English Conditionals
There are several structures in English that are called conditionals.
"Condition" means "situation or circumstance". If a particular condition is true, then a particular result happens.
• If y = 10 then 2y = 20
• If y = 3 then 2y = 6
There are three basic conditionals that we use very often. There are some more conditionals that we do not use so often. In this lesson, we will look at the three basic conditionals and then at the so-called zero conditional:
• Structure of Conditional Sentences
• First Conditional
• Second Conditional
• Third Conditional
• Zero Conditional
• Summary
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English Conditionals There are several structures in English that are called conditionals. "Condition" means "situation or circumstance". If a particular condition is true, then a particular result happens. If y = 10 then 2y = 20 If y = 3 then 2y = 6 There are three basic conditionals that we use very often. There are some more conditionals that we do not use so often. In this lesson, we will look at the three basic conditionals and then at the so-called zero conditional: Structure of Conditional Sentences First Conditional Second Conditional Third Conditional Zero Conditional Summary englishclub.com Tip People sometimes call conditionals "IF" structures or sentences, because there is usually (but not always) the word "if" in a conditional sentence. Structure of Conditional Sentences The structure of most conditionals is very simple. There are two basic possibilities. Of course, we add many words and can use various tenses, but the basic structure is usually like this: IF condition result IF y = 10 2y = 20 or like this: result IF condition 2y = 20 IF y = 10 First Conditional: real possibility We are talking about the future. We are thinking about a particular condition or situation in the future, and the result of this condition. There is a real possibility that this condition will happen. For example, it is morning. You are at home. You plan to play tennis this afternoon. But there are some clouds in the sky. Imagine that it rains. What will you do? IF condition result present simple WILL + base verb If it rains I will stay at home. Notice that we are thinking about a future condition. It is not raining yet. But the sky is cloudy and you think that it could rain. We use the present simple tense to talk about the possible future condition. We use WILL + base verb to talk about the possible future result. The important thing about the first conditional is that there is a real possibility that the condition will happen. Here are some more examples (do you remember the two basic structures: IF condition result / result IF condition?): IF Condition Result present simple WILL + base verb If I see Mary I will tell her. If Tara is free tomorrow he will invite her. If they do not pass their exam their teacher will be sad. If it rains tomorrow will you stay at home? If it rains tomorrow what will you do? result IF condition WILL + base verb present simple I will tell Mary if I see her. He will invite Tara if she is free tomorrow. Their teacher will be sad if they do not pass their exam. Will you stay at home if it rains tomorrow? What will you do if it rains tomorrow? englishclub.com Tip Sometimes, we use shall, can, or may instead of will, for example: If you are good today, you can watch TV tonight. Second Conditional: unreal possibility or dream The second conditional is like the first conditional. We are still thinking about the future. We are thinking about a particular condition in the future, and the result of this condition. But there is not a real possibility that this condition will happen. For example, you do not have a lottery ticket. Is it possible to win? No! No lottery ticket, no win! But maybe you will buy a lottery ticket in the future. So you can think about winning in the future, like a dream. It's not very real, but it's still possible. IF condition result past simple WOULD + base verb If I won the lottery I would buy a car. Notice that we are thinking about a future condition. We use the past simple tense to talk about the future condition. We use WOULD + base verb to talk about the future result. The important thing about the second conditional is that there is an unreal possibility that the condition will happen. Here are some more examples: IF condition result past simple WOULD + base verb If I married Mary I would be happy. If Ram became rich she would marry him. If it snowed next July would you be surprised? If it snowed next July what would you do? result IF condition WOULD + base verb past simple I would be happy if I married Mary. She would marry Ram if he became rich. Would you be surprised if it snowed next July? What would you do if it snowed next July? englishclub.com Tip Sometimes, we use should, could or might instead of would, for example: If I won a million dollars, I could stop working. Third Conditional >> Zero Conditional: certainty We use the so-called zero conditional when the result of the condition is always true, like a scientific fact. Take some ice. Put it in a saucepan. Heat the saucepan. What happens? The ice melts (it becomes water). You would be surprised if it did not. IF condition result present simple present simple If you heat ice it melts. Notice that we are thinking about a result that is always true for this condition. The result of the condition is an absolute certainty. We are not thinking about the future or the past, or even the present. We are thinking about a simple fact. We use the present simple tense to talk about the condition. We also use the present simple tense to talk about the result. The important thing about the zero conditional is that the condition always has the same result. Here are some more examples: IF condition result present simple present simple If I miss the 8 o'clock bus I am late for work. If I am late for work my boss gets angry. If people don't eat they get hungry. If you heat ice does it melt? result IF condition present simple present simple I am late for work if I miss the 8 o'clock bus. My boss gets angry if I am late for work. People get hungry if they don't eat. Does ice melt if you heat it? englishclub.com Tip We can also use when instead of if, for example: When I get up late I miss my bus. Conditionals: Summary Here is a little chart to help you to visualize the basic English conditionals. Do not take the 50% and 10% figures too literally. They are just to help you. probability conditional example time 100% zero conditional If you heat ice, it melts. any time 50% first conditional If it rains, I will stay at home. future 10% second conditional If I won the lottery, I would buy a car. future 0% third conditional If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a car. past
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