Conditionals

Zero
First
Second
Third
Conditionals are different according to
probability degrees
 Zero:
Always true
100% possible
Zero Conditional: certainty

The result of the condition is always true,

like a scientific fact.

For example:
Take some ice.
Put it in a saucepan.
Heat the saucepan.
What happens?
The ice melts (it becomes water).
You wouldn’t be surprised if it did not.
First:
Real possibility
50% possible
First Conditional: real possibility

We are thinking about a particular condition or

situation in the future, and the result of this
condition.

There is a real possibility for this condition to

happen.

For example,
It is Sunday’s morning.
You are at home.
You plan to play tennis this afternoon, but there
are some clouds in the sky.
Imagine that it rains.
What will you do?
If it rains, you will stay home.
Second: Unreal possibility
10% possible
Second Conditional: unreal possibility or dream

We are thinking about a particular condition in the

future, and the result of this condition.

But there is not a real possibility for this

condition to happen.

For example, how many people have won the

biggest prize of Baloto?

A few!

Do you have many possibilities to win?

No!

But maybe you can think about winning in the

future, like a dream. It's not very real, but it's still
possible.
Third: Impossible
0% possible
Third Conditional: no possibility

We talk about a condition in the past that did

not happen. As the past is impossible to be
changed, there is no possibility for this
condition.

It is also like a dream, but with no

possibility of the dream coming true.

For example, last week you bought a lottery

ticket. But you did not win.

What could have happened if you had won

the lottery?