CONDITIONALS

FIRST
CONDITIONAL
for real possibility
The first conditional uses the present tense in the if
clause and the future tense in the result clause. This form
is used to talk about something that is a probable future
result of a condition.
FIRST CONDITIONAL
IF CONDITION RESULT
Present will + base verb
Simple
If it rains, I will stay at
home.
FIRST CONDITIONAL
IF CONDITION RESULT
Present Simple will + base verb
If I see you later, I will say hello.

If I don’t see you later, I will not be able to

say hello.
 SECOND
CONDITIONAL
for unreal possibility
The second conditional uses the past tense in the if
clause and a modal and base verb in the result clause.
This form is used to talk about a hypothetical situation
that cannot happen or is unlikely to happen.
SECOND CONDITIONAL
IF CONDITION RESULT
Past Simple would + base
verb
If I won the I would buy a car.
lottery,
 SECOND CONDITIONAL
IF CONDITION RESULT
Past Simple would + base verb
If I had a million I would buy a large
dollars, home.
If I were you, I wouldn’t wait to
study for the test.
THIRD
CONDITIONAL
for NO possibility
The third conditional uses the past perfect in the if clause
and a modal and present perfect in the result clause. This
form is used to talk about a hypothetical situation in the past
that did not happen – typically with an outcome that did not
happen and is perhaps the opposite of what did happen.
 THIRD CONDITIONAL
IF CONDITION RESULT
Past Perfect would have + past
participle
If I had won the I would have bought a
lottery, car.
 THIRD CONDITIONAL
IF CONDITION RESULT
Past Perfect would have + past
participle
If I it had rained last the plants would not
week, have died.
If I had finished I would have become a
college, doctor.
 ZERO
CONDITIONAL
for certainty
The zero conditional uses the present tense in both
clauses and is used to talk about something that is always
or generally true. The present tense signifies that these
actions are both possible and typical.
 ZERO CONDITIONAL

IF CONDITION RESULT
Present Simple Present Simple
If you heat ice, it melts.
 ZERO CONDITIONAL

IF CONDITION RESULT
Present Simple Present Simple
If it rains, I take an umbrella with me.
If I wake up early, I always read in bed.
 Summary of Conditionals
CONDITIONALS EXAMPLE TIME

First If I win the lottery, I will buy a car. Future

Second If I won the lottery, I would buy a car. Future

Third If I had won the lottery, I would have Past

bought a car.

Zero If you heat ice, it melts. Any