Conditionals

English Grammar

CONDITIONALS

Zero, first, second and a bit of third!

zero

conditional

We use the zero conditional to talk about THINGS that are GENERALLY TRUE, especially for LAWS AND RULES.

Ice melts if you heat it. When the sun goes down, it gets dark.

zero

conditional

Ice melts if you heat it.

if clause: present simplemain clause: present simple

1st

conditional

We use the first conditional when we talk about FUTURE SITUATIONS we believe are REAL OR POSSIBLE.

If you study hard, you will pass your exams. You will pass your exams if you study hard.

1st

conditional

If you study hard, you will pass your exams. You will pass your exams if you study hard.

1st

conditional

If clause

main clause

If you study hard, you will pass your exams. You will pass your exams if you study hard.

If clause

main clause

1st

conditional

If you study hard, you will pass your exams.

The if clause tells you the condition the main clause tells you the result

1st

conditional

If you study hard, you will pass your exams.

you'll pass (contracted)

if clause: present simplemain clause: future simple (will)

1st

conditional

If you don't study hard, you won't pass your exams.

if clause: present simplemain clause: future simple (will)

1st conditional

If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea I'll sail the world to find you

Bruno Mars, "Count on me"

2nd

conditional

The second conditional is used to imagine PRESENT OR FUTURE SITUATIONS that are IMPOSSIBLE or UNLIKELY IN REALITY.

If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house in the English countryside.

2nd

conditional

If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house in the English countryside.

if clause: past simplemain clause: would + base form

I'd buy (contracted)

2nd

conditional

If you didn't study hard, you wouldn't be the best.

if clause: past simplemain clause: would + base form

2nd

conditional

When if is followed by the verb be, it is grammatically correct to say: if I were, if he were, if she were and if it were. However, it is also common to hear these structures with was, especially in the he/she form.

If I were you, I wouldn't tell them. If she was prime minister, she would invest more money in schools.

2nd Conditional

I would say I'm sorry If I thought that it would change your mind

The Cure, "Boys don't cry"

2nd Conditional

If I were a boy Even just for a day I'd roll out of bed in the morning And throw on what I wanted then go Drink beer with the guys And chase after girls....

Beyonce, "If I were a boy"

3rd

conditional

It talks about the past. It's used to describe a situation that didn't happen, and to imagine the result of this situation.

If she had studied, she would have passed the exam.

3rd

conditional

If she had studied, she would have passed the exam.

if clause: past perfect (had + past participle)main clause: would + have + past participle

1st - 2nd - 3rd compared

If I go to the party, I'll have fun.If I went to the party, I'd have fun. If I had gone to the party, I'd have had fun.