Conditionals

Conditionals

What are conditionals in English grammar?

Conditionals

Sometimes we call them 'if clauses'. They describe the result of something that might happen (in the present or future) or might have happened but didn't (in the past) . They are made using different English verb tenses.

The Zero Conditional

General truths and general habits

If + present simple, present simple

The First Conditional

Possible or likely things in the future

If + present simple, will + infinitive

The Second Conditional

Impossible things in the present / unlikely things in the future

If + past simple, would + infinitive

The Third Conditional

Things that didn't happen in the past and their imaginary results

If + past perfect, would + have + past participle

An example using the same context.

If I study hard, I pass the exam

If I study, I will pass

If I studied, I would have pass

If I had studied, I would have passed

Exercise - Choose the correct words

• The Zero Conditionals

  If people ___ (eat, play) too much, they get fat.

• The first Conditional

  If I ___ (see, call) her, I'll tell her.

Exercise - Choose the correct words

• The Second Conditional

  If I ___ (met,knew) the Queen of England, I would ___ (say, said) hello. 

• The Third Conditional

• If ___ (we, you) had taken a taxi, ___ (we,you) wouldn't have missed the plane.