Look at these examples to see how zero, first and second conditionals are used.
If you freeze water, it becomes solid.
If it rains tomorrow, I'll take the car.
If I lived closer to the cinema, I would go more often.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
- Grammar test 1
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
Conditionals describe the result of a certain condition. The if clause tells you the condition (If you study hard) and the main clause tells you the result (you will pass your exams). The order of the clauses does not change the meaning.
If you study hard, you will pass your exams.
You will pass your exams if you study hard.
Conditional sentences are often divided into different types.
Zero conditional
We use the zero conditional to talk about things that are generally true, especially for laws and rules.
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.
The structure is: if/when + present simple >> present simple.
First conditional
We use the first conditional when we talk about future situations we believe are real or possible.
If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we'll go to the beach.
Arsenal will be top of the league if they win.
When I finish work, I'll call you.
In first conditional sentences, the structure is usually: if/when + present simple >> will + infinitive.
It is also common to use this structure with unless, as long as, as soon as or in case instead of if.
I'll leave as soon as the babysitter arrives.
I don't want to stay in London unless I get a well-paid job.
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 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 were you.
The structure is usually: if + past simple >> + would + infinitive.
When if is followed by the verb be, it is grammatically correct to say if I were, if he were, if she were and if it were. However, it is also common to hear these structures with was, especially in the he/she form.
If I were you, I wouldn't mention it.
If she was prime minister, she would invest more money in schools.
He would travel more if he was younger.
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
- Grammar test 2
Helloo, I have a question regarding the first conditional examples: I don't want to stay in London unless I get a well-paid job/You can go to the party, as long as you're back by midnight.
When it comes to these sentences, how can they be first conditional if they lack a modal verb and have a present simple verb instead? I understand that their meaning follows the rules of first conditional but when the form is of zero conditional how can that be explained? Thanks
Hello IvonaN,
The second sentence does contain a modal verb: You can go to the party...
The first example does not but it contains want, which is a strange verb in the sense that it contains a sense of future time in its meaning: a present emotion for something in the future. In terms of structure it fits the present + present form, described here as zero conditional. However, in terms of meaning it does not really fit this as it does not describe something which is always or generally true but rather a specific case or situation. So we have something of a conflict between form and meaning here.
In fact, the terms 'zero conditional', 'first conditional' etc. are not grammatical terms. They are not rules but rather common patterns. They are useful to know when learning conditionals but should not be considered fixed rules.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello LearnEnglish Team,
I wonder why will has been used in if-clause of this sentence:
Could you please tell?
Shetu Yogme.
Hello ShetuYogme,
It's possible to use 'will' in the if-clause to show volition or agreement:
If you will open... has the meaning if you are willing to open...
The form is sometimes used to show extreme politeness:
If sir will come this way, I'll be happy to... (If sir is willing to come this way....)
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
I have a question regarding conditionals (maybe it is from a higher level than this section).
If we have a sentence "If you were better organized you ............. that problem yesterday!"
and the options were
a. wouldn't have
b. wouldn't have had
c. wouldn't be having
d. wouldn't have been
What would be the correct answer (I put A, because it matches with the second conditional structure, but I think that the correct one is B, even though the structure would not match).
Thank you for your attention.
Hello Kingsman1,
The key word here is 'yesterday'. This tells you that the result is in the past, not the present. Therefore, the answer is B.
"If you were better organized you wouldn't have that problem now!" [a result in the present]
"If you were better organized you wouldn't have had that problem now!" [a result in the past]
The confusing part is that the if-clause uses 'were' rather than 'had been'. In other words, it does not look like a past condition, so having a past result seems illogical. However, If you were... can also have a general time meaning. It describes your general character in the past, present and (probably) in the future as well. Thus it can lead to a past result because it was true in the past.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
So, what conditional is this? First, second or third?
Thank you in advance!
Hello again nota_st,
These names represent only common examples of conditional structures, not grammatical rules. Your sentence has an unreal general time condition and an unreal past time result. It does not fit any of the 'types' you reference so you can call it a mixed conditional or (more accurately) describe it as I did above.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
I usually see native speakers saying something like the following when they're unclear about a member's question in the forum.
Why don't they say "It will help if you give some context?" Why use past tense instead of present tense?
Hello Plokonyo,
As we have said previously, would is a way of making a request, opinion or suggestion more polite.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team