20/11/24, 20:34 Conditionals & If Clauses in English Grammar
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Conditionals & If Clauses in English Grammar
What is a conditional?
Conditionals are if clauses: they express a situation or condition and its possible result. They are made up of two clauses; the con‐
ditional clause and the main clause. The former usually starts with the word if and sets out a condition, while the latter expresses
what happens when this condition is fulfilled. The main clause usually contains a modal verb such as will or would.
Example:
If I have time later, I will help you with the presentation.
I’m sorry, if I had time, I would help you.
Technically, there are four types of if-clauses in English grammar: zero, first, second and third. Each one refers to a different con‐
text, although we can also construct mixed conditionals.
Contents
Comparing If-Clauses
If-Clauses in Detail
Exercises – Conditionals
Example
Now remember, this presentation needs to be great. If the client likes it, they will invest in the company.
Oh no! If I had known that, I wouldn’t have volunteered!
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Well, it’s too late to change now. I would start practising if I were you, we need the money!
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Comparing If-Clauses
For a quick and handy overview of the different types of if-clauses in English grammar, check out the table below. Scroll down for
more detail on each one.
Type Form Example Explanation
general truth/repeated action
Zero present + present If I have time, I help.
sometimes I have time
realistic future possibility
First present + will If I have time, I will help.
I might have time later, it’s unsure
unreal possibility
Second past + would If I had time, I would help.
I don’t have time and I can’t help
imagined past situation
Third past perfect + would have if I had had time, I would have helped.
I didn’t have time and I couldn’t help
Zero Conditional: simple present + simple present
Zero conditional if-clauses express things that always happen providing that a certain condition is met.
Examples:
If you leave ice cream in the sun, it melts.
If you heat water, it boils.
Learn more about zero conditional if-clauses in English grammar.
First Conditional: simple present + will
The first conditional, also known as the real conditional, talks about future actions that can only take place under certain
conditions.
Examples:
If the client likes our presentation, they will invest in our company.
If the client doesn’t invest, our boss will be angry.
Learn more about the first conditional if-clauses in English grammar.
Second Conditional: simple past + would
The second conditional talks about an unlikely or imaginary event and its result. It is therefore known as the unreal conditional.
Examples:
If I were you, I would start practising.
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If she won the lottery, she would buy a luxury mansion.
Learn more about second conditional if-clauses in English grammar.
Third Conditional: past perfect + would have + past participle
The third conditional is also known as the impossible conditional: it looks back at past situations and their outcome and imagines
them as different.
Examples:
If we had known about the presentation sooner, we would have prepared more.
I would have been impressed if he had created the plan himself.
Learn more about third conditional if-clauses in English grammar.
Mixed Conditionals
We can mix the second and third conditionals to express an imagined past situation and its imagined present outcome, and vice
versa.
Example:
If I had put on suncream this morning, I wouldn’t be sunburned now.
If I spoke Mandarin, I would have done the translation myself.
Learn more about the topic of mixed conditionals in English grammar and test yourself in the exercises.
Inverted Conditionals
We use inverted conditionals in formal contexts. To form these clauses, we flip the order of the subject and the verb. This tech‐
nique is called inversion.
Examples:
Had we known about the bad reviews, we wouldn’t have made a reservation!
Learn more about inverted conditionals in English grammar.
Conditional Conjunctions
We can use conditional conjunctions instead of if in conditional clauses.
Examples:
Provided that you order by midnight, your order will arrive by Friday.
I won’t leave unless you come with me.
Learn more about the different conditional conjunctions.
Wish/if only
Sentences with wish and if only follow the same grammar patterns as if-clauses in the second and third conditional.
Examples:
I wish I had more time for my hobbies.
If only I had warned Alan about the broken window.
Learn more about sentences with wish and if only in English grammar.
If-Clauses in Detail
Zero Conditionals
First Conditionals
Second Conditionals
Third Conditionals
Mixed Conditionals
Inverted Conditionals
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Conditional Conjunctions
Wish/if only
Online exercises to improve your English
Improve your English with Lingolia. Each grammar topic comes with one free exercise where you can review the basics, as well as
many more Lingolia Plus exercises where you can practise according to your level. Check your understanding by hovering over the
info bubbles for simple explanations and handy tips.
Conditionals – Free Exercise
1 Conditionals – mixed exercise
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Conditionals – Lingolia Plus Exercises
1 Conditionals – comparing conditionals (1) B2
2 Conditionals – comparing conditionals (2) C1
3 Conditionals – comparing conditionals (3) C1
4 Conditionals – comparing conditionals (4) C1
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