conditional
depending on something else happening
Happening or true only if something else happens or is true.
[something] is conditional on [something]
- Her job offer is conditional on passing a background check.
- The bank gave us conditional approval for the loan, pending an inspection of the house.
- His release from prison was conditional on regular meetings with a probation officer.
- The funding is conditional on the project being completed within twelve months.
- My visa is conditional on having health insurance.
- Their support is conditional on us cutting costs.
- The deal is conditional on both sides signing the contract.
- Entry to the club is conditional on showing your ID.
about conditional grammar forms
About a verb form or sentence that shows a condition (often with "if") and what happens because of it.
[something] is a conditional [sentence/clause/verb form]
- We spent the lesson practicing conditional sentences with 'if' and 'would'.
- In English, the conditional mood is usually formed with 'would' plus the base verb.
- The teacher wrote several conditional clauses on the board and asked us to complete them.
- This exam focuses on the correct use of conditional verb forms.
- We are learning the conditional tense in class today.
- Please write three conditional sentences using 'if'.
- This is a conditional clause because it starts with 'if'.
- The book shows many examples of conditional forms.
a conditional grammar pattern
A type of sentence or verb pattern that talks about a condition (often with 'if') and what happens because of that condition.
the [first/second/etc.] conditional
- We are reviewing the second conditional for unreal present situations.
- In this unit you will learn the difference between the first and zero conditionals.
- Students often confuse the third conditional with mixed conditionals.
- The exam includes several questions on how to form the first conditional.
- Today we are studying the first conditional.
- I find the third conditional very hard.
- Can you give me an example of a zero conditional?
- In this exercise, you must use the second conditional.
if–then logical statement
In logic, a sentence like "If P, then Q" that says Q is true when P is true.
a conditional of the form "if [proposition], then [proposition]"
- In propositional logic, a conditional is usually written as P → Q.
- The truth value of a material conditional can be surprising for beginners.
- He analyzed the argument by breaking it into several simple conditionals.
- In this logic class, we learned that a conditional has the form "if P, then Q".
- The teacher showed how to draw a truth table for a conditional.
- This example is a counterfactual conditional, because P is not really true.
- Base: conditional
- Base: conditional
- Plural: conditionals
be conditional on
1depend on something happening
To happen or be allowed only if something else happens or is true.
- Admission to the course is conditional on passing the entrance test.
- The sale of the house is conditional on the buyer getting a mortgage.
conditional on
1only if something else happens
Used to say that something will happen only if another thing happens or is true.
- The agreement is conditional on timely payment of all fees.
- Participation is conditional on signing the consent form.
conditional upon
1only if, formal style
A formal way to say that something will happen only if a certain condition is met.
- The contract is conditional upon approval from the board.
- His release was conditional upon strict supervision by social services.
first conditional
1grammar pattern for real future
An English grammar pattern, usually "if" + present simple, and "will" + base verb, used to talk about real or possible future situations and their results.
- Use the first conditional to talk about real possibilities in the future.
- For homework, write five sentences using the first conditional.
second conditional
1grammar pattern for unreal present/future
An English grammar pattern, usually "if" + past simple, and "would" + base verb, used to talk about unreal or unlikely situations now or in the future and their results.
- We use the second conditional to talk about imaginary situations, like "If I won the lottery, I would travel the world."
- She still makes mistakes with the second conditional in speaking.
third conditional
1grammar pattern for unreal past
An English grammar pattern, usually "if" + past perfect, and "would have" + past participle, used to talk about unreal past situations and what could have happened.
- Use the third conditional to talk about regrets, like "If I had studied more, I would have passed."
- Many learners find the third conditional difficult because both parts are long.
zero conditional
1grammar pattern for general truths
An English grammar pattern, usually "if" + present simple and present simple again, used to talk about things that are always true or usually happen in the same way.
- The zero conditional is common in scientific facts, for example, "If you heat ice, it melts."
- Students often forget that the zero conditional uses the present simple in both clauses.