Zero conditional – grammar chart
We
use the zero conditional to talk about general truths or results that always happen if a
condition is present. We are talking in general, not about one particular situation.
If the milk smells bad, I don’t drink it.
If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils.
If I’ve drunk, I never drive.
If people are talking all the time, I can’t concentrate.
We can put the main clause at the beginning. Then we don’t use a comma between the two
clauses.
I never go to bed late if I have to get up early.
We can usually replace the if in this conditional with when without changing the meaning.
Dogs can attack you when you are scared.
When the weather is bad, people don’t go shopping.
First conditional
The first conditional is used to talk about things that might happen in the future if a condition is
present. We don’t know if those things will happen or not, but they are a real possibility.
If you study, you‘ll pass.
If he doesn’t call you, tell me immediately.
If you’ve come to class, the exam is going to be easy.
If you help me, I’ll have finished by the end of the month.
We don’t use will in the if clause.
I’ll help you if you need me (NOT if you will need me)
if clause and main clause
All conditional sentences have two parts: the if clause and the main clause. It doesn’t matter
which clause comes first, but when the if clause comes first, we should put a comma after it.
If it rains, we’ll stay home
We’ll stay home if it rains.
if + present, future
In the first conditional, the verb in the if clause is present and the verb in the main clause is
future (will).
If you don’t go to sleep, you’ll be very tired tomorrow.
The if clause may have a present or a future meaning, but the verb is always in present (NOT
future)
If you are a good boy tomorrow, mummy will buy you a present. (NOT If you will be a good boy)
Main clause: will, modal verb, imperative
In the main clause, we can use may, might, can, must, should instead of will.
If he doesn’t train harder, he may/might lose the championship.
If your room is tidy, you can leave.
If you want to lose weight, you must/should eat less sugary things.
Or we can also use an imperative instead of will.
If you arrive after midnight, ring me on my mobile.
unless = if (not)
We can also use unless in conditional sentences to mean if … (not)
I won’t go on holiday unless I save some money.
= I won’t go on holiday if I don’t save some money.
in case
We use in case to talk about the possibility of something happening. After in case we also use
present to talk about the future.
I’ll take my umbrella in case it rains. (=maybe it will rain)
But the
meaning of in case is different from if. Compare:
I’ll take my umbrella in case it rains. (=I’ll take my umbrella if it rains and I’ll take my umbrella
if it doesn’t rain)
I’ll take my umbrella if it rains. (=I’ll take my umbrella if it rains but I won’t take my umbrella
if it doesn’t rain)
First vs zero conditional
We use the first conditional to talk about a particular situation, whereas we use the zero
conditional to talk about what happens in general.
If you don’t use oil, it tastes awful. (=I’m talking about what happens every time.)
If you don’t use oil, it will taste awful. (=I’m talking about this particular occasion.)
Future time clauses
when, as soon as, before, after, until
When we use a verb after when, as soon as, before, afteror until to talk about the future, we
have to use this verb in present tense (NOT future). We use the future in the other part of the
sentence.
I’ll retire when I’m 70. (NOT: when I’ll be)
I won’t call you until I arrive. (NOT: until I will arrive.)
Similar to first conditional
Future time clauses are similar to the first conditional. There’s a main clause and
a when/after/etc. clause. We use the verbs in these clauses like in the first conditional.
We use a comma when the when/after/etc. clause is at the beginning of the sentence. But we
don’t use a comma if the when/after… clause is at the end of the sentence.
I’ll retire when I’m 70.
When I’m 70, I’ll retire.
We use present in the when/after/etc. clause and we use future in the main clause.
Before you go to sleep, daddy will tell you a story.
In the main clause, we can also use may, might, can, must, should or an imperative instead
of will.
As soon as you finish, you can leave.
After you arrive, call me.
When we are talking about the future we use the present, (NOT will) after the
expressions when, as soon as, until, once, before, after, while. After these expressions we can
use any form of present (present simple, present continuous, present perfect) to talk about the
future.
I’ll go to bed as soon as I finish my homework.
When I am 65, I will retire.
I won’t leave until you arrive.
As it happens with the conditional sentences, we use a comma when we begin the sentence
with a time clause. But we don’t use a comma if we put the time clause at the end of the
sentence.
When I am 65, I will retire.
I will retire when I am 65.
With present perfect
We can often use the present perfect after the time word. The meaning is similar to using the
present simple, but with the present perfect we emphasise that the action will be completed.
I’ll go to bed as soon as I have finished my homework.
I won’t leave until you have arrived.
Second conditional
if clause and main clause
We use if + past to talk about an imaginary present or future situation (although the verb is in
past, the meaning is present or future). And we use would + infinitive to talk about the result
or consequence of that imaginary situation.
If we had a mansion in the country, we’d go there every weekend.
Would you travel around the world if you won the lottery.
Comma
When the if clause comes first, we normally put a comma after it. We don’t use a comma when
the main clause comes first and the if clause comes second.
If I won the lottery, I’d buy a mansion.
I’d buy a mansion if I won the lottery.
unless = if (not)
We can also use unless in conditional sentences to mean if … (not)
I wouldn’t live in a big city unless I had a lot of money.
= I wouldn’t live in a big city if I didn’t have a lot money.
would, could, might
In the main clause, we can use could or might instead of would.
If there was a fire, it would be difficult to escape.
If you were a bit taller, you could be a basketball player.
We might save enough money if we both worked overtime.
was or were?
In the second conditional we can use if I/he/she/it were (more formal) instead of if I/he/she/it
was (spoken English).
If I were/was fit, I would run a marathon.
We wouldn’t have any problems if he were/was more reasonable.
But we use were (NOT was) when we give advice with the expression if I were you.
If I were you, I would stay home and rest.
I wouldn’t pay any attention to what he says if I were you.
First and second conditionals
First conditional vs second conditional
We use the first conditional and the second conditional to talk about present or future
situations.
We use the first conditional to talk about possible situations, things that may easily happen. We
use the second conditional to talk about unrealistic situations.
If I see Sara, I’ll tell her to call you. (=possible)
If I won the lottery, I’d buy a new house. (=unrealistic)
Sometimes we use either the first or second conditional, and we use one or the other depending
on how probable we think the situations are to happen.
If I find her, I’ll tell her that I love her. (=I think it’s possible that I find her)
If I found her, I’d tell her that I love her. (=I think it’s improbable that I find her)
Third conditional
if clause and main clause
We
use if + past perfect to talk about an imaginary or hypothetical situation in the past. And we
use would have, could have or might have + past participle in the main clause to talk about
the result or consequence of that imaginary situation.
If you had come to class more often, you would have passed the test.
If he hadn’t taken his helmet, he could have died.
If the jacket had been a bit cheaper, I might have bought it.
Comma
As with all conditional types, we use a comma after the if–clause when it goes at the beginning
of the sentence, but we don’t use a comma when the if-clause goes at the end.
If I hadn’t overslept, I wouldn’t have been late.
I wouldn’t have been late if I hadn’t overslept.
unless
We can also use unless in conditional sentences to mean if … (not)
I wouldn’t have arrived on time unless I had taken a taxi.
= I wouldn’t have arrived on time if I hadn’t taken a taxi.
We use the second conditional to talk about hypothetical or imaginary situations in the present
or the future. We can use past simple or past continuous in the if clause and we can use would,
could or might + simple infinitive (do) or continuous infinitive (be doing) in the main clause.
If there was a fire, it would be impossible to escape.
If you weren’t making so much noise, I could concentrate.
I wouldn’t have a car if I lived in the city.
If it weren’t for him, I might not be talking to you right now.
When we use the verb be in the if clause, we can use either was (more formal) or were (spoken
English) after I, he, she or it. But when we are giving advice, we always use if I were
you (NOT was).
If he was/were rich, he wouldn’t be living in this house.
If I were you, I’d call him as soon as possible. (NOT was)
As with all conditional types, we use a comma after the if clause when it goes at the beginning
of the sentence, but we don’t use a comma when the if clause goes at the end.
If you weren’t making so much noise, I could concentrate.
I could concentrate if you weren’t making so much noise.
We use the third conditional to talk about hypothetical or imaginary situations in the past. We
can use the past perfect simple or past perfect continuous in the if clause and we can
use would, could or might + the perfect infinitive in the main clause.
If you had come to class more often, you would have passed the test.
I wouldn’t have been late if I hadn’t overslept.
He could have died if he hadn’t been wearing a helmet.
If the jacket had been a bit cheaper, I might have bought it.
