Simple present
Simple future

Sentence example:
vIf I have enough money, I will buy a car.
Function
If Clause
Relative Clause
Impossible at present but possible in the future
If I have enough money,
I will buy a car.

C. Second conditional.
Meaning of the “If Clause”
Verb form in the “If Clause”
Verb form in the “Result Clause”
Untrue in the present/future
Simple past
Would + Simple form
Sentence example:
vIf I had money, I would buy a car
Function
If Clause
Relative Clause
Impossible at present and in the future.
If I had money,
I would buy a car.

D. Third conditional
Meaning of the “If Clause”
Verb form in the “If Clause”
Verb form in the “Result Clause”
Untrue in the past
Past perfect
Would + present perfect

Sentence example:
vIf I had studied harder, I would have passed the examination.
Function
If Clause
Relative Clause
Impossible in the past.
If I had studied harder,
I would have passed the examination.

E. Mix conditional
Basically “Mix Conditional” is mixed between “second conditional” and “third conditional”, whether the “if clause” or the “result clause”.
Betty Azar in her book called Understanding and Using English Grammar, published by Prentice Hall, explains that frequently the time in the “if clause” and the time in the “result clause” are different: One clause may be in the present and the other in the past.
Example of “If Clause” in the past and “Result Clause” in the present:
Situation
Cause (Past)
Result (Present)
True
I did not obey my father,
So I get a consequence now.

Clause
If Clause (Past)
Result Clause (present)
Conditional
If I had obeyed my father,
I would not get a consequence.

Example of “If Clause” in the present and “Result Clause” in the past:
Situation
Cause (Present)
Result (Past)
True
I am not a teacher,
So I did not know how to teach.

Clause
If Clause (Present)
Result Clause (Past)
Conditional
If I were a teacher,
I would have known how to teach.


III. Conclusion
An “If Conditional” sentence is a sentence that use “If” in its conditional clause.
According to Understanding and Using English Grammar by Betty S. Azar, published by Prentice Hall, states that there are 5 types of the “If Conditionals”. The 5 types of “If Conditionals” are:
a) Zero Conditional
b) First Conditional
c) Second Conditional
d) Third Conditional
e) Mix Conditional
There are two clauses in conditional sentences. The “if clause” and the “result clause”. The way of writing the conditional sentences can be “if clause” first, then followed by the “result clause” or vice versa. The “verb form” used depends on the meaning or the situation of the “if clause”.





BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cambridge International Dictionary of English. Cambridge University Press.
Azar, Betty S. Understanding and Using English Grammar. (2nd ed.). Prentice Hall Regents.
Murphy, Raymond. (1994). English Grammar in Use. (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Foley, Mark. & Hall, Diane. (2003). Advance Learners’ Grammar. Pearson Education Limited.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/conditional2.htm
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/conditional-sentences
http://netgrammar.altec.org/Units/Unit_15/a101c15_201000.html