Conditionals

Conditionals

1. 1st conditional

   • The first conditional is a structure used for talking about possibilities in the present or in the future.
     • The first conditional has the present simple after 'if', then the future simple in the other clause: if + present simple, ... will + infinitive
       • We won't go if it rains. If they come, I will / I'll be really surprised

2. 2nd conditional

   • The second conditional is used to talk about things which are unreal in the present or the future
     • The second conditional uses the past simple after if, then 'would' and the infinitive: if + past simple, ...would + infinitive
       • If I had enough money, I would buy a house

3. 3rd conditional

   • The third conditional refers to an impossible condition in the past and its probable result in the past. These sentences are truly hypothetical and unreal, because it is now too late for the condition or its result to exist.
     • We make the third conditional by using the past perfect after 'if' and then 'would have' and the past participle in the second part of the sentence: if + past perfect, ...would + have + past participle
       • I would have gone if you had told me