CONDITIONALS

CONDITIONAL TENSES

We use conditionals to describe the result of a certain condition. The ‘if’

clause tells you the condition and the main clause tells you the result. The
order of the clauses do not change the meaning.

If you study hard, you will pass your exams.

condition result
 CONDITIONALS

Zero cond. if + present simple / present simple

1st cond. if + present simple / will

2nd cond. if + past simple / would

if + past perfect (had + participle) / would have +

3rd cond.
participle
 ZERO CONDITIONAL

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

IF + PRESENT SIMPLE / PRESENT SIMPLE

● If you freeze water, it becomes solid.

● 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.
 FIRST CONDITIONAL

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

IF + PRESENT SIMPLE / WILL

● If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we'll go to the beach.

● When I finish work, I'll call you.
● 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.
 SECOND CONDITIONAL

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

IF + PAST SIMPLE / WOULD

● 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 was/were you.
● He would travel more if he was/were younger.
 THIRD CONDITIONAL

The third conditional is used to imagine a different past. We imagine a change in

a past situation and the different result of that change. It describes something
impossible.

IF + PAST PERFECT (HAD + PARTICIPLE) / WOULD HAVE + PARTICIPLE

● If I had understood the instructions properly, I would have

passed the exam.
● We wouldn't have got lost if my phone hadn't run out of
battery.
● If I hadn't been ill, I would have gone to the party.
 MIXED CONDITIONALS

We can use mixed conditionals when we imagine a past change with a result in
the present or a present change with a result in the past.

PAST + PRESENT (IF + PAST PERFECT, WOULD)

● If I hadn't got the job in Tokyo, I wouldn't be with my current

partner.
 MIXED CONDITIONALS

There are two possible combinations: PRESENT + PAST and PAST +

PRESENT.

PRESENT + PAST (IF + PAST SIMPLE, WOULD + HAVE)

● It's really important. If it wasn't, I wouldn't have called you on

your holiday.
 OTHER 1
CONNECTORS

We can use other connectors

instead of ‘if’: when, as soon
BEAR IN MIND… as, in case, unless, as long as,
after…

3 MIXED CONDITIONALS
2
1ST CONDITIONAL
MODALS
We can use other modals with We can use mixed conditionals
the 1st conditional instead of when we imagine a past
‘will’: may, might, shall, change with a result in the
should, could… or an present or a present change
imperative. with a result in the past.