CONDITIONALS

1. ZERO CONDITIONAL
FORM: IF/WHEN + PRESENT SIMPLE, PRESENT SIMPLE
USE:
o To express a state that always applies (for general truths or for
natural laws).
If you heat water, it boils.
People wear lighter clothes when its hot.
If he comes home early, he sits in the garden.
If the temperature drops to 0C, water turns into ice.

2. FIRST CONDITIONAL
FORM: IF + PRESENT SIMPLE,

WILL+ base form

IMPERATIVE
MODAL (can, may, might, must,
should)+ base form

USE:
o To express something that it is possible or probable will happen
in the present or future.
If I have time, Ill water the plants.
Unless you hurry up, well be late (If you dont hurry...).
If you go to the supermarket, buy some milk.
If he is late, he might miss the first part of the play.
If you give me a hand with the dishes, we can go out together.

3. SECOND CONDITIONAL
FORM: IF + PAST SIMPLE, WOULD+ base form
MODAL (could, might)+ base form
USE:
o To talk about something that does not apply to the present and it
is rather impossible that it will happen in the future or for an
impossible, imaginary situations.
If I were Prime Minister, I would make school holidays longer.
If I had wings, I could fly like Peter Pan.
o To talk about something that does not apply to the present but it
is possible that it will happen in the future.
If I became an astronaut, I would travel into space.
If I did my homework, the teacher wouldnt shout at me.
o To give advice (If I were, not was).
If I were you, I would study harder for this test.
I wouldnt be so stubborn if I were you.
4. THIRD CONDITIONAL
FORM: IF + PAST PERFECT, WOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
MODAL (could, might) + HAVE + P. PART.

USE:
o To imagine what would have happened if things had happened
differently (also regrets or criticism).
If we had arrived earlier, we wouldnt have missed the beginning
of the film.
They would have found the house if they had had a map.
If I had been more careful, I might not have broken the glass.
If he had followed the instructions, he wouldnt have damaged
the CD player into ice.