The Four Types of Conditionals

The Four Types of Conditionals

Conditionals

If + present simple... present simple - Zero Conditional

If + present simple ... will + infinitve - First Conditional

If + past simple.... would + infinitive - Second Conditional

If + past perfect.. + would have + past participle Third Conditional

Zero Conditional

Things that are always true

Structure and Examples

Structure: If + present simple,...present simple Examples: If you study, you pass the course. If someone is talking, I can't concentrate.

First Conditional

Things which are likely to happen

Structure and Examples

Structure: If + present simple,...future Examples: If you study, you will pass the course. If we work hard, we will finish the project on time.

Second Conditional

Things which are unreal (not true or not possible)

Structure and Examples

I do not have $1,000. But: If I had $1,000, I would buy a laptop. Structure: If + past tense, ... would + verb Example: If I had the time, I would go to the party (I don’t have the time to go)

Pay attention!

1. Note that after I / he/ she /it we often use the subjunctive form ‘were’ and not ‘was’. (Some people think that ‘were’ is the only ‘correct’ form but other people think ‘was’ is equally ‘correct’ .)
2. If she were happy in her job, she wouldn’t be looking for another one.
3. If they were to enter our market, we’d have big problems.

Third Conditional

Things which did not happen in the past.

Structure and Examples

I failed the exam because I didn't study hard enough. But: If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam. Structure: If + subject + past perfect verb / subject + would + have + past participle Example: If I had had the time, I would have gone to the party.