Conditionals

Conditionals

1. What are conditionals in English grammar? Sometimes we call them 'if clauses'. They describe the result of something that might happen (in the present or future) or might have happened but didn't (in the past) . They are made using different English verb tenses.

   • The Zero Conditional
     • If + present simple, .... present simple.
       • This conditional is used when the result will always happen.
         • For example: If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils. (It is always true, there can't be a different result sometimes).
   • The First Conditional
     • if + present simple, ... will + infinitive
       • It's used to talk about things which might happen in the future.
         • If it rains, I won't go to the park.
   • The Second Conditional
     • if + past simple, ...would + infinitive
       • (We can use 'were' instead of 'was' with 'I' and 'he/she/it'. This is mostly done in formal writing).
         • If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.(I probably won't win the lottery)
   • The Third Conditional
     • if + past perfect, ...would + have + past participle
       • 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 (but, really we know she didn't study and so she didn't pass)
   • Reference
     • https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/conditionals.html