Conditionals

Conditionals

Types of conditional structures

Types of conditional structures

There are different types of conditionals, namely zero conditionals, first conditionals, second conditionals and third conditionals. We use these structures depending on how probable the condition and its result are. 

Types of conditional structures

They can go from 100% certain, if the condition is true the result always happens, to completely impossible (the result was maybe possible in the past but can’t happen at all now). See the table below for a rough guide.

Zero conditional

[If + present] + [present]

100% – will always happen.

Zero conditional

Since zero conditionals describe general truths, things that happen all the time, you can also use “when”  instead of “If”  in the condition part of the sentence, with the meaning remaining the same. For example :

Zero conditional

• If the temperature is 0°C, it snows.

  [condition]      [result]

•  Has the same meaning as:

• When the temperature is 0°C, it snows.

  [condition]                [result]

1st conditional

[If + present] + [will]

50%-90%- will probably happen.

First Conditional

Next, let’s move onto the 1st conditional, here there is probability and chance at play, the result is no longer 100% certain. We use the 1st conditional when we believe the condition and result can (and probably will) happen in reality, but they are not 100% certain like the zero conditiona

First Conditional

It is formed by using the present tense in the condition part of the sentence and most often the future tense with “will” in the result part of the sentence:

First Conditional

If + present tense, (comma) + future with “will” 

[condition]                 [result]

OR

future with “will”  (no comma) + if + present tense

[result]                     [condition]

First Conditional

_{If the weather is nice, I’ll go to the park.}

_{[condition]               [result]}

_{I’ll go to the park if the weather is nice.}

_{[result]                     [condition]}

Second Conditional

[If + past simple] + [would + infinitive]

1%-40%- can happen, but probably won’t.

Second Conditional

We use the 2nd conditional, as mentioned, for unlikely situations that can but probably won’t happen, as well as hypothetical or imaginary situations both in the present and future.

Second Conditional

It is formed by using “If”  and the simple past tense in the condition part of the sentence, followed by “would”  and the bare infinitive (the basic form of a verb without “to,” e.g. to walk). Remember that we can rearrange the two parts of the sentence, with either the condition first and the result after, or the result first and the condition after: 

Second Conditional

[If + past tense] , + [would + bare infinitive]

[condition]                       [result]

OR

[would + bare infinitive] (no comma) + [if + past tense]

 [result]                                [condition]

 Just make sure you use the correct pronouns so that the subject of the sentence is still clear. For example:

  If I was rich, I would travel the world.  

  [condition]                [result]  

 

OR  

I would travel the world if I was rich.     

 [result]               [condition]

was / were

 When “I” is the subject we often use “I were” in conditional sentences as opposed to “I was,” especially when writing, as it sounds more formal. For example:

 If I was you, I would go to the doctor’s

 [condition]                [result] 

OR

If I were you, I would go to the doctor’s.

[condition]                [result] 

3rd conditional

[If + past perfect] + [would have + past participle]

 

0%- impossible, can’t happen because in the past.

Third Conditional

Finally, we use the 3rd conditional to talk about things that were possible in the past, but that didn’t happen or can no longer happen now, which means they are actually impossible/ unreal events.

Third Conditional

It is formed by using the past perfect tense in the condition part of the sentence, followed by “would” and then the present perfect tense in the result part. As before, these parts can be swapped around:

Third Conditional

[If + past perfect tense] , + [would + present perfect tense]

[condition]                                    [result]

OR

[would + present perfect tense] (no comma) + [If + past perfect tense]

[result]                                             [condition]

For example:

If it had started to rain, the picnic would have been cancelled.

[condition]                                    [result]

Multiple Choice

If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world.

• Zero Conditional

• First Conditional

• Second Conditional

• Third Conditional

Multiple Choice

If it rains today, I'll stay at home.

• Zero Conditional

• First Conditional

• Second Conditional

• Third Conditional

Multiple Choice

If I had won the lottery, I would have traveled around the world.

• Zero Conditional

• First Conditional

• Second Conditional

• Third Conditional

Multiple Choice

If you freeze water, it turns into ice.

• Zero Conditional

• First Conditional

• Second Conditional

• Third Conditional