If-clauses are also known as conditional clauses in sentences. The if-clause in the sentence most often comes before the main clause and is proceeded by a comma separating it from the main clause. However, it can also come after the main clause. In this case, it is not preceded by a comma.
There are 4 types of conditional clauses, and they do not all use "if." Each type represents a different degree of probability in relation to the condition of the sentence.
Zero conditional clauses or sentences express ideas that are generally expected to be true.
For instance, "If you wear your seatbelt, you are more protected in a car accident." Zero conditional clauses require simple present tense verbs. In some cases, "when" is the conditional word instead of "if." For instance, "When you go hiking, it is important to take water with you."
First conditional clauses or sentences express ideas that are likely to be true or to happen given the stated condition. In this case, the main clause uses the future tense because it is based on what is expected to happen. For example, "If you stretch before exercise, you will have less muscle soreness."
Second conditional clauses or sentences are those that are about a very unlikely occurrence. They use the past tense in the "if-clause" and a modal auxiliary verb (which express possibility), such as "would" or "should," in the main clause. For example, "If I won the lottery, I would buy my own island."
Third conditional clauses or sentences refer to how different past actions might have produced a different present. This type of if-clause sentence is the most complicated in terms of verbs.
The if-clause uses past perfect tense, while the main clause uses the modal auxiliary verb + have + past participle. For example, "If I had known so many people would come, I would have made more food."
I earn a lot of money if I
get that job.
If she does not hurry, we
miss the bus.
If he tried harder, he reach
his goals.
I buy these shoes if they
fitted.
It would not surprise me if he
not know the answer.
If we had listened to the
radio, we hear the news.
She come to our party if she
had not been on holiday.
If I be stronger, I'd help
you carry the piano.
If we'd seen you, we stop.
If we meet him tomorrow,
we'll say hello.
If you drop the vase, it
break.
I wouldn't go to school by bus
if I have a driving licence.
If she not see him every
day, she'd be lovesick.
I not travel to Germany if I
don't get a cheap flight.
We'd be stupid if we tell
him about our secret.
If I had lain down on the
sofa, I fall asleep.
Lisa could have worked as a
model if she be taller.
The soil not dry out if you
water the plants regularly.
If you give the young boy
this stick, he'd hurt himself.
If the cat hides in the tree,
the dog not it.
Max read the newspaper if he
went by train.
If we meet at 9:30, we have
plenty of time.
Lisa would find the milk if
she look in the fridge.
If you spoke louder, your
classmates understand you.
John arrive safe if he drove
slowly.
If you swim in this lake,
you'll shiver from cold.
The door will unlock if you
press the green button.
If Mel ask her teacher, he'd
have answered her questions.
I call the office if I were
you.
If I go to Frankfurt, I'll
visit the zoo.
If it not, we'd be in the
garden.
She would have had two laptops
if she not the contract.
If I were a millionaire, I
live in Beverly Hills.
If we had read the book, we
understand the film.
They arrive on time if they
hadn't missed the train.
I will earn a lot of money if I
get that job.
If she does not hurry, we
will miss the bus.
If he tried harder, he would reachd
his goals.
I would buy these shoes if they
fitted.
It would not surprise me if he
did not know the answer.
If we had listened to the
radio, we would have heard the news.
She would have come to our party if she
had not been on holiday.
If I were stronger, I'd help
you carry the piano.
If we'd seen you, we would have stopped.
If we meet him tomorrow,
we'll say hello.
If you drop the vase, it
will break.
I wouldn't go to school by bus
if I had a driving licence.
If she didn't see him every
day, she'd be lovesick.
I won't travel to Germany if I
don't get a cheap flight.
We'd be stupid if we told
him about our secret.
If I had lain down on the
sofa, I would have fallen asleep.
Lisa could have worked as a
model if she had been taller.
The soil will not dry out if you
water the plants regularly.
If you gave the young boy
this stick, he'd hurt himself.
If the cat hides in the tree,
the dog will not find it.
Max would read the newspaper if he
went by train.
If we meet at 9:30, we will have
plenty of time.
Lisa would find the milk if
she looked in the fridge.
If you spoke louder, your
classmates would understand you.
John would arrive safe if he drove
slowly.
If you swim in this lake,
you'll shiver from cold.
The door will unlock if you
press the green button.
If Mel had asked her teacher, he'd
have answered her questions.
I would call the office if I were
you.
If I go to Frankfurt, I'll
visit the zoo.
If it didn't rain, we'd be in the
garden.
She would have had two laptops
if she had not signed the contract.
If I were a millionaire, I
would live in Beverly Hills.
If we had read the book, we
would have understood the film.
They might have arrived on time if they
hadn't missed the train.
