Conditional clauses: tips and tricks.

How to master conditions [infographic]

Conditional clause is a big, scary term for a simple idea and should not strike fear
into the hearts of those learning English. Some examples and an infographic will
make mastering the conditions of conditional clauses even easier.
Clause
Looking at the words themselves will help to keep this subject painless. A clause is
simply a chunk of a sentence that has its own subject and verb and can stand alone as
a complete sentence. The following sentence will become a clause when combined
with another clause; this will be the main clause.
We are going to the zoo.
Conditional Clause
Conditional indicates an if or a circumstance that needs to be met. Conditional
clauses are often called if clauses. With the if, the following examples are not
proper sentences and are waiting to be added to a main clause.
If it is not raining
If we leave soon
If I had looked behind me
Conditional Sentence
Before we go to the zoo, we need to make sure the weather is cooperating, otherwise
we will not go. The main clause relies on the conditional clause that was just tucked
onto the front of the sentence.
If it is not raining, we are going to the zoo.
We will continue with the if clause at the front of each sentence, just for simplicity,
but they can change places: We are going to the zoo if it is not raining.
First, Second, Third Conditional
There are three types of conditional clauses. First conditional is likely to happen and
is in future tense. Second conditional is unlikely or nearly impossible and in future
tense. Third conditional is impossible because it is in past tense.
If it stops raining, we can go to the zoo.
If I had some money, we would go to the zoo.
If it had not rained all day, we would have gone to the zoo.
The first has a pretty good chance; that rain is likely to stop at some point.

The second is unlikely because the conditions are remote, but there is still a slim
chance; the speaker is broke, but perhaps he will find some money hidden away in his
sock drawer or in his winter coat. Second conditional is also useful when writing
about dreams or a situation nearly impossible to fulfill, such as winning the lottery or
becoming a famous musician.
The third is in the past and now impossible; you cannot change yesterday.
Modal Verbs in Conditional Sentences
Those strange little modal verbs are useful in conditional sentences. Should you need
a refresher, examples of modals are may, will, can, might, could, must, would, should
and shall. They can be found on both sides of the comma, in both the result and the
condition, and they are used in both real and unreal scenarios.
First conditional (possible): If he can help you, he will do a great job.
Second conditional (not likely): If I should have to swim the Atlantic, I will probably
drown.
Third conditional (impossible): If the chickens would have stayed awake, they would
have heard the fox.