The conditionals

THE CONDITIONALS

Use them to explain situations that contain a cause and consequence.

FIRST CONDITIONAL

SECOND CONDITIONAL

ZERO CONDITIONAL

(if + present simple, ... will + infinitive)

(if + present simple, ... present simple)

(if + past simple, ... would + infinitive)

If it rains tomorrow, we'll go to the cinema.

If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.

if I find a magic lamp, I will wish for the ability to fly like a bird. If I had wings, I could soar above the clouds and explore the world from a bird's-eye view. Even if I were granted a superpower, I couldn't turn back time to fix my mistakes. If I could rewrite history, I would have made different choices and avoided some regrets. Whether I'm rich or poor, I'll always cherish the memories of dreaming big and imagining endless possibilities.

THIRD CONDITIONAL

(if + past perfect, ... would + have + past participle)

If I had gone to bed early, I would have caught the train.

When to use it?

We use it when we describe an imaginary situation either in the future or the present because it is not real.

• If I met the Queen of England, I would say hello.
• She would travel all over the world if she were rich.
• If I were you, I wouldn't go out with no money
• If it rained, I would not drive today.

When to use it?

We use to express possible consequences or results in the future.

• If it rains, I won't go to the park.
• If I study today, I'll go to the meeting tonight.
• If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes.
• She'll be late if the train is delayed.
• She'll miss the bus if she doesn't leave soon.
• If I see her, I'll tell her.

When to use it?

We use it to describe a situation that didn´t happen but we imagine the result of it.

• If I hadn't eaten so much, I wouldn't have felt sick.
• If we had taken a taxi, we wouldn't have missed the plane.
• She wouldn't have been tired if she had gone to bed earlier.
• She would have become a teacher if she had gone to university.

When to use it?

The zero condiitional is used for facts or absulute consecuences.

• If people eat too much, they gain weight.
• If you touch a fire, you get burned.
• People die if they don't eat.
• You get water if you mix hydrogen and oxygen.
• Snakes bite if they are scared.
• If babies are hungry, they cry.