Conditional sentences describe conditions that are necessary for a particular result. There are several types of conditional sentences that are distinguished by their verb tenses: 1) General or habitual conditional sentences use the same verb tense in both clauses. 2) Predictive, intention, or possibility conditional sentences use present tense in the subordinate clause and modal verbs plus base verb form in the independent clause. 3) Speculative conditionals about unlikely present conditions use past tense in the subordinate clause and modal verbs plus base verb form in the independent clause. 4) Speculative conditionals about untrue past conditions use past perfect in the subordinate clause and modal verbs plus past participle in the independent clause.