The Four Conditional types

A Quick Reference Guide for busy teachers

What are Conditionals?
Conditionals consist of two clauses: one describes a real or imagined situation or event (the condition) and
the other, its real or imagined consequences (the result). In EFL, we usually identify four types of conditional.
Although it is possible to mix certain conditionals, we have excluded ‘mixed conditionals’ here. For each
conditional listed:

• We give its common name and form

• We then explain the contexts and situations in which it is used
• We separate the form into its condition clause and its result clause
• We give some examples of how it is used, and have colour-coded each part of the form so it is easy to
identify.

NB: In the examples, we have given the condition clause first and the result clause second. However, this order
can be reversed if you wish.

The Zero Conditional If + present tense + present tense

Describes conditions with results that are always true:

Condition clause result clause

If (or when) + present tense + present tense

• If the temperature reaches zero degrees Celsius at ground level, water freezes.
• If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
• When I do my homework, my teacher is happy.

Can also be used to give conditional instructions:

• If the door is open, go inside.
• If you don’t understand, ask me to explain it again.

The First Conditional If + present tense + future form or modal + infinitive

Describes realistic situations and their likely results:

Condition clause result clause

If (or when) + present tense + future form or modal + infinitive

• If I get paid today, I am going to go shopping.

• If we save enough money, we could go to Paris.
• When I meet the man who found my wallet, I will say thank you to him.
 The Four Conditional types
A Quick Reference Guide for busy teachers
The Second Conditional If + simple past + modal + infinitive

Describes what the speaker or writer thinks would happen in unlikely or imagined situations:
Condition clause result clause
If + simple past + modal + infinitive
• If I were* rich, I would travel the world.
• If she tried harder, she might get better grades.
• If I met a ghost, I would be too nervous to speak.

The Third Conditional If + past perfect + past modals + past participle

The speaker or writer imagines how things could be different if something in the past could be changed. Some-
times referred to as the ‘counter factual’ conditional, and often used to express regrets:
Condition clause result clause
If + past perfect + past modal + past participle
• If I had known how you were going to react, I would have kept my mouth shut.
• If you had seen the movie, we could have discussed it.
• If I had been faster, I might have won the race.

*the second conditional the past tense is often in the subjunctive mood (were rather than was in the first person)