Conditional Sentences: Negatives and Questions

In this lesson, we'll explore negative forms and question forms in conditional sentences. Building on your knowledge of affirmative conditionals, you'll learn how to express what won't happen under certain conditions, ask questions about hypothetical situations, and form negative questions. These forms are essential for discussing possibilities, hypothetical scenarios, and their consequences in both positive and negative contexts.

We'll cover negatives and questions for all four types of conditionals: Zero, First, Second, and Third Conditionals, including short answers and common patterns.

1. Negative Forms in Conditionals

Zero Conditional - Negative

Structure: If + subject + don't/doesn't + base verb, subject + don't/doesn't + base verb

  • If water doesn't reach 100°C, it doesn't boil.
  • If you don't water plants, they die.
  • If he doesn't eat breakfast, he gets hungry by 10 AM.
  • Plants don't grow if they don't get sunlight.

First Conditional - Negative

Structure: If + subject + don't/doesn't + base verb, subject + won't + base verb

  • If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we won't cancel the picnic.
  • If she doesn't study, she won't pass the exam.
  • I won't go to the party if they don't invite me.
  • If you don't hurry, you won't catch the train.

Second Conditional - Negative

Structure: If + subject + didn't + base verb, subject + wouldn't + base verb

  • If I didn't have to work, I wouldn't wake up so early.
  • If she weren't so busy, she wouldn't be so stressed.
  • He wouldn't be successful if he didn't work hard.
  • If they didn't live so far away, we would visit them more often.

Note: In formal English, we use "were" for all subjects in negative Second Conditional:

  • If I weren't busy... (not "wasn't")
  • If he weren't here... (not "wasn't")

Third Conditional - Negative

Structure: If + subject + hadn't + past participle, subject + wouldn't have + past participle

  • If I hadn't studied hard, I wouldn't have passed the exam.
  • If she hadn't left early, she wouldn't have avoided the traffic.
  • They wouldn't have won if they hadn't practiced so much.
  • If we hadn't saved money, we wouldn't have been able to buy the house.

2. Mixed Negatives in Conditionals

You can have negative forms in either clause or both clauses of a conditional sentence:

Type If-clause negative Main clause negative Both negative
Zero If you don't exercise, you get tired easily. If you exercise, you don't get tired easily. If you don't exercise, you don't feel good.
First If it doesn't rain, we'll go out. If it rains, we won't go out. If you don't come, I won't go either.
Second If I didn't work here, I'd move away. If I worked here, I wouldn't move away. If he didn't try, he wouldn't succeed.
Third If she hadn't called, I would have worried. If she had called, I wouldn't have worried. If we hadn't left early, we wouldn't have arrived on time.

3. Question Forms in Conditionals

Questions in conditionals can be formed in either the if-clause or the main clause:

Questions in the Main Clause (More Common)

First Conditional Questions

Structure: If + statement, will + subject + base verb?

  • If it rains tomorrow, will you stay home?
  • If she comes to the party, will John be happy?
  • If we finish early, will we have time to go shopping?
Second Conditional Questions

Structure: If + statement, would + subject + base verb?

  • If you won the lottery, would you quit your job?
  • If she lived in Paris, would she be happier?
  • If they offered you the position, would you accept it?
Third Conditional Questions

Structure: If + statement, would + subject + have + past participle?

  • If you had known about the problem, would you have helped?
  • If she had studied harder, would she have passed?
  • If they had left earlier, would they have avoided the traffic?

Questions in the If-Clause (Less Common)

These are used when we're uncertain about the condition:

  • If you see John tomorrow, will you give him this message?
  • What will you do if it rains?
  • What would happen if we didn't have electricity?

4. WH-Questions with Conditionals

WH-questions are commonly used with conditional sentences to ask for specific information:

First Conditional WH-Questions

  • What will you do if you don't get the job?
  • Where will we meet if it rains?
  • When will you call if you arrive late?
  • Who will help us if John can't come?
  • Why will she be upset if we're late?
  • How will you get home if you miss the bus?

Second Conditional WH-Questions

  • What would you do if you were the president?
  • Where would you live if you could choose anywhere?
  • Who would you invite if you had a dinner party?
  • How much would you donate if you won the lottery?
  • How would you feel if you lost your job?

Third Conditional WH-Questions

  • What would you have done if you had been in my situation?
  • Where would we have gone if the museum had been closed?
  • Who would have won if the match hadn't been cancelled?
  • How would things have been different if we had met earlier?

5. Negative Questions in Conditionals

Negative questions in conditionals express surprise, seek confirmation, or make suggestions:

First Conditional - Negative Questions

  • If he doesn't come, won't you be disappointed?
  • Won't we be late if we don't leave now?
  • If it rains, won't the event be cancelled?

Second Conditional - Negative Questions

  • If you had more money, wouldn't you travel more?
  • Wouldn't it be nice if we lived by the beach?
  • If he were here, wouldn't he help us?

Third Conditional - Negative Questions

  • If you had known, wouldn't you have told me?
  • Wouldn't we have been happier if we had stayed?
  • If they had tried harder, wouldn't they have succeeded?

Note: Negative questions often expect a "yes" answer and can sound like you're seeking agreement.

6. Short Answers to Conditional Questions

When answering yes/no questions in conditionals, we typically respond to the main clause:

Question Positive Answer Negative Answer
If it rains, will you stay home? Yes, I will. No, I won't.
If you had more time, would you travel? Yes, I would. No, I wouldn't.
If he had studied, would he have passed? Yes, he would have. No, he wouldn't have.
If she doesn't come, won't you be upset? Yes, I will (be upset). No, I won't (be upset).

Alternative responses:

  • Probably. / Probably not.
  • I think so. / I don't think so.
  • Maybe. / Perhaps.
  • It depends.

7. Common Patterns and Structures

Unless = If not

"Unless" can replace "if not" in negative conditionals:

  • If you don't hurry, you'll be late. = Unless you hurry, you'll be late.
  • I won't go if she doesn't come. = I won't go unless she comes.
  • If we don't act now, it'll be too late. = Unless we act now, it'll be too late.

Question Tags with Conditionals

Question tags are added to the main clause:

  • If it rains, we'll cancel the picnic, won't we?
  • If you had the chance, you'd go, wouldn't you?
  • If she had known, she would have helped, wouldn't she?

Embedded Questions in Conditionals

  • I wonder what would happen if we didn't have internet.
  • Do you know what you'll do if you don't get accepted?
  • Can you imagine how different life would be if we couldn't travel?

8. Common Mistakes with Negative and Question Conditionals

Incorrect Correct Explanation
If I wouldn't be busy, I'd help you. If I weren't busy, I'd help you. Use past simple in if-clause of 2nd conditional
What would you do if you will win the lottery? What would you do if you won the lottery? Don't mix conditional types
If he didn't came, we would have left. If he hadn't come, we would have left. Use past perfect in if-clause of 3rd conditional
Unless you don't hurry, you'll be late. Unless you hurry, you'll be late. "Unless" already means "if not"
Wouldn't you came if I invited you? Wouldn't you come if I invited you? Use base verb after would/wouldn't
If she won't come, what will we do? If she doesn't come, what will we do? Use present simple in if-clause of 1st conditional

Practice Test 1 - Negative Conditionals

Choose the correct negative form for each conditional sentence.

1. If you ______ water, you get thirsty. (Zero Conditional)

2. If she ______ hard, she won't pass the exam. (First Conditional)

3. If I ______ so tired, I would go out tonight. (Second Conditional)

4. If they ______ so much, they wouldn't have won. (Third Conditional)

5. I ______ the job if they don't offer good benefits. (First Conditional)

Practice Test 2 - Conditional Questions

Transform these statements into questions.

Practice Test 3 - Mixed Negatives

Choose the correct option for each sentence.

1. If he ______ come, I ______ go either.

2. ______ you be upset if she ______ call you?

3. If we ______ left early, we ______ missed the traffic.

4. ______ you go to the party if they ______ invite you?

5. Plants ______ grow if they ______ get enough sunlight.

Practice Test 4 - Unless

Rewrite these sentences using "unless".

Practice Test 5 - Short Answers

Choose the correct short answer.

1. "If it rains, will you stay home?" - "Yes, ______."

2. "If you had more time, would you travel?" - "No, ______."

3. "If she had known, would she have helped?" - "Yes, ______."

4. "Won't you be disappointed if he doesn't come?" - "No, ______."

5. "Wouldn't it be nice if we lived by the beach?" - "Yes, ______."

Summary: Key Points to Remember

  1. Negative conditionals: Can have negatives in if-clause, main clause, or both
  2. Zero Conditional negative: If + don't/doesn't + verb, don't/doesn't + verb
  3. First Conditional negative: If + don't/doesn't + verb, won't + verb
  4. Second Conditional negative: If + didn't + verb, wouldn't + verb (use "weren't" for all subjects)
  5. Third Conditional negative: If + hadn't + past participle, wouldn't have + past participle
  6. Questions: Usually formed in the main clause (Will you...? Would you...?)
  7. WH-questions: Question word + auxiliary + subject + verb
  8. Negative questions: Express surprise or seek confirmation (Won't you...? Wouldn't you...?)
  9. Unless = If not: A useful alternative for negative conditions
  10. Short answers: Match the auxiliary from the main clause (Yes, I will/would/would have)

Mastering negative forms and questions in conditional sentences allows you to express complex hypothetical situations, discuss what won't happen under certain conditions, and engage in sophisticated conversations about possibilities and their consequences. Practice using these forms in different contexts to become more confident in expressing conditions, consequences, and hypothetical scenarios in both positive and negative ways!