Conditionals Chart Upper Intermediate

Conditional

Result

Condition (If clause)

Zero: Time is not important. The result of the condition is always true. We are talking about facts.

it boils. you get sick. Verb tense: present simple

If you heat water to 100 ºC, If you only eat unhealthy food, If -When/Verb tense: present simple

I will stay at home. I can find a better job. Verb tense: modal + base-verb modal: will, can, shall, may

If it rains, If I learn English, Verb tense: present simple

First: We are thinking about the future. There is a real possibility that the condition will happen.

I could get to work more easily. I would travel around the world. Verb tense: modal + base-verb modal: would, could, should, might

Second: We are thinking about the future. But there is no real possibility that the condition will happen.

If I had a car, If I were rich, Verb tense: past simple

If I had seen her, If I hadn’t wasted my money, Verb tense: had + past participle past perfect

I would have talked to her. I could have traveled the world. Verb: modal + have + base-verb modal: would, could, should, might

Third: We are talking about the past. Both the condition and the result are impossible. It is like a dream with no possibility of it coming true.