Conditionals
Conditionals are sentences that describe the result of a certain condition. They often use "if" to express possible or hypothetical situations.
1. Zero Conditional
Used to express general truths or scientific facts.
Structure: If + present simple, present simple
Example: If you heat water, it boils.
2. First Conditional
Used for real and possible future situations.
Structure: If + present simple, will + base verb
Example: If it rains tomorrow, we will cancel the trip.
3. Second Conditional
Used for imaginary or unlikely present/future situations.
Structure: If + past simple, would + base verb
Example: If I were rich, I would travel the world.
4. Third Conditional
Used to talk about imaginary situations in the past.
Structure: If + past perfect, would have + past participle
Example: If she had studied, she would have passed the exam.
5. Mixed Conditionals
Used when the time in the 'if' clause is different from the time in the main clause.
Example (past condition, present result): If I had taken the job, I would be in New York now.
Summary Table
| Type | Usage | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | General truths | If + present simple, present simple | If you mix red and blue, you get purple. |
| First | Possible future | If + present simple, will + verb | If he works hard, he will succeed. |
| Second | Unreal present/future | If + past simple, would + verb | If I knew the answer, I would tell you. |
| Third | Unreal past | If + past perfect, would have + past participle | If we had left earlier, we would have caught the train. |
| Mixed | Past condition, present result | If + past perfect, would + verb | If she had gone to art school, she would be a painter now. |
Common Errors
- ❌ If I will see her, I will tell her.
✅ If I see her, I will tell her. (First conditional) - ❌ If I would have known, I would have helped.
✅ If I had known, I would have helped. (Third conditional)