CONDITIONALS

CONDITIONALS

• 
• Conditionals describe the result of a certain condition. The if clause tells you the condition and the main clause tells you the result. The order of the clauses does not change the meaning.

ZERO CONDITIONAL

• 
• We use the zero conditional to talk about things that are generally true, especially for laws and rules.
• If I drink too much coffee, I can't sleep at night.
• Ice melts if you heat it.
• When the sun goes down, it gets dark.
• The structure is: if/when + present simple >> present simple.

FIRST CONDITIONAL

• 
• We use the first conditional when we talk about future situations we believe are real or possible.
• If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we'll go to the beach.
• In first conditional sentences, the structure is usually: if/when + present simple >> will + infinitive.
• It is also common to use this structure with unless, as long as, as soon as or in case instead of if.
• I'll leave as soon as the babysitter arrives.

SECOND CONDITIONAL

• 
• The second conditional is used to imagine present or future situations that are impossible or unlikely in reality.
• If I won a lot of money, I'd buy a big house in the country.
• The structure is usually: if + past simple >> + would + infinitive.

SECOND CONDITIONAL (CONTINUED)

• 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 mention it.
• If she was prime minister, she would invest more money in schools.

THIRD CONDITIONAL

• 
• The third conditional is used to imagine a different past. We imagine a change in a past situation and the different result of that change.
• If I had understood the instructions properly, I would have passed the exam.
• We wouldn't have got lost if my phone hadn't run out of battery.
• In third conditional sentences, the structure is usually: If + past perfect >> would have + past participle.