CONDITIONALS

Conditionals are sentences that describe a possible situation and its result. They often use “if” to show a condition that must happen for something else to happen and help us talk about real or imagined situations and their outcomes.

  • Why Do We Use Them?

    We use conditionals to express different possibilities, plans, or hypothetical situations. They help us discuss what could happen, what might have happened, or what would happen under certain conditions.

  • When to Use Them?

    We use the Zero Conditional for facts that always happen when a condition is met, the First for real, likely future situations, the Second for imaginary or unlikely situations in the present or future, and the Third for imaginary situations in the past. The Mixed Conditional combines two time frames, often showing a past condition with a present result or a present condition with a past result.

EXAMPLE SENTENCES

Zero Conditional

  • If you heat ice, it melts.

  • If it’s cold outside, water freezes.

  • Plants die if they don’t get water.

First Conditional

  • If I finish work early, I will go to the gym.

  • She will be happy if you call her.

  • They will go to the beach if it’s sunny

Second Conditional

  • If I were you, I would take the job.

  • If we had more money, we could buy a bigger house.

  • He would move to New York if he got a job there.

Third Conditional

  • If they had left earlier, they would have arrived on time.

  • I would have helped you if I had known you needed it.

  • She would have gotten the job if she had applied.

ZERO CONDITIONAL

Used for general truths, scientific facts, or situations that are always true. - Key Words: "if," "when"

  • Structure: If + Present Simple, Present Simple

    Examples:

    1.       If you freeze water, it turns to ice.

    2.       If you don’t water plants, they die.

    3.       If it rains, the ground gets wet.

    4.       If you mix red and blue, you get purple.

    5.       If you press the button, the machine starts.

    6.       Here are five sentences using "when" in the zero conditional:

    7.       When you heat water to 100°C, it boils.

    8.       When the sun sets, it gets dark.

    9.       When you mix red and blue, you get purple.

    10.   When you press this button, the machine starts.

    11.   When you don't water plants, they die.

FIRST CONDITIONAL

Used for real or likely situations in the future, where one action depends on another. Key Words: "if," "unless" (indicates condition)

  • Structure: If + Present Simple, will + Base Verb

Examples: Using “if " in the first conditional:

  1. If you study hard, you will pass the test.

  2. If it rains tomorrow, we will stay inside.

  3. If she finishes her work early, she will join us for dinner.

  4. If they leave now, they will catch the last bus.

  5. If you don’t hurry, you will miss the train.

Examples: Using “unless" in the first conditional:

  1. Unless you water the plants, they will die.

  2. Unless he calls soon, we will start without him.

  3. Unless it stops raining, we will cancel the picnic.

  4. Unless you apologize, she won’t forgive you.

  5. Unless we plan ahead, we will get lost.

SECOND CONDITONAL

Used for hypothetical or unlikely situations in the present or future. - Key Words: "if," "were"

Structure: If + Past Simple, would + base verb

  • Examples:

    1.       If I had a million dollars, I would travel the world.

    2.       If I were you, I would apologize.

    3.       If she knew his address, she would send him a letter.

    4.       If we had a car, we would drive to the beach.

    5.       If they lived closer, we would visit them more often.

    6.       If I were you, I would take that job offer.

    7.       If she were here, she would know what to do.

    8.       If it were my decision, I would choose the red one.

    9.       If they were rich, they would travel the world.

    10.   If he were more confident, he would apply for the promotion.

THIRD CONDITIONAL

Used for hypothetical situations in the past that did not happen. - Key Words: "if," "had"

Structure: If + Past Perfect, would have + past participle

Examples:

1.       If I had known about the party, I would have attended.

2.       If they had studied harder, they would have passed the exam.

3.       If she had left earlier, she would have caught the train.

4.       If we had taken a taxi, we would have arrived on time.

5.       If he had asked for help, I would have helped him.

MIXED CONDITIONAL

Mixed conditionals are used when the time in the "if" clause and the main clause are different. It often combines elements of the second and third conditionals. - Key Words: "if," "had"

Structure: If + Past Perfect, would + base verb (for a past condition affecting the present)

Examples:

1.       If I had studied harder, I would have a better job now. (Past condition, present result)

2.       If she had taken the job, she would be living in New York. (Past condition, present result)

3.       If he hadn’t missed the flight, he would be here with us now. (Past condition, present result)

4.       If they had saved money, they would be traveling now. (Past condition, present result)

5.       If I were rich, I would have bought that car last year. (Present condition, past result)

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