CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

ZERO CONDITIONAL

FORM

IF-CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE

PRESENT SIMPLE PRESENT SIMPLE

If I have a big lunch, it makes me sleepy

If you mix yellow and blue, you get green

USE

We use this structure to talk about habits and general truths.

FIRST CONDITIONAL

FORM

IF-CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE

PRESENT SIMPLE WILL + INFINITIVE

If I study, I will pass the test

If he asks me, I’ll help him

USE

We use this structure when there is a possibility that the situation in the if-clause
will happen in the future.

- In this structure we can also use a modal verb, for example, can, may,
instead of “will” in the main clause:

If we have enough time, we can visit Robert.

- We can also use the imperative in the main clause:

If you see Mary, give her a message for me, please.

*We can use “UNLESS” to mean ‘if...not’

I won’t go to the party unless you go = I won’t go to the party if you don’t go
SECOND CONDITIONAL

FORM

IF-CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE

PAST SIMPLE WOULD + INFINITIVE

If I had a lot of money, I’d travel round the world

If he got up earlier, he wouldn’t be late for work

USE

We use this structure to talk about hypothetical present or future situations.

*We often use “WERE” instead of “was” after “if”:

If the weather were nice, I would go to the beach.
*We often use “IF I WERE YOU” to give advice:
If I were you, I’d save some money.

THIRD CONDITIONAL

FORM

IF-CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE

PAST PERFECT WOULD + HAVE+PAST PARTICIPLE

If the weather had been nice yesterday, I would have gone to the beach
(but the weather was not nice)
If I had studied hard, I would have passed the exam.
(but I didn’t study hard)

USE

We use this structure to talk about unreal past situations. They are impossible
conditions because they refer to the past and you can change the past.