Conditionals

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.

There are four main kinds of conditionals:

The Zero Conditional:

(if + present simple, ... present simple)

If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

The First Conditional:

(if + present simple, ... will + infinitive)

If it rains tomorrow, we'll go to the cinema.

The Second Conditional:

(if + past simple, ... would + infinitive)

If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.

The Third Conditional

(if + past perfect, ... would + have + past participle)

If I had gone to bed early, I would have caught the train.

The Zero Conditional

We can make a zero conditional sentence with two present simple verbs (one in the 'if clause' and
one in the 'main clause'):

If + present simple, .... present simple.

This conditional is used when the result will always happen. So, if water reaches 100 degrees, it
always boils. It's a fact. I'm talking in general, not about one particular situation. The result of the
'if clause' is always the main clause.

The 'if' in this conditional can usually be replaced by 'when' without changing the meaning.

For example: If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils. (It is always true, there can't be a different
result sometimes). If I eat peanuts, I am sick. (This is true only for me, maybe, not for everyone,
but it's still true that I'm sick every time I eat peanuts)

Here are some more examples:

If people eat too much, they get fat.

If you touch a fire, you get burned.

People die if they don't eat.

You get water if you mix hydrogen and oxygen.

Snakes bite if they are scared

If babies are hungry, they cry

The First Conditional

The first conditional has the present simple after 'if', then the future simple in the other clause:

if + present simple, ... will + infinitive

It's used to talk about things which might happen in the future. Of course, we can't know what will
happen in the future, but this describes possible things, which could easily come true.

If it rains, I won't go to the park.

If I study today, I'll go to the party tonight.

If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes.

She'll be late if the train is delayed.

She'll miss the bus if she doesn't leave soon.

If I see her, I'll tell her.

First vs. Zero Conditional:

The first conditional describes a particular situation, whereas the zero conditional describes what
happens in general.

For example (zero conditional): if you sit in the sun, you get burned (here I'm talking about every
time a person sits in the sun - the burning is a natural consequence of the sitting)

But (first conditional): if you sit in the sun, you'll get burned (here I'm talking about what will
happen today, another day might be different)

First vs. Second Conditional:

The first conditional describes things that I think are likely to happen in the future, whereas the
second conditional talks about things that I don't think will really happen. It's subjective; it
depends on my point of view.

For example (first conditional): If she studies harder, she'll pass the exam (I think it's possible she
will study harder and so she'll pass)

But (second conditional): If she studied harder, she would pass the exam (I think that she won't
study harder, or it's very unlikely, and so she won't pass)
The Second Conditional

The second conditional uses the past simple after if, then 'would' and the infinitive:

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).

It has two uses.

First, we can use it to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be true. Maybe
I'm imagining some dream for example.

If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.(I probably won't win the lottery)

If I met the Queen of England, I would say hello.

She would travel all over the world if she were rich.

She would pass the exam if she ever studied.(She never studies, so this won't happen)

Second, we can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because it's not
true. Is that clear? Have a look at the examples:

If I had his number, I would call him. (I don't have his number now, so it's impossible for me to
call him).

If I were you, I wouldn't go out with that man.

How is this different from the first conditional?

This kind of conditional sentence is different from the first conditional because this is a lot more
unlikely.

For example (second conditional): If I had enough money I would buy a house with twenty
bedrooms and a swimming pool (I'm probably not going to have this much money, it's just a
dream, not very real)

But (first conditional): If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes (It's much more likely that
I'll have enough money to buy some shoes)
The Third Conditional

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

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)

If I hadn't eaten so much, I wouldn't have felt sick (but I did eat a lot, and so I did feel sick).

If we had taken a taxi, we wouldn't have missed the plane

She wouldn't have been tired if she had gone to bed earlier

She would have become a teacher if she had gone to university

He would have been on time for the interview if he had left the house at nine
The Future Perfect Tense

The future perfect tense is only used in a few situations, but it's still good to know it. Here's how to
make it.

The future perfect is made with the future simple of 'have' (will have) and the past participle. For
regular past participles add 'ed' to the verb ('play' becomes 'played').

Here's the positive:

By six pm tonight:

I will have finished this book

You will have studied the English tenses

She will have cooked dinner

He will have arrived

We will have met Julie

It will have stopped raining

They will have left Japan

Here's the negative:

By next week,

I will not have finished this book

You will not have studied the English tenses

She will not have cooked dinner

He will not have arrived

We will not have met Julie

It will not have stopped raining

They will not have left Japan

Making conditional sentences is an everyday part of your native language,
and introducing them to your English conversation can really improve your
level of communication. There are four conditionals in total and you will
learn to use them gradually, obviously starting with the most basic ones –
the zero and first conditional. To have a general idea of how all the
conditionals work, take a look at this overview so you can start to get an
idea of what they are and when we use them.

What is a Conditional Sentence?

A conditional sentence is based on the word ‘if’. There are always two parts to a
conditional sentence – one part beginning with ‘if’ to describe a possible situation,
and the second part which describes the consequence. For example:

If it rains, we’ll get wet.

We can also invert the two parts of a conditional sentence so that the ‘if’ part
comes second, and this is especially common in questions. For example:

What will you do if you miss the train?

How can you finish the project if you don’t have a computer?

What happens if the students don’t pass an exam?

There are four types of conditional sentences:

0 – The zero conditional

1 – The first conditional

2 – The second conditional

3 – The third conditional

It is also possible to mix the second and third conditional. Let’s look at each
conditional to see how we use them.

The Zero Conditional

We use the zero conditional to talk about permanent truths, such as scientific
facts, and general habits. The structure is simple:
Here are some examples:

If you  heat  water to 100°, it  boils.

If you  eat  a lot, you  put on  weight.

If it  doesn’t rain  for a long time, the earth  gets  very dry.

If we  go out  with friends, we normally  go  to a restaurant.

If I’m  tired, I  go  to bed early.

The First Conditional

We use the first conditional to talk about a realistic situation in the present or
future. The structure of the first conditional is as follows:

Here are some examples:

If you’re  free later, we  can go  for a walk.

If they’re  hungry, I’ll make  some sandwiches.

If you’re not  back by 5pm,  give  me a ring.

If he  studies  hard, he’ll do  well in the exam.

If we  arrive  late, we  must get  a taxi.

He’ll call  if he  needs  help.

Take  a break if you’re  tired.

Another way to make first conditional sentences is to use ‘unless’ which means
‘only if’ or ‘except’. As with ‘if’, the word ‘unless’ can never be followed by ‘will’ but
only by the present simple. For example:

Unless  you  hurry up, you won’t catch the bus.

I’ll carry on doing this work,  unless  my boss  tells  me to do something else.

We’ll stay at home  unless  the weather  improves.

The Second Conditional

We use the second conditional to talk about improbable or impossible situations

in the present or future. Here is the structure:

For example:

If I  had  more time, I’d exercise  more.  (But I don’t have more time so I don’t.)

If I  were  rich, I’d spend  all my time travelling.  (But I’m not rich so I can’t.)

If she  saw  a snake, she’d be  terrified.

If he  didn’t have to  work late, he  could go  out with his girlfriend.

What  would  you  do  if you  were  offered a job in Canada?

You  wouldn’t have to  walk everywhere if you  bought  a bike.

A common expression used to give advice has the second conditional structure.
The expression is ‘If I were you, I’d..’, meaning ‘in your situation, this is what I
would do’. For example:

A: I’ve got a headache.

B: If I were you, I’d  take an aspirin.

A: I don’t understand this.

B: If I were you, I’d  ask your teacher for help.

A: This order won’t be delivered on time.

B: If I were you, I’d  phone the customer to let them know.

The Third Conditional

We use the third conditional to talk about impossible situations, as in the second
conditional, in the past. We often use the third conditional to describe regrets.
The structure is:

Here are some examples:

If we  had left  earlier, we  would have arrived  on time.

If you  hadn’t forgotten  her birthday, she  wouldn’t have been  upset.

If they  had booked  earlier, they  could have found  better seats.

If I  hadn’t learnt  English, I  wouldn’t have got  this job.

What  would  you  have studied  if you  hadn’t done  engineering?

They  wouldn’t have hired  you if you  hadn’t had  some experience abroad.

You  could have helped  me if you’d stayed  later.

Mixed Conditionals

It’s possible to combine the second and third conditional in one sentence when
we want to make a hypothesis about the past that has a consequence in the
present. In this case, the structure is:

Here are some examples:

If you’d studied  harder, you’d be  at a higher level now.

We’d be  lying on a beach now if we  hadn’t missed  the plane.

They’d have  much more confidence if they  hadn’t lost  so many matches.

What  would  you  be  doing now if you  hadn’t decided  to study?
The Conditional: Zero,
First, Second, Third and
Mixed
Learn how to use the conditional tense in English. Study the zero, first, second,
third and mixed conditional in English. In today’s free English grammar lesson I will
teach you how to use the conditional in English.
Keep reading to download this lesson on the conditional tense in pdf format
with exercises! 
Are you an English teacher? If so, don’t miss the teacher’s guide at the end of the
lesson. Please download this lesson to use in your English class. If you have any
questions, or would like to add anything else, please contact me.

Let’s learn how to use the conditional tense in

English!
Learning how to use the conditional tense in English can seem confusing.
However, by breaking up the conditional into the zero conditional, first conditional,
second conditional, third conditional and finally the mixed conditionals it is easier
to learn.
Free English Lesson PDF Download
Zero Conditional
We use the zero conditional To talk about a general “condition” or to describe
something that usually happens. IF + SUBJECT + V1    /     SUBJECT +
V1 SUBJECT + V1     /    IF + SUBJECT + V1 Zero Conditional Examples:  If I
go to the beach, I take a towel. I put on my headphones if I use my phone on the
bus. *When it is sunny in Miami, I go to the beach.  If it rains, I stay home.
*When shows more frequency than if.
Zero Conditional Exercises and Practice  A good way to escape boredom is to
find a hobby. Using the zero conditional, tell what each person does when they are
bored. The first example is done for you. 1) Roscoe likes to fish. If Roscoe is
bored, he fishes. 2) Morgan has a stamp collection.
_________________________________. 3) Erica loves to cook.
__________________________________________. 4) Michelle calls her
boyfriend. ___________________________________. 5) My mother writes letters.
______________________________________. 6) Devon drives around town.
____________________________________.
First Conditional
We use the first conditional to talk about a real possibility. IF + SUBJECT + V1 
/     SUBJECT + WILL + V1 SUBJECT + WILL + V1     /    IF + SUBJECT +
V1 (Never use IF + WILL + verb!!!) First Conditional Examples:  If you visit
Miami, I will take you to dinner. I will buy a red shirt if I don’t find a blue one. If I see
her tonight, I will tell her about the party. *When I get home, I will look for the book.
*When shows more certainty than if.
First Conditional Exercises and Practice  The American singer Doris Day sang
a song called “Que Sera, Sera,” which is Spanish for “what will be, will be.” While
we can’t know what the future will be, it’s fun to imagine. Using the first conditional,
write a one-sentence response to each future prediction. The first one is done for
you. 1) You will make a lot of money. _If I make a lot of money, I will move to the
mountains and live in peace! 2) You will have six sons.
__________________________________________________________________
__. 3) You will travel to Antarctica.
__________________________________________________________________
__. 4) You will become famous.
__________________________________________________________________
__. 5) You will go to jail.
__________________________________________________________________
__.
Practice using the imperative with the zero and first conditional: Complete the
sentences with your own ideas. 1.  When you arrive in Miami,
_________________________________________. 2.  Welcome to my house. If
you get hungry,_________________________________________. 3.  Don’t get
upset if I _________________________________________.
The Imperative with Zero and the
First Conditional
We can also use the imperative with zero and first conditional. Examples: If it rains
tomorrow, use an umbrella.  /  When it rains, use an umbrella. Call your mom if you
have time later.   /  Call your mom when you have time.

Second Conditional
We use the second conditional to talk about an unreal possibility. IF + SUBJECT
+ *V2    /     SUBJECT + WOULD + V1 SUBJECT + WOULD + V1     /    IF +
SUBJECT + *V2 (Never use IF + WOULD + verb!!!) *We use the Past Tense form,
but we are not speaking about the past.
Second Conditional Examples:  If aliens landed on earth tomorrow, I would be
very surprised.  (Aliens won’t land tomorrow.) I would walk your dog if I had time.  (I
don’t have time so I will not walk your dog.) If I **were the president, I would lower
taxes.   (He or she is not the president.) I would go on vacation if I had money.  (He
or she doesn’t have enough money.) **the verb to be: were is used with all
subjects, although was is common in spoken English.
Second Conditional Exercises and Practice  A. Using the words in
parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate forms. 1. I am so
busy this week that I can’t make it to my English class. I
______________________ (love) to come if I______________________ (to be,
not) so busy. 2. Tell him I am sorry that I can’t help him. If
I ______________________ (have) the money, I ______________________
(lend) it to him. 3. I live in Campodimele, Italy. If I ______________________ (live)
in Miami, I ______________________ (study) English at Language On! B.  Please
write a five-sentence paragraph about what you would do if world peace were
declared tomorrow. Use the second conditional, as this is an unreal
possibility. C. Write questions for a friend beginning with a Wh (question
word) + would.  Discuss your answers.
Zero, First, and Second Conditional Exercises and Practice  Complete the
sentences using the Zero, First, or Second Conditional.  1. If I have to work this
Saturday,_______________________________________________________. 2.
When I am
bored,_____________________________________________________________
_____. 3. If I moved to Japan tomorrow,
_______________________________________________________.
Third Conditional
We use the third conditional to talk about a unreal possibility or condition in the
past. IF + SUBJECT + HAD + V3    /     SUBJECT + WOULD + HAVE +
V3 SUBJECT + WOULD + HAVE + V3    /  IF + SUBJECT + HAD +
V3 Second Conditional Examples:  If aliens had landed on earth yesterday, I
would have been very surprised.  (Aliens didn’t land on earth yesterday.) I would
have walked your dog if I had had time.  (I didn’t have time so I did not walk
the dog.) If I had been the president, I would have lowered taxes.   (He or she
was not the president.) I would have gone on vacation if my company had given
me the time off.  (They didn’t have the time off.)
Third Conditional Exercises and Practice  A. Using the words in parentheses,
complete the text below with the appropriate forms. 1. I was so busy last week
that I couldn’t make it to my English class. I ______________________ (love) to
attend if I______________________ (to be, not) so busy. 2. Tell him I am sorry
that I couldn’t help him. If I ______________________ (have) the money,
I ______________________ (lend) it to him when he asked. 3. I grew up in
Russia. If I ______________________ (grew up) in Miami,
I ______________________ (learn) English as a a child.
Zero, First, Second, and Third Conditional Exercises and Practice A.
Complete the sentences below with the verb in the correct form and tense.  1.
Tom had a car accident last week because he was driving too fast. If he
___________________________ so fast, he __________________________ an
accident. 2. Tom can’t go fishing this weekend because he doesn’t have a boat. If
he ____________________________ a boat, he
____________________________ fishing. 3. Tom couldn’t go to the interview
because his car was being repaired. If he _________________________ a car, he
__________________________ to the interview. 4. Tom is pretty sure that it will
rain tomorrow, so he plans on going to the cinema. If it
_____________________________ , he _____________________________ to
the cinema. B. Choose another person (a friend or a famous person) and write
a paragraph describing what your life would be like and would have been
like if you had been born as them and now lived their life. C. Match the
correct clauses to form a sentence.
1.  I pass the test
2.  if I weren’t so lazy
3  I still wouldn’t tell you.
4.  I would have failed the test
5.  I’ll be sad
6.  if I’d had time
7.  if I had the money
8.  I get really angry
a.  If I hadn’t
studied

g.  I would have

c.  When I d.  I would go e.  I would f.  If I h.  If it rains
b.  If I knew studied more in high
am wrong on vacation have gone study tomorrow
school

D. Research and write an alternative history: choose  an important event in

history and its outcome.  Prepare a presentation detailing another scenario
or outcome.   For example: What if Japan hadn’t attacked Pearl Harbor, dragging
the USA into the war? What if the Cuban Missile Crisis hadn’t been resolved?
Mixed Conditionals
Mixed Conditionals are used to show how a past condition or possibility affects, or
would affect, the present, or vice versa: how a present or general condition affects,
or would have affected, the past. Past Condition If she had been sick,        …she
wouldn’t have come to work.  (She came to work.) If she had been sick,        …she
would be at home in bed.  (She is not in bed.) If I had used sunscreen,        …I
wouldn’t be as red as a lobster.  (I am red.) If I had used sunscreen,        …I
wouldn’t have gotten sunburned.  (I got sunburned.) General Condition If I were
taller,        …I would score score more points when I play basketball.  (I don’t score
many points.) If I were taller,        … I would have played basketball in high
school.  (I didn’t play basketball in high school.) If he were Russian,        …he
would speak Russian.  (He doesn’t speak Russian) If he were Russian,        …he
would have gone to school in Russia. (He is not Russian and he did not go to
school in Russia.)
Mixed Conditionals Exercises and Practice A. Complete the sentences below
with the verbs in the correct form and tense.  1. Tom is in the hospital because
he had a car accident last week. If he ___________________________ (have) a
car accident last week, he __________________________ (to be, not) in the
hospital now. 2. Tom can’t go fishing this weekend because his boat sunk. If his
boat ____________________________ (not, sink), he
____________________________  (go) fishing this weekend. 3. Tom couldn’t
find his keys because his house is always so messy. If his
house _________________________ (to be, not) always so messy, he
__________________________ (found) his keys.