Type 1 conditional sentence in English

This post will help you understand what type 1 conditional sentences are and how to use them correctly .

What are type 1 conditional sentences in English?

Type 1 conditional sentences are used to refer to a possible or real outcome of a condition. The condition clause uses the Simple Present tense and the result clause uses the Simple Future tense.

The condition here is based on and refers to real and possible events and the result clause refers to its probable result, something the speaker thinks will surely happen under the given condition.

Possible structures:

IF clause (condition)	Result clause
Result clause	IF clause (condition)

The condition clause refers to the present or near future, and the result clause refers to an action that will take in the future.

The speaker talks about an action that will take place under a condition. This is not a hypothetical situation; the speaker actually believes that they will perform the action if the condition is met.

The speaker, using a type 1 conditional sentence, refers to a state of being they will be in under a specific condition. Unlike a type 2 or type 3 conditional sentences, the condition in type 1 conditional sentences is real and possible.

Examples:

• If you don’t apologize to her, she will not come back here.
• If Jon works on his wrestling, he will be unbeatable.
• If Sneha does not take this offer, we will give it someone else.
• If we get this deal, we will be millionaires.
• The company will fire you if you break their laws.
• You will miss the train if you don’t leave right now.
• If you don’t call me today, I will block your number.
• “We will shoot you if you move”, said the police to him.
• If I prepare your ppt, will you come with me?

Here’s a little story to help you understand how to use type 1 conditional sentences:

Situation 1

I am at a party. Here, I have my friends, relatives, and family members. Most of them are on the dance floor, grooving to the music, and I’m sitting on a sofa at a distance, having fun watching them groove. A bunch of my friends and family members come to me asking to join them. I, at first, politely refuse to join them.

They keep on insisting, and I lay down a condition in which I will do it. Here’s what I say: If no one records me dancing, I will happily dance with you.

See, I promise to perform an action under a condition which is absolutely real, possible and, usually likely to happen or be agreed by the party or parties involved.

Situation 2:

Imagine you’re a teacher, and someone wants you to teach them. You, initially, don’t want to do it, but the person keeps pressing you to do it. You finally get ready to do under a condition.

Here’s what you say: I will teach you if you stop drinking alcohol and follow what I say.

The need for the type 1 conditional sentences arises when there’s disagreement or you warm someone or give a piece of advice.

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Disagreement

Here, the speaker agrees to do something under a possible or plausible condition.

Jon: we will pay you 50k a month for the role. Come work with us.
You: That’s too less. It doesn’t intrigues me.
Jon: what works for you then?
You: If you pay me 80k per month and additional bonuses, I will leave my job and work with you.

There’s a disagreement in the beginning. The company wants you to work with them, but you aren’t willing to do it. You use the type 1 conditional sentence to lay down the condition in which you’ll do what you are asked to do.

More examples:

• I will forgive you if you apologize to my parents.
• If you keep your mouth shut the whole time, I will take you with me to the meeting.
• If you promise to drive it yourself and keep it clean, I will give my car to you for today.
• I will come there if no one smokes in front of me.

Look at these sentences. Initially, the speaker must not be wanting to perform the actions, meaning they were in a disagreement with the party involved. Being forced, pressed or insisted, the speaker decides to perform the action in a certain condition.

Advice or warning

Using a type 1 conditional sentence is a common way to give people a piece of your advice. Study the example given below to understand it better.

Meaning (advice): stop hanging out with these lads. The speaker is warning the person to stop doing something by showing them the consequences of not following it: the person will lose all their money.

• If you don’t come study hard, you will fail the test.
• If you don’t work hard, luck won’t be your friend.
• You will have a hard time with people if you make assumptions.
• You will lose yourself if you try to impress people all the day.
• If you let people affect you mentally, you will never be happy.
• You will have everything you want if you stop wasting time.

To achieve a desired state (situation)

Sometimes, you need to threaten a person to get something you want from them or for yourself. You know that the person won’t do what you want unless you scare or threaten with a certain result. The condition here represents what you want from the person.

Meaning: Take me to the party or I will tell your father that you smoke.

Desired result: Take me to the party.
Threat: I will tell your father that you smoke.

The girl in the sentence wants to break with the guy, but the guy doesn’t want that: he wants to be with her. So, he threatens her to get what he wants.

More examples:

• I will start screaming and tell everyone that you were trying me sexually harass me if you don’t give me your money.
• If you don’t get a bike as my birthday present, I will show your photos to daddy.
• If you don’t do this for me, I will make sure you fail the exam.

Modal verbs are also used in the result clause to focus on possibility, obligation, permission, certainty, capability, or suggestion/recommendation.

The modal ‘will‘ in the result clause shows certainty of the action. We can replace it with other modal verbs to refer to other things: recommendation, capability, possibility, obligation and permission.

Examples:

• If he invites you to the party, he should definitely come. (recommendation)
• If someone tries to attack me there, I can protect myself. (capability)
• He may bite you if you poke him a little too much. (possibility)
• They might cancel your ticket if you reach late. (possibility)
• If he sells the car for 10000 INR, I will buy it. (certainty)
• You have to forgive him if he apologizes to you. (obligation)
• If the teacher asks for the ID card, you must show it to them. (obligation)
• If you are done with your work, you can call it a day. (permission)

Negative sentences

Both or either clause in a type 1 conditional sentence can be negative. Let’s study some examples to understand this.

Negative condition and positive result

• If you don’t come back by 6 pm, we will leave for the party.
• If the student does not apologize to the teacher, he will be rusticated from the college.
• You will be thrown put of the class if you don’t show up in dress.

Negative result and positive condition

• If Rahul is invited to the party, Sneha won’t show up.
• I won’t buy the car if he asks for more then 30k.

Both clauses negative

• If we don’t come with us, we won’t go there either.
• If the company fires Jon, we won’t work here.
• If he doesn’t pass the physical test, he won’t be hired.

Interrogative sentences

Questions in type 1 conditional sentences are asked when the person we are questions to wasn’t willing to do something initially. The condition in the question is put to lure or attract the person to get something done.

Rahul: I am going to Rahul’s party. Come with me.
Allen: I don’t want to. I am not in talking terms with him. It will be awkward for me.
Rahul (conditional 1): Will you come with me if you hook you up with Riya? I know you have a thing for her.
Allen: Let’s dress up. I am up.

Notice that Allen wasn’t willing to go to Rahul’s party initially. Rahul had to lure him into going to the party by giving him something he can’t say no to. Now, he is willing to join Rahul because he will get to date Riya (the girl he is mad about) in return.

Questions in type 1 conditional, instead of regular questions, are asked when you know the person needs something in return. You need to lure the person to get something done.

Examples:

• Will he work with us if we pay him more than he is getting paid right now?
• Will the company let us leave early if we finish the work on time?
• Will you give me her number if I let you use my car for a month?
• Will you let me sleep in your room If I promise to make you dinner and clean dishes?
• Will you go out with me if I take care of all your expenses?

Using conjunctions such as unless, as long as, and when are common to use instead of if.

• You can take my car to work as long as you come back by 11 pm.
• We will not take you with us to the park unless you finish your homework.
• I will give you a call when you reach there.

Note that type 1 conditional sentences are also known as type one conditional, conditional sentences type 1, or conditional sentences type one.

You, now, know what a type 1 conditional sentence and how to use it. Do leave your question, doubt or feedback in the comment section, and share the post with others to help them!