THEORY

First Conditional

for real possibility

If I win the lottery, I will buy a car.

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] and [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?

 The First Conditional

The first conditional has the present simple after 'if', then the future simple in the other clause:

• if + present simple, ... will + infinitive

It's used to talk about things which might happen in the future. Of course, we can't know what will happen in the future, but this describes possible things, which could easily come true.

Examples:

• If it rains, I won't go to the park.
• If I study today, I'll go to the party tonight.
• If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes.
• She'll be late if the train is delayed.
• She'll miss the bus if she doesn't leave soon.
• If I see her, I'll tell her.

We use the First Conditional to talk about future events that are likely to happen.

• If we take John, he'll be really pleased.
• If you give me some money, I'll pay you back tomorrow.
• If they tell us they want it, we'll have to give it to them.
• If Mary comes, she'll want to drive.

The 'if' clause can be used with different present forms.

• If I go to New York again, I'll buy you a souvenir from the Empire State Building.
• If he's feeling better, he'll come.
• If she hasn't heard the bad news yet, I'll tell her.

The "future clause" can contain 'going to' or the future perfect as well as 'will'.

• If I see him, I'm going to tell him exactly how angry I am.
• If we don't get the contract, we'll have wasted a lot of time and money.

The "future clause" can also contain other modal verbs such as 'can' and 'must'.

• If you go to New York, you must have the cheesecake in Lindy's.
• If he comes, you can get a lift home with him.

Second Conditional

The Second Conditional is used to talk about 'impossible' situations.

• If we were in London today, we would be able to go to the concert in Hyde Park.
• If I had millions dollars, I'd give a lot to charity.
• If there were no hungry people in this world, it would be a much better place.
• If everyone had clean water to drink, there would be a lot less disease.

Note that after I / he/ she /it we often use the subjunctive form 'were' and not 'was'. (Some people think that 'were' is the only 'correct' form but other people think 'was' is equally 'correct' .)

• If she were happy in her job, she wouldn't be looking for another one.
• If I lived in Japan, I'd have sushi every day.
• If they were to enter our market, we'd have big problems.

Note the form 'If I were you' which is often used to give advice.

• If I were you, I'd look for a new place to live.
• If I were you, I'd go back to school and get more qualifications.

The Second Conditional is also used to talk about 'unlikely' situations.

• If I went to China, I'd visit the Great Wall.
• If I was the President, I'd reduce taxes.
• If you were in my position, you'd understand.

Note that the choice between the first and the second conditional is often a question of the speaker's attitude rather than of facts. Compare these examples. Otto thinks these things are possible, Peter doesn't.

• Otto – If I win the lottery, I'll buy a big house.
• Peter – If I won the lottery, I'd buy a big house.
• Otto – If I get promoted, I'll throw a big party.
• Peter – If I got promoted, I'd throw a big party.
• Otto – If my team win the Cup, I'll buy champagne for everybody.
• Peter – If my team won the Cup, I'd buy champagne for everybody.

Note that the 'If clause' can contain the past simple or the past continuous.

• If I was still working in Brighton, I would commute by train.
• If she were coming, she would be here by now.
• If they were thinking of selling, I would want to buy.

Note that the main clause can contain 'would' 'could' or 'might.

• If I had the chance to do it again, I would do it differently.
• If we met up for lunch, we could go to that new restaurant.
• If I spoke to him directly, I might be able to persuade him.

Also note that sometimes the 'if clause' is implied rather than spoken.

• What would I do without you? ("if you weren't here")
• Where would I get one at this time of night? ("if I wanted one")
• He wouldn't agree. ("if I asked him")

The second conditional uses the past simple after if, then 'would' and the infinitive:

• if + past simple, ...would + infinitive

(We can use 'were' instead of 'was' with 'I' and 'he/she/it'. This is mostly done in formal writing).
It has two uses.
First, we can use it to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be true. Maybe I'm imagining some dream for example.

• If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.(I probably won't win the lottery)
• If I met the Queen of England, I would say hello.
• She would travel all over the world if she were rich.
• She would pass the exam if she ever studied.(She never studies, so this won't happen)

Second, we can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because it's not true. Is that clear? Have a look at the examples:

• If I had his number, I would call him. (I don't have his number now, so it's impossible for me to call him).
• If I were you, I wouldn't go out with that man.

How is this different from the first conditional? This kind of conditional sentence is different from the first conditional because this is a lot more unlikely.

For example (second conditional): If I had enough money I would buy a house with twenty bedrooms and a swimming pool (I'm probably not going to have this much money, it's just a dream, not very real)

But (first conditional): If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes (It's much more likely that I'll have enough money to buy some shoes)

Zero Conditional

for certainty

If you heat ice, it melts.

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.
Look at these example sentences:

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?

The Zero Conditional

We can make a zero conditional sentence with two present simple verbs (one in the 'if clause' and one in the 'main clause'):

• If + present simple, .... present simple.

This conditional is used when the result will always happen. So, if water reaches 100 degrees, it always boils. It's a fact. I'm talking in general, not about one particular situation. The result of the 'if clause' is always the main cluase. The 'if' in this conditional can usually be replaced by 'when' without changing the meaning.
For example: If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils. (It is always true, there can't be a different result sometimes). If I eat peanuts, I am sick. (This is true only for me, maybe, not for everyone, but it's still true that I'm sick every time I eat peanuts)
Here are some more examples:

• If people eat too much, they get fat.
• If you touch a fire, you get burned.
• People die if they don't eat.
• You get water if you mix hydrogen and oxygen.
• Snakes bite if they are scared
• If babies are hungry, they cry.               
•  
  

  Third Conditional

  for no possibility
  
  If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a car.
  The first conditional and second conditionals talk about the future. With the third conditional we talk about the past. We talk about a condition in the past that did not happen. That is why there is no possibility for this condition. The third conditional is also like a dream, but with no possibility of the dream coming true.
  Last week you bought a lottery ticket. But you did not win. :-(
  

  if	condition	result
  	Past Perfect	would have + past participle
  If	I had won the lottery,	I would have bought a car.

  Notice that we are thinking about an impossible past condition. You did not win the lottery. So the condition was not true, and that particular condition can never be true because it is finished. We use the Past Perfect tense to talk about the impossible past condition. We use would have + past participle to talk about the impossible past result. The important thing about the third conditional is that both the condition and result are impossible now.
  Look at these example senteces:
  

  if	condition	result
  	Past Perfect	would have + past participle
  If	I had seen Mary,	I would have told her.
  If	Tara had been free yesterday,	I would have invited her.
  If	they had not passed their exam,	their teacher would have been sad.
  If	it had rained yesterday,	would you have stayed at home?
  If	it had rained yesterday,	what would you have done?

  result	if	condition
  would have + past participle		Past Perfect
  I would have told Mary	if	I had seen her.
  I would have invited Tara	if	she had been free yesterday.
  Their teacher would have been sad	if	they had not passed their exam.
  Would you have stayed at home	if	it had rained yesterday?
  What would you have done	if	it had rained yesterday?

The Third Conditional

We make the third conditional by using the past perfect after 'if' and then 'would have' and the past participle in the second part of the sentence:

• if + past perfect, ...would + have + past participle

It talks about the past. It's used to describe a situation that didn't happen, and to imagine the result of this situation.

• If she had studied, she would have passed the exam (but, really we know she didn't study and so she didn't pass)
• If I hadn't eaten so much, I wouldn't have felt sick (but I did eat a lot, and so I did feel sick).
• If we had taken a taxi, we wouldn't have missed the plane
• She wouldn't have been tired if she had gone to bed earlier
• She would have become a teacher if she had gone to university
• He would have been on time for the interview if he had left the house at nine

Third Conditional

We can use the Third Conditional to talk about 'impossible' conditions, impossible because they are in the past and we cannot change what has happened.

• If I had worked harder at school, I would have got better grades.
• If I had had time, I would have gone to see him. But I didn't have time.
• If we had bought that house, we would have had to rebuild the kitchen.
• If we had caught the earlier train, we would have got there on time but we were late.

Notice that the main clause can contain 'would', 'could' or 'might.

• If I had seen him at the meeting, I would have asked him. (But he wasn't there so I didn't.)
• If I had seen him at the meeting, I could have asked him. ( But he wasn't there so it wasn't possible.)
• If I had seen him at the meeting, I might have asked him. (But I'm not sure. Perhaps if the opportunity had arisen.)
• If I had paid more attention in class, I would have understood the lesson.

Also notice that sometimes the 'if clause' is implied rather than spoken.

• I'd have done it. ("if you had asked me but you didn't.")
• I wouldn't have said that. ("if I'd been there.")
• He wouldn't have let him get away with that. ("if he had tried that with me.")

Mixed Conditionals

Those of you who have been following the Conditional Tutorial should now be familiar with present, past and future conditional verb forms. Sometimes Unreal Conditional sentences are mixed. This means that the time in the if-clause is not the same as the time in the result. Study the examples below to learn how to mix conditional verb forms like a native speaker.

Verbs in green are in the Present Unreal Conditional.

Verbs in red are in the Past Unreal Conditional.

Verbs in purple are in the Future Unreal Conditional.

Mixed Conditional Patterns

PAST

PRESENT

Examples:

• If I had won the lottery, I would be rich.
  But I didn't win the lottery in the past and I am not rich now.
• If I had taken French in high school, I would have more job opportunities.
  But I didn't take French in high school and I don't have many job opportunities.
• If she had been born in the United States, she wouldn't need a visa to work here.
  But she wasn't born in the United States and she does need a visa now to work here.

PAST

FUTURE

Examples:

• If she had signed up for the ski trip last week, she would be joining us tomorrow.
  But she didn't sign up for the ski trip last week and she isn't going to join us tomorrow.
• If Mark had gotten the job instead of Joe, he would be moving to Shanghai.
  But Mark didn't get the job and Mark is not going to move to Shanghai.
• If Darren hadn't wasted his Christmas bonus gambling in Las Vegas, he would go to Mexico with us next month.
  But Darren wasted his Christmas bonus gambling in Las Vegas and he won't go to Mexico with us next month.

PRESENT

PAST

Examples:

• If I were rich, I would have bought that Ferrari we saw yesterday.
  But I am not currently rich and that is why I didn't buy the Ferrari yesterday.
• If Sam spoke Russian, he would have translated the letter for you.
  But Sam doesn't speak Russian and that is why he didn't translate the letter.
• If I didn't have to work so much, I would have gone to the party last night.
  But I have to work a lot and that is why I didn't go to the party last night.

PRESENT

FUTURE

Examples:

• If I didn't have so much vacation time, I wouldn't go with you on the cruise to Alaska next week.
  But I do have a lot of vacation time and I will go on the trip next week.
• If Cindy were more creative, the company would send her to New York to work on the new advertising campaign.
  But Cindy is not creative and the company won't send her to New York to work on the new campaign.
• If Dan weren't so nice, he wouldn't be tutoring you in math tonight.
  But Dan is nice and he is going to tutor you tonight.

FUTURE

PAST

Examples:

• If I weren't going on my business trip next week, I would have accepted that new assignment at work.
  But I am going to go on a business trip next week, and that is why I didn't accept that new assignment at work.
• If my parents weren't coming this weekend, I would have planned a nice trip just for the two of us to Napa Valley.
  But my parents are going to come this weekend, and that is why I didn't plan a trip for the two of us to Napa Valley.
• If Donna weren't making us a big dinner tonight, I would have suggested that we go to that nice Italian restaurant.
  But she is going to make us a big dinner tonight, and that is why I didn't suggest that we go to that nice Italian restaurant.

FUTURE

PRESENT

Examples:

• If I were going to that concert tonight, I would be very excited.
  But I am not going to go to that concert tonight and that is why I am not excited.
• If Sandy were giving a speech tomorrow, she would be very nervous.
  But Sandy is not going to give a speech tomorrow and that is why she in not nervous.
• If Seb didn't come with us to the desert, everyone would be very disappointed.
  But Seb will come with us to the desert and that is why everyone is so happy.