Conditional Sentences

[anahi1710-blog]

First Conditional 

Second Condicional

[anahi1710-blog]

Zero Conditional

Certainty

When we talk about things that are generally or always true, we can use:

If/When/Unless plus a present form PLUS present simple or imperative

If he gets there before me, ask him to wait.

When you fly budget airline, you have to pay for your drinks and snacks.

    If clause                  Main clause

If + Present tense                 Present tense

If you freeze water                 it turns into ice.

Note that we are not talking about a specific event but something which is generally true.

In the condition clause, we can use a variety of present forms. In the result clause, there can only be the present simple or imperative.

Examples:

If I miss the 8 o'clock bus I am late for work.

If I am late for work my boss gets angry.

[anahi1710-blog]

First Conditional

Real possibility

We are talking about the future. We are thinking about a particular condition or situation in the future, and the result of this condition. There is a real possibility that this condition will happen.

If clause                               Main clause

If + Present tense               will / can / may / must + verb

If it rains today,                   I'll stay at home

Notice that we are thinking about a future condition. 

We use WILL + base verb to talk about the possible future result. The important thing about the first conditional is that there is a real possibility that the condition will happen. 

Examples:

If it rains today, I'll stay at home.

I will tell Mary if I see her.

[anahi1710-blog]

Second Conditional

Unreal possibility or dream

The second conditional is like the first conditional. We are still thinking about the future. We are thinking about a particular condition in the future, and the result of this condition. But there is not a real possibility that this condition will happen. 

If clause                    Main clause

If + Past Simple                 would / could / might + verb

If I won the lottery,         I would travel around the world.

Note the form 'If I were you' which is often used to give advice.

Note that the main clause can contain 'would' 'could' or 'might.

Note that the 'If clause' can contain the past simple or the past continuous

Examples:

  If they were thinking of selling, I would want to buy.

If I were you, I would buy that car.

If I were in Brazil, I would go to Rio de Janeiro.

[anahi1710-blog]

Third Conditional

  No possibility

The first conditional and second conditionals talk about the future. With the third conditional we talk about the past. We talk about a condition in the past that did not happen. That is why there is no possibility for this condition. The third conditional is also like a dream, but with no possibility of the dream coming true.

If clause                              Main clause

If + Past Perfect tense      would/could/might + have + past participle

If I had won the lottery,      I would have traveled around the world.

  We can use the Third Conditional to talk about 'impossible' conditions, impossible because they are in the past and we cannot change what has happened.

Notice that the main clause can contain 'would', 'could' or 'might.

Examples:

  If I hadn't been so busy, I could have helped you.