Zero, First and Second Conditionals

Conditionals:
Zero, first and second

Grammar explanation

Conditionals describe the result of a certain condition. The if clause tells you the condition (If you study hard) and the main clause tells you the result (you will pass your exams). The order of the clauses does not change the meaning.

Examples:
- If you study hard, you will pass your exams.
- You will pass your exams if you study hard.

Conditional sentences are often divided into different types.

Zero conditional

We use the zero conditional to talk about things that are generally true, especially for laws and rules.

Examples:
- If I drink too much coffee, I can't sleep at night.
- Ice melts if you heat it.
- When the sun goes down, it gets dark.

The structure is: if/when + present simple >> present simple.

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When you ____ water to 100°C, it _____. (heat, boil)

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When it _____, the ground ____ wet. (rain, get)

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If you _____ ice in the sun, it _____. (leave, melt)

First conditional

We use the first conditional when we talk about future situations we believe are real or possible.

Examples:
- If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we'll go to the beach.
- Arsenal will be top of the league if they win.
- When I finish work, I'll call you.

In first conditional sentences, the structure is usually:

if/when + present simple >> will + infinitive.

It is also common to use this structure with unless, as long as, as soon as or in case instead of if.

Examples:
- I'll leave as soon as the babysitter arrives.
- I won't want to stay in London unless I get a well-paid job.
- I'll give you a key in case I'm not at home.
- You can go to the party, as long as you're back by midnight.

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If you _____ hard, you ____ ____ the exam. (study, pass)

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When she _______, we ____ _____ the meeting. (arrive, start)

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If he ____ ___ hurry, he ____ ____ the bus. (do not, miss)

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When they _____ their homework, they ____ __ outside to play. (finish, go)

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As soon as we ___ home, I ____ ____ you. (get, call)

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Unless you ____ a coat, you ____ ___ cold. (wear, get)

Second conditional

The second conditional is used to imagine present or future situations that are impossible or
unlikely in reality.

Examples:
- If we had a garden, we could have a cat.
-If I won a lot of money, I'd buy a big house in the country.
- I wouldn't worry if I were you.

The structure is usually:

if + past simple >> + would + infinitive.

When if is followed by the verb be, it is grammatically correct to say if I were, if he were, if she were and if it were. However, it is also common to hear these structures with was, especially in the he/she form.

Examples:
- If I were you, I wouldn't mention it.
- If she was prime minister, she would invest more money in schools.
- He would travel more if he was younger.

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If I ___ a million dollars, I _____ ___ a big house. (have, buy)

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If she ___ more time, she _____ ___ a new hobby. (have, try)

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If they _____ in Spain, they _____ _____ Spanish fluently. (live, speak)

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If we _____ a car, we _____ __ to the beach every weekend. (own, go)

Let's practice!

Multiple Choice

If you ___ sugar in hot tea, it dissolves.

• put

• will put

• would put

• puts

Multiple Choice

If she ___ the exam tomorrow, she will be very happy.

• passes

• will pass

• passed

• would pass

Multiple Choice

If I ___ a cat, I would name it Luna.

• have

• has

• had

• will have

Multiple Choice

When the sun ___, it gets dark.

• sets

• set

• will set

• would set

Multiple Choice

If he ___ too much coffee, he can't sleep at night.

• drinks

• will drink

• drank

• would drink

Multiple Choice

If we leave now, we ___ the train.

• catch

• will catch

• caught

• would catch

Multiple Choice

If you ___ a superhero, what power would you have?

• are

• were

• will be

• would be

Multiple Choice

As soon as she ___ home, she will take a nap.

• gets

• got

• will get

• would get

Multiple Choice

If they ___ earlier, they wouldn’t be late.

• leave

• left

• will leave

• would leave

Multiple Choice

Unless he ___, he will fail the test.

• studies

• study

• studied

• will study

Multiple Choice

If she ___ a famous singer, she would travel the world.

• is

• was

• were

• will be

Multiple Choice

If I had superpowers, I ___ through the sky.

• fly

• will fly

• would fly

• flew

Multiple Choice

If she studies hard, she ___ good grades.

• gets

• will get

• would get

• got

Multiple Choice

If you heat water to 100°C, it ___ into steam.

• turn

• turns

• turned

• would turn

Multiple Choice

If we won the lottery, we ___ a big house.

• buy

• bought

• will buy

• would buy

Multiple Choice

If he doesn't wake up early, he ___ late for school.

• is

• will be

• would be

• was

Multiple Choice

When the sun sets, the sky ___ orange.

• turns

• turned

• will turn

• would turn

Multiple Choice

If I were you, I ___ that dress.

• choose

• will choose

• would choose

• chose

Multiple Choice

As soon as he finishes his homework, he ___ video games.

• plays

• will play

• would play

• played

Multiple Choice

If she had a car, she ___ to work.

• drives

• will drive

• would drive

• drove

Multiple Choice

Unless we leave now, we ___ the bus.

• miss

• will miss

• would miss

• missed

Good Job!