CONDITIONALS

CONDITIONALS

Conditionals talk about results of a particular situation. There are 4 types of conditionals:

• Zero Conditional (Type 0)
• First Conditional (Type 1)
• Second Conditional (Type 2)
• Third Conditional (Type 3)

I. Zero Conditional talks about a 100% result to a situation [Think about a result that is always true for this condition - Scientific facts fall under this category]. If means when or where.

• Structure:
• [If + present simple + present simple; Present simple + If + Present simple]
• Examples:
• If you heat ice it melts. If it rains the ground becomes wet.
• If I miss the 8 O’clock bus I’m late for work. 
• The boss gets mad if I’m late.
• If you spend over $50 at the grocery store, you get a 6% discount.

II. First Conditional talks about a result that is highly likely to happen should a certain condition be met.

• Structure:
• [If + present simple + will + base verb; Will + base verb + if + base verb]
• Examples:
• I will come if I can.
• If I miss the bus I will take the train.
• If the patient says “no” to the surgery, he will die.
• You won’t pass the test if you don’t study.
• If you lose your ticket, you won’t be able to go.
• What will you do if you don’t find a job?
• If there isn’t a hotel, where will you stay?

III. Second Conditional talks about present or future situations which are impossible or very highly unlikely. [Think about unreal possibilities or dreams]

• Structure:
• [If+ past simple + would + base verb; Would + base verb + if + past simple]
• Examples:
• I would play for Real Madrid if they asked me.
• If I won the lottery jackpot of $300 million I would buy an island.
• My grand-father would be proud if he could see me now.
• I’d give up my job if I didn’t like it.
• If I had a lot of money, I wouldn’t spend it all.
• What would you do if you saw someone stealing from the office?
• If you needed help, who would you ask?

IV. Third Conditional talks about situations in the past. In other words, situations that cannot be changed.

• Structure:
• [If + Past Perfect + Would have + Past participle; Would have + past participle + if + past perfect]
• Example:
• If I had won the lottery I would have bought a car.
• NOTE - Sometimes should have, could have, and might have could be used in lieu of would have.
• Example:
• If you had bought a lottery ticket, you might have won.

V. There is a form of conditionals called Mixed conditionals. Mixed conditionals are used when referring to different time frames in one sentence.

• Example:
• If I’d left for work on time, I wouldn’t have to wait in traffic now.